If you have been following the kind work of the Silent Angels, you know I have made this plea in the past. But because of its importance, it’s worth repeating.
The team of local cherubs, who are operating under a veil of anonymity to help the working poor or those who have fallen on hard times, need your help.
Letters and emails continue to pour in from folks who need cars to get to and from medical appointments or work. They don’t care if they are rusty, banged up or have enough mileage to have driven to Alaska and back a couple of dozen times — they just need transportation.
The angels have a mechanic who selflessly donates his time if the angels purchase parts for cars that need only minor repairs.
It would be a wonderful gesture if a local new or used car dealership could donate running trade-ins or other vehicles to better the lives of folks living in our area. Be assured that the angels have the ability to determine, as much as possible, that those requesting cars are legitimately in need and have tried to help themselves.
If you have a vehicle that you wish to donate, email me, with “Silent Angel” in the subject line at kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com or send a letter to Silent Angel, c/o Kim Hone-McMahan, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44308.
I will forward your message to our team of cherubs.
Volunteer opportunities
Do you have some free time? If so, there are plenty of folks who need your help.
The United Way of Summit County Volunteer Center’s website currently has available more than 150 volunteer experiences across the county. Combined, those projects are looking for more than 5,000 volunteers in support of summer activities.
Many are special events, including the Akron Marathon, the Gay Games, Hattie Larlham Street Fair, Hale Farm & Village Civil War Reenactment, the Bridgestone Invitational, Race for the Cure, the West Akron 5K and the Stop Bullying Festival and Walk.
Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals or groups, and range from working in the parks to packaging donations and food for those in need.
Find details for these projects and more at www.uwsummit.org or contact Andrea Metzler at 330-643-5512 or ametzler@uwsummit.org.
Giving
• The CJ Smith Memorial Golf Outing was created after the death of CJ Smith, who devoted countless hours to youth sports, as a father and coach.
The mission for this golf outing is to assist in providing sports scholarships to children and their families who might not be able to afford the expenses that go along with playing, ensuring that those children have the opportunity to participate in community sports regardless of financial circumstances.
The golf tournament will take place Aug. 24 at Mayfair Lakes Country Club in Green. Sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Greg Andrego at 330-714-6557 or gregandrego@gmail.com.
• The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Theta Omega Chapter will host “Fill the Rack,” an event to collect new or gently used school uniforms, new socks and undergarments.
The collection will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at East Community Learning Center, 80 Brittain Road, Akron.
Uniforms will be distributed to elementary school children who attend Akron Public Schools. The chapter is accepting polo shirts (any color), blouses, shirts, pants, skirts, shorts and skorts in navy blue, black and khaki, as well as socks and undergarments.
Kudos
• Summit County Children Services held its annual Foster Parent Recognition ceremony to honor the hundreds of dedicated local foster parents who open their homes and their hearts to area children in need of some stability in their lives.
The retiring foster parents, who together fostered 378 children, were Regina Gladman, Annabelle Brice, John and Patricia Gilbert of Akron; Susan Minick of Mogadore; and John and Thelma Phillips of Uniontown.
Thank you for your valuable contributions to the lives of children.
• St. Sebastian Parish recently held its summer Vacation Bible School. Each year, the parish chooses a local charity to support in order to teach the students the importance of giving in the community. This year, the students helped Project R.I.S.E., a program that assists homeless families within the Akron Public Schools, with school supplies and backpacks to be shared with needy families.
St. Sebastian Parish collected $600 and 35 backpacks overflowing with school supplies. The Project R.I.S.E. staff was truly overwhelmed by this wonderful donation.
Such an honor
• Melissa Snyder of New Philadelphia wrote an essay to folks at Arlington National Cemetery, expressing what the Tomb of the Unknown Solider meant to her and asking if she could have the honor of laying the wreath.
Last month, she had the privilege of doing just that — escorted by Jesse Blankenship of Silver Lake, Owen Stankiewicz of Medina, and Mitchell Krause of Sagamore Hills, all fellow cadets with the Akron Battalion Sea Cadets.
Kim Hone-McMahan can be reached at 330-996-3742 or kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kim.honemcmahan.