Akron’s Paulette Dixon phoned to share this sweet slice of life:
“We’ve lived in [Akron’s] Revere Village neighborhood 32 years. Anyway, there are two little girls who live nearby — Marina and VitaDee Hershberger, who are 11 and 8 and are the daughters of David and Catheryn Hershberger — who are very caring and polite. They call me Miss Paulette and my husband Mr. Hal.
“Hal was injured almost 42 years ago in a car accident and is a quadriplegic … He still went to law school.
“Anyway the girls have only known him in a wheelchair.”
For more than a year now, her husband has been confined to bed, recovering from a pressure sore.
“The girls call from time to time to talk to ‘Mr. Hal,’ ” Paulette Dixon said. “A couple of weeks ago Sunday their mom called and asked if they could stop by for a visit with Mr. Hal, saying they wouldn’t be long. That was the same weekend their grandfather was in the hospital and later died …
“The girls,” she continued, “came in with a huge box, all wrapped up. Inside were about 150 letters, cards and drawings from the students at their school, St. Sebastian, for Mr. Hal who is stuck in bed …
“Apparently the girls told the principal about Mr. Hal and asked if they could make a morning announcement to get the other students to write cards to cheer him up …
“So, every morning I pull out a card or two at random and read them to Hal. They are so sweet, so innocent, so full of Christ, just gorgeous … Just something extra for him to look forward to in the day. We couldn’t be more grateful!”
Furnace checks help
Big, beautiful bouquets to everyone who was involved last Saturday with “Heat the Town,” a well-coordinated event by the Akron-Canton chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and Rebuilding Together Greater Cuyahoga Valley, which provided free furnace checks for 75 area low-income homeowners.
Paul Holm, executive director of Rebuilding Together, gave a special shout-out to Lynne Black, executive director of ACCA, and its president, John Walters.
“Thirty-three technicians representing 11 ACCA members donated their time to serve two or three low-income homeowners unable to afford these services for themselves … Since 2005, ACCA volunteers have served nearly 600 Summit County residents through this annual event. Rebuilding Together finds those who need help and works with the ACCA to match them with volunteer technicians …
“This year our technicians discovered seven furnaces which were unsafe and needed to be turned off. Our staff is now working on behalf of these homeowners to get them new furnaces as soon as possible. Without these wonderful volunteers and supporting companies, many people would be without heat or sick from their unsafe furnaces heating their homes … Sixty-eight other furnaces were tuned, cleaned and made ready for the upcoming winter.”
While I don’t have the space to list all of the heroes involved this day, I would be remiss in not giving a pat on the back to the contractors volunteering their services: Beckwith Heating & Cooling; Aberegg’s Heating & Air Conditioning; the K Company; Brandon Heating & Air Conditioning; Daniel’s Aire Serv; Falls Heating & Cooling; Carl’s Heating & Cooling; Hudson Heating Co.; ETE Heating & Air Conditioning; and Jackson Comfort Systems.
And these wholesalers: AirGas; Akron Bearing Co.; Buckeye Heating & Air Conditioning Supply; Johnstone Supply; Morrow Control & Supply; Refrigeration Sales Corp.; Robertson Heating Supply; Webb Supply; White Rodgers; and WolffBros. Supply.Also to Summit County’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program, the City of Akron’s Revitalization of Neighborhoods programs, and Akron Public Schools’ YouthBuild volunteers.
Society boutique, show
Christ Child Society of Akron is hosting its 43rd annual Christmas Boutique luncheon and style show Nov. 17 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, with the boutique running 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the fashion show/luncheon at noon featuring clothes from Toni in Style.
Luncheon (reservations required) is $32. Boutique admission is free. Please call Micki Trenta at 330-668-9068.
Christ Child Society supports a number of local children’s causes, providing hundreds of school uniforms (including coats, hats, gloves, socks and undergarments), tutoring, infant bereavement kits, layettes and more.
Blankets for homeless
Major kudos to the 40 or so members of the University of Akron’s Association for Educating Young Children (UAEYC) who recently gathered to make colorful fleece blankets for children experiencing homelessness.
Project RISE (Realizing Individual Strength Through Education), which is managed by Debra Manteghi, is a collaborative effort by Akron Public Schools, local homeless shelters and the community. The federally funded organization’s mission is to provide supplemental educational services. Project RISE served 997 of these students last school year.
Project RISE also coordinates a doll-making project and giveaway (complete with tote bag, story book and more) for each of the children.
Doll project workshops are held 6 to 8 p.m. the second Monday of each month, September through May, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 915 N. Main St., Akron. For more information on Project RISE, please call Manteghi at 330-761-2969 or email dmanteghi@akron.k12.oh.us.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.