Salem Community Patriot

May 21, 2010 - 5

Pennies for Peace

submitted by Roberta Wilson

Teachers and parents of the children at the Merrimack Valley Montessori School (MVMS) learned recently that even three- to six-year-olds can be amazing philanthropists. The students recently raised $461.39 by simply collecting pennies for two months. This incredible journey started with the

NY Times best-selling book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson

and David Oliver Relin. The teachers were so moved by the accomplishments of Mortenson trying to better the lives of children, particularly girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan through education, that they wanted their students to become involved. Mortenson, also known as Dr. Greg, has seen how the education of girls improves their entire community, as they will, in turn, teach their parents and siblings to read and write. In 1996, Dr. Greg founded the Central Asia Institute and since then has built 141 schools in the most remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Early on, he realized just how much children, even young children, can help support his organization. The Pennies for Peace program was started to help educate American children about the world by

looked at photos of the beautiful landscape and incredible mountains so many of these children call home. The MVMS children were surprised and sad to learn that many of these children, so far away, did not even have a pencil or a piece of paper on which to write or draw. The teachers then showed the students want a penny can do for a child from this part of the world: it can buy them a pencil, and 10 pennies can buy them a notebook. The teachers and students counted out 80 pennies together. Looking at all these pennies, they discussed that these pennies could buy one chocolate bar here in America, or each individual penny could buy a pencil in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They then asked the children to think about what would be more beneficial to those children so far away, and they all picked the pencils. These pre-schoolers simply ‘Got it!’ The children were

Ryan B. of Salem

showing them they can make a positive impact on the lives of others with just a penny. The MVMS teachers introduced the

children to Dr. Greg by reading his

children’s book Listen to the Wind that

talks about his adventure in a small remote village named Korphe in Pakistan. Classroom work included talking about the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan and learning where these countries are located. The teachers showed photos of children from this far-away place, showing that although they wore different clothes and looked a little different, they still loved to play, sing, run, and learn just like American children. They studied a globe and maps to learn where these countries are. They

very excited to start collecting pennies, and MVMS joined the Pennies for Peace campaign. Each student decorated a container from home for collecting their pennies to bring into school. Each of the three classrooms set up a small bucket in which the children would put their pennies each day. These containers

were quickly filled and replaced with larger ones as the children collected pennies from their cars, the sofa, mom and dad’s pockets, friends, and neighbors. Even a single penny would be hand- carried into school to be placed in the collection container. The children were very excited by their accomplishments! If you asked one of these children what the pennies were for, they could tell you about these far-away countries with the beautiful mountains. They could tell you the children there did their schoolwork by drawing with sticks on the ground, and that “they are just like us and they should have pencils just like us.” These were some very empowered children. After two months, the teachers were

SBA to Assist Businesses

Impacted by Severe Storms

submitted by Colin Manning

Governor John Lynch today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will make low-interest loans available to New Hampshire businesses impacted by the windstorm and severe flooding that occurred in late February and early March. “Many New Hampshire businesses suffered damage or were

forced to close their doors during power outages caused by the wind storm or subsequent flooding. Businesses, particularly small businesses, are still trying to recover,” Governor Lynch said. “In these difficult economic times, it’s important to do what we can to help our businesses, and these loans will provide help to businesses damaged by the winter’s storms.” The SBA will make available up to $2 million for Economic Injury Disaster Loans for eligible businesses and non-profits to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The rates on these loans are three percent for non-profit organizations and four percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Applications and program information are available by calling the

SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT; or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from

the SBA Website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Victims may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure Website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 4,

2011.

SHS Grand March

submitted by Salem High School

The Salem High School Class of 2010 will hold their Grand

March at Salem High School on Saturday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m., prior to their departure to Gillette Stadium for their Senior Prom. Parents and friends are invited to view the Grand March. Prom attendees will park in the faculty lot only. There is limited space, so carpool wherever possible. All prom attendees must be at the high school by 5 p.m. There will be limited parking at the school. Parents and visitors

are advised that parking on Geremonty Drive will not be allowed. Parking for parents and friends is available in the designated areas in the lower student lots only. No one is permitted to park in the Salem High School Library area, visitor parking area, or the back faculty lot. The upper parking tier will be reserved for handicapped parking in designated spaces. The Grand March will be televised live on SCTV Channel 6. During the Grand March, absolutely no items are to be handed to Prom attendees at any time. If a parent needs to get an item to their student, they will give this item to a chaperone. Make arrangements for any disbursement of medication at the prom with the school nurse by Friday, May 21.

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now left with the problem of how to count the pennies. The hope was to have the children involved with the counting of the pennies, but the sheer volume of pennies made this not possible at the school. The Salem Co-operative Bank, Salem, agreed to help the school by

Charlie

Outdoors

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Chalk

Disabled Shooter Invents Adapter

Do you know a disabled shooter who thinks they cannot compete? “I am a disabled shooter starting to enjoy the challenge of the USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association), and in doing so, I have created a holster mounting adapter for wheelchair use,” says Scott Shearer. “My goal is to show others who have been thrown a curve in life that you can still get out and enjoy shooting sports [with the help of some adaptive equipment.]”

Bethany G. of Salem

allowing the 23 kindergarten students to represent the school and use their coin-counting machine. Each student placed a small number of pennies in the counting machine and watched them enter the machine to be counted. They then returned to the school to tell all their younger classmates about the bank and the counting machine.

In the end, the MVMS students succeeded in raising $461.39! That is a staggering 46,139 pennies. Quite an accomplishment for a group of 100 three- to six-year-olds. This journey shows us just how much

even the youngest members of our community can do. It is often too easy to forget how much a small child can accomplish when they put their mind to something. The MVMS teachers would like all of us to remember this and involve our children, no matter how young, in community service. If we all take the time to talk to our children/students and involve them in some way with service for others, our community and all of us will benefit. Whether it is raising money for other children here in America or far away on another continent, contributing to a food bank, collecting gently used toys for a shelter, or even visiting an elder home to make crafts or simply color, all those involved with be the richer for it.

It might not look like much, but this holster has the potential to mean plenty to anyone confined to a wheelchair. To that end, he’s developed an adaptive holster mount that seems more than capable of being used for everything from home defense to hunting and, yes, competition. For Shearer, it’s an answer to a common problem: safely controlling a firearm from a wheelchair. “This puts the firearm right where I need it,” he writes, “with me, If I have to investigate a commotion at night, I do not have to grab my firearm, set it in my lap and worry about it falling as I roll to the door, or go out to investigate. It is with me as soon as I transfer into the chair.” Shearer custom makes each mount, and charges $39.95 (plus $6.50 shipping). Learn more at www.scotworksllc.com/ holster.html.

Charlie Chalk can be reached at outdoorswithcharlie@areanewsgroup.com

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