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By Katelyn Gendron Reminder Assistant Editor For some, the winter weather is an inviting time to cozy up by the living room fireplace with a loved one. But for others, ominous clouds overhead mean dark times ahead filled with hours outside in the cold shoveling snow. However, some haven't had to worry about the inconvenience of frostbite or pulled back muscles from the shoveling as one girl has taken the initiative to do all of that in the name of Jessie's House an organization that provides transitional assistance for families in need in Amherst, Holyoke and South Hadley. Fourteen-year-old Rebecca Meyers spent much of her young life in South Hadley before moving with her family to Amherst two years ago. Her mother Caroline said she and her husband have exposed their two children to Jessie's House from an early age. Rebecca said she's been donating her dolls and other used toys to Jessie's House ever since she can remember. She explained that she got the idea to shovel driveways, walkways and sidewalks for her neighbors for $10 each after receiving a donation envelope from Jessie's House. While other children were writing out their Christmas lists, Rebecca was making flyers to advertise her small snow removal business in order to raise as much money as she possibly could for the shelter. Since creating the flyers, Rebecca said her business began to snowball. She's already earned $87 and Caroline has agreed to match whatever she earns. "We've been accustomed to living a good life and I've always felt like that's a gift and if there's a way to help people receive that kind of gift, we can do that," Caroline said of her motivation to teach her children about Jessie's House and to match Rebecca's earnings. Rebecca said she will continue her shoveling business as long as there is snow to be shoveled this season and in the future. "I really like donating to Jessie's House," she said. "It's a great thing to do and [it] makes me feel good to do it. I know I'm being a big help to the people [there]." Once informed that her continued donations would be used to jumpstart a new in-house childcare program for the 26 families at Jessie's House, Rebecca said she was overjoyed that the money would be "put to good use" by going to other children. Jane Banks, program director at Jessie's House, said the organization's goal is to raise $100,000 this year to establish their own childcare service for their families. She explained that childcare is provided on an inconsistent basis by Horizons for Homeless Children but that they are in need of in-house childcare. Banks said childcare is essential to parents needing to get back on their feet by looking for employment or going back to school. "Children need to be a priority," she said, adding that children must have stabilized care and education. Banks said she is always surprised and grateful for people's increasing generosity, like Rebecca's, who will aid Jessie's House in their fundraising efforts for a new childcare program. "Just the thought that a 14-year-old kid would take $160 and donate it to the program is just a wonderful day in this day in age," Banks said. "Homelessness and issues of poverty are so critical for all of us to be aware of and the earlier you are aware of these issues and challenges of our neighbors around us, the more positive change can happen in the lives of families and kids." Donations to Jessie's House can be mailed to their headquarters at 17 Seelye St., Amherst, MA 01002. For more information about Jessie's House, go to their Web site at www.jessieshouse.org. | ||||||
