Sue Harmon is a sixth-grade teacher at Frankfort/Elberta Area Schools, which she thinks is blessed with the world's most amazing parent organization, the Panther Parents.
"These truly generous people in Frankfort donate their time selflessly to all of the children in the area. Their contributions, time and efforts are endless ...," Sue wrote. "Every spring they hold a fundraiser for our schools called the Spring Fling. Now, every school holds fundraisers, but this one is simply unbelievable for such a small town (and) small district like ours. In 2007, they raised $40,000 in just four hours! Of course none of this could happen without our community. They are the ones who donate and donate and donate to the cause and who attend the Spring Fling."
This year the Spring Fling was held in April at the Watervale Inn and raised about $38,000 through live and silent auctions and raffles.
"The Panther Parents have made such a difference in our district in these challenging financial times for schools," Sue wrote. "They provide money for field trips, class trips, supplies, overhead computer projectors, ceramics studio, computers, digital cameras, surveillance equipment, playground equipment, teacher resources and much, much more."
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Sally Hanley wrote on behalf of the Grand Traverse Baby Pantry and Great Start Grand Traverse to thank the Grand Traverse community for its support of April's "Month of the Young Child" Diaper Drive and to tell everyone how much the pantry appreciated their donations.
More than 120 packages of diapers were collected and, with more than 470 families enrolled so far this year at the pantry and with 70 to 80 families visiting each time the pantry is open, diapers are one of the basics that these families need.
Sally also would like to thank the following organizations for providing drop sites: all Tom's and Oleson's food stores, Glen's on East Eighth Street, Save-A-Lot on U.S. 31, the Grand Traverse County Governmental Center, St. Francis Catholic Church, Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, The Presbyterian Church, all Traverse City Area Public Schools' elementary schools, the Montessori Children's House, NW MIchigan Human Services and Cedar Run Eye Center.
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Major Bruce Jennings wrote on behalf of the Traverse City Salvation Army to thank all the volunteers who helped the Thrift Store relocate to its new site at 1225 S. Airport Road. He also sends thanks to Morse/Hahnenberg Moving & Storage for donating a truck and driver for the day and to the staff from Fifth Third Bank who served coffee and doughnuts at the recent Thrift Store grand opening.
Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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