Sunday, October 26, 1997
Abilenians gather to make a difference in neighbors'
lives
By TANYA EISERER / Abilene Reporter-News
Weeds were chopped down, the yard mowed and a fresh coat of
paint applied to Lorene Washington's wood-frame home at 881 Mesquite
Saturday.
Members of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, working on their Make A Difference Day project,
made life brighter for the 83- year-old woman.
"The whole thing's going to look good," a teary-eyed
Washington said. "It's going to almost be like having a new
house. I'm about to cry. It makes me feel good to know somebody
cares."
Washington has lived in the home, built by her late father
in 1929, for nearly six decades. However, she has been too ill
to take care of the yard for the last three years.
Dorothy Wiseman, an NAACP member, said the group may adopt
Washington's home and continue keeping her yard in shape.
"We felt like there was a lot of history connected to
this house," Wiseman said. "It's going to be a different
place when we finish. We've been happy to have a hand with what
little we could to do make life better for someone else."
Many projects
Washington's was one of several homes, inhabited by elderly
and infirm people, that were spruced up and painted up in the
Carver neighborhood as part of Make A Difference Day.
Thousands of people on Saturday, and throughout the month of
October, have been involved in hundreds of projects, said Janet
Ardoyno, the event's coordinator.
"We have had a tremendous community-wide effort,"
Ardoyno said. "The masses have been split up. We strived
to find places (for people to volunteer) all over."
Ardoyno said she is confident the group reached its goal of
having 50,000 people participate. Residents from surrounding areas
also have gotten involved, she said.
Abilene police officers installed deadbolts, door locks and
window locks for low-income families.
A Hawley High School home economics made lap quilts for residents
of a nursing home. Bonham Elementary School collected denim clothing
for distribution. Jane Long Elementary collected books.
This year's mass planting of crape myrtles was an overwhelming
success as 8,200 plants were ordered and planted by businesses,
organizations and individuals.
Volunteers picked up trash on Pine Street from North Fifth
to Hardin-Simmons University. Taylor County juvenile probationers
cleaned up Pine from Treadaway to Interstate 20, Albus said.
"We did have a great turnout," said Donna Albus,
head of Abilene Clean and Proud from her command post at North
17th and Pine.
Albus said people came up througout the day offering to help.
"If they can clean up, I can clean up, too," said
Kenneth Samuel, a man who walked up and asked for some trash bags.
"You guys are fantastic. That's what I call getting the job
done."
Shivawn Bilberry, along with other Wylie High School student
council members, cleaned up around North 12 and Pine. Other students
also went to the Abilene State School and planted crape myrtles.
"It shows that if everybody gets out and helps a little
a lot can be done," said Bilberry.
A group called Youth Making a Difference, or MAD Youth, painted
a fence covered with graffiti and bullet holes near the drug-ridden
corner of North 13 and Ash.
"That looks good," said Gladys Abor, a resident who
lives at 626 N. 13th. "Little by little, it's all making
a difference."
After painting the wall, the youngsters decorated it with their
handprints to signify that they had a hand in making a difference.
They also put their first names on the wall.
"It is really cool to see something you have planned for
a long time and actually see it happen," said Andrea Baldwin,
a Cooper High School freshman student.
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story
to A Friend:
Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
|
