Health
"If someone in our town has been sick and has expensive
medical bills, the community of Froid puts on a big supper, and it costs so much
for each family to eat. The money raised from the supper is given to the family
to help them pay for all their medical expenses."
Holly Waters, Froid High, Froid, Montana
"My community has pulled together [through] many tough times. Cancer and other sickness have struck many people in our community. Sadly enough it recently took the life of a young man. To cover hospital costs, we have had benefits to raise money."
Angie Olson, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon has raised millions of dollars in the fight against muscular dystrophy. Every year Mr. Lewis pushes harder and tries harder to receive more money for the disease stricken children. He puts time, energy, and money into this 24-hour event."
Willis Smith, Blue Ridge High School, Blue Ridge, Texas
"This country has hotline organizations such as Briarpatch, to help troubled persons, yet the suicide rate just isn't diminishing. It is not that people aren't trying to help people deal with...problems, it just is that it is almost impossible. It really makes you think. We can't get rid of suicide, until we change the mind set of those craving suicide."
Amy Holler, De Forest High School, DeForest, Wisconsin
"Another group that is helping others is Health Care for
the Homeless. This is an organization of doctors across the country who treat
chronically sick homeless people."
Josh McFarland, Phoenix High School, Phoenix, Oregon
"Anne Brown paid her doctor's bill despite having no money or health insurance. She spent three hours volunteering in a school cafeteria, thanks to a program that uses the age-old practice of barter to ease the modern day expenses of health care. The program is the brainchild of Dr. Timothy T. Jones, a family practitioner in Whitney Point, NY. For two hours on Friday afternoons, Jones offers medical care to anyone who comes in. Patients, in return, agree to do two or three hours of community service, such as washing school buses, sorting cans, and packages at a food pantry or volunteering at a day care center. They also get credit for work with churches or community organizations."
Erica D. Gholson, Rock Hill Senior High School, Ironton, Ohio
"My second example comes from our community. We get together to raise money for families who really need the money for medical bills. I'm sure communities all over the country do the same type of thing. This is another important example of how people help when they really need to. This also shows the kind of love and support one can find in a small town."
Adam Fordyce, Froid High School, Froid, Montana
"Good things are happening all over the place. For example, in Broward county, Florida, two mobile clinics visit 22 neighborhoods to provide free health care to patients whose average income is under $4000 a year. All 15 physicians and most of the staff are senior citizens who volunteer their time and expense."
Serenity Aliffi, Armwood High School, Seffner, Florida
"I work at a hospital as a housekeeper. Every once in a while there will be a week or so when the hospital is really busy. When this happens, we sometimes get volunteers who come in and help with whatever they can. One example might be answering call lights. When a patient wants something he will turn on his call light. Sometimes all the patient might want is water, and if the volunteer can get him water it saves the nurse a lot of time."
Tonya Koutson, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"The Alzheimer's Association...raised money for victims of the disease by holding a 5 mile walk. This earned several thousand dollars."
Stephen Vakil, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois
"In hospitals around the country there is always a familiar figure that stands out, the candy striper. Ladies of all ages donate their time each week to make someone's day a little brighter."
Chris Hare, Plainview High, Ardmore, Oklahoma