Fraternity-Testvériség, 2003 (81. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2003-07-01 / 3. szám
FRATERNITY Page 17 Hungarian Reformed Church of Trenton, who interfaced with the Manor School in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, where teachers, due to construction over the summer, did not have their usual storage space to keep all their posters or numerous other teaching aids. Jodi brought about six boxes, containing wonderfully-made teacher’s materials and many workbooks and dictionaries. Pat Devine, of Clinton, New Jersey, was able to talk her local Wal-Mart store into donating a box of sports equipment, including a soccer ball, jump ropes, a number of smaller balls, and more. Newtown Friends School, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, donated all the books left from their used book sale. Even more amazing, they also gave nearly half their profits from the book sale to pay for the shipping for the five boxes of books and one of stuffed animals. Nancy Kimmel, the Advanced Math Program teacher at Quarry Hill School in Yardley, Pennsylvania, who had spent a total of 12 years teaching Oroszvary children, brought in two huge bags of stuffed animals, and donated many slightly outdated school materials from her classroom. Neil Smith, 22-year-old part- owner of Yardley Mail and Parcel, gave us the best discount he could on every box we mailed there, and let us make copies for half price. The stuffed animals were given to the 40 children who attend the only kindergarten in Safwan. Prior to that, they had only one UNICEF box in the classroom, more suited to elementary children. Later-arriving stuffed animals Julius passed out to the children who were waiting outside the gates of the compound while their parents tried to get jobs. These were mostly children who were too young or too poor to attend school. Although school is free in Iraq, the students’ families must pay for the teachers’ transportation. When the children excluded by that burden are added to the many children who must work for their families to live, only about half of the school-aged children in the province actually attend school. However, the sports equipment that was sent this summer benefited many of those children, as well as the ones who are in school. It is impossible to imagine exactly what your generosity and thoughtfulness has meant to these children. Many of them had never before held a stuffed animal, had never seen a colorful poster on a classroom wall, and had never read a book that was specifically written for children. These children have had their world view expanded in myriad ways. They have a much more positive image of America and Americans than they had before. And, a child who is busy reading or playing soccer is less likely to have time to think of becoming a terrorist. Deneice Oroszvary, Branch Manager Tel: 215-493-0656 Doroszvary@aol. com Branch 35 - Detroit, Michigan Join Hands Day On Join Hands Day, Saturday, June 21, 2003, we had the most ideal weather to work on our project, namely cleaning the grounds around the American Hungarian Reformed Church of Allen Park, Michigan. We pulled weeds, worked the ground, and planted beautiful flowers around Our dedicated group of workers the church. The results were breathtaking. But the enthusiasm with which the kids worked was so wonderful to see. Our Honorary Chief Elder, George Opra, and his wife, Mary, were also present. I would like to mention that Mr. and Mrs. Julius Dazy took extra time to come to work A well deserved luncheon for our Join Hands Day group. with us before going to their 65th High School reunion. Now this is what I call dedication! After our hard day’s work, we had a nice luncheon, soda pop, sandwiches, and desserts. Louise Vespremi brought potato salad, Mary Ann Opra chocolate brownies, and I brought lemon cake and tepertős pogácsa. Honorary Chief Elder George Opra and his wife, Mary, planting shrubs.
