Kippy's posts with tag: appalachia
 | Selfless | Jun 10, '08 12:04 PM
for everyone |
Today's "Feel Good" news story is about one absolutely incredible little girl. I'm so glad everyone seems to be enjoying the good news. I'm loving it, too! In fact, I even paid to subscribe to a web site that posts only good news, so that I could experience and share it with everyone here.I know with all the political stuff that's flying around right now, and all the turmoil around the world, a lot of people seem to feel helpless. What can we do, right? We're just one person, all of us. Some people choose to attend peace rallies or join anti-war organizations and such. Much as I hate some of the results of war, I am SO thankful to those who are fighting to preserve my freedoms and protect me from those who would hate me for the color of my skin, or my religious beliefs, or my geographic location. I know that peace can not happen without the agreement of those who are fighting a holy war in their hearts and minds, so until that happens, THANK YOU to those who are risking their lives to try to ensure their failure.I guess what I'm getting at is, I'd love for some parts of what's going on in the world to be different right now, but all I can do is change myself and hope that my actions result in some kind of "butterfly effect". This little girl is doing the same thing. She may not be holding a "Peace now!" banner, but what she did will have an incredible ripple effect not only amongst the people she helped, but also amongst those who read about her. I firmly believe that. She is inspirational, and makes me want to do nice things throughout my day for friends and strangers. I bet she makes you feel that way a little bit. To me, actions (and sometimes very little ones that cost NO money at all) speak much louder than words. Make your actions matter today! :) CRYSTAL LAKE - What would you ask for if you were 10 years old and had one wish? A trip to Disney World? A chance to meet a celebrity hero?
Not Marisa Monbrod.
This little girl, who has leukemia in remission, wants to use her wish to help others.
As part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Marisa has asked to become something of a mini-missionary for a week. She and her Crystal Lake family plan to pack up a rented RV in July and journey to the Appalachian region of West Virginia, where they will share supplies and their faith with those less fortunate.
“I want to help people,” Marisa said. “They don’t get all the stuff that people get around here.”
The folks from Make-a-Wish are hoping the community will help the young fourth-grade student by providing supplies to be given out on the trip.
Marisa personally made a list of things she’d like to bring along, including items such as toys and books to share with other children.
When she first learned that she would have a wish, Marisa considered other options. She dreamed of staying at a castle in Ireland or heading to the ocean to swim with dolphins.
Then she watched a film about Dr. Paul Carlson, a medical missionary who traveled to Africa in the early 1960s, at her church, Hope Covenant Church in Crystal Lake.
Young Marisa was inspired.
“I decided I liked this better because I don’t really need anything really bad and those people really do,” she said. “I figured this was nicer.”
She also was influenced by a project in her Sunday school to raise money to send sandals to those in need in Sudan.
“All the sudden she had this epiphany or revelation with [Marisa’s mother] Maggie in the church,” said Rich Monbrod, Marisa’s father.
An energetic little girl who loves to play the piano, swim and recently started golf lessons, Marisa was diagnosed with leukemia in January 2005.
She continues to undergo treatment and her health has been improving. The Make a Wish Foundation grants wishes for children with life-threatening diseases.
The plan is for Marisa and her family, which includes parents Rich and Maggie and little brother, Ricky, 8, to head out July 11 for the Appalachian Dream Center, a group dedicated to helping provide food, education, services and other basic needs to the Appalachian community.
The center is in Logan, W.Va., an area hit hard by the collapse of the area’s coal mining industry, according to the Appalachian Dream Center Web site. The population of the area is about 26,000. The average income is $7,900 annually and the poverty rate is about 27 percent, according to the Web site.
The Monbrod family hopes to provide a little help to the poverty-stricken region while also providing “a little bit of adventure” for the family, Rich Monbrod said.
Both Rich and Maggie Monbrod said they were surprised and a little skeptical when their daughter first brought up her wish.
Although it was unconventional, the parents quickly got behind the idea. In a way, the wish is a sort of thank you for all the support Marisa received during her fight with leukemia, Rich Monbrod said.
“She’s paying it forward for all the kindness done to her,” he said.
How to help
The Make a Wish Foundation wants help providing new items to be handed out during Marisa’s trip.
Marisa has requested the following new items: Toys, backpacks, school supplies, Bibles, notebooks, paper, pencils, diapers, nail clippers, toothpaste, other toiletries, copies of the “Adventures in Odyssey” compact disc series, low-tech or crank-powered radios and CD players, kids’ devotion books, bookmarks and things to decorate bookmarks with, arts and crafts supplies, shoes, socks and clothes. Cash donations and supplies not listed also will be accepted.
All items can be dropped off at American Community Bank, 381 S. Main St., Crystal Lake, or can be dropped of at the June 22 “send-off” party at the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road.
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