It's my town: Kids helping kids in Prince William, Manassas schools

Pennies for a cause…

Nineteen Prince William County and Manassas elementary, middle and high schools have signed up to participate in the 2009-10 Pennies for Patients Program that helps to fight blood cancers one penny at a time.

Thanks to research, about 88 percent of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia are now cured, but there still is a long way to go. Leukemia affects more of those younger than 20 than any other cancer, so The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Schools & Youth programs provide a meaningful way for kids to help kids.

Each year thousands of students across the country learn about the value of community service while raising money to help fight leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Top fundraising classrooms are rewarded with Domino’s Pizza parties and penny pendant awards.

During the 2008-09 school year, students across the country raised about $19 million by collecting spare change to help fund cancer research and provide services to patients and their families.

In the Washington area, more than 317 schools participated in the 2008-09 Pennies for Patients program and together raised more than $416,000.

Local schools participating this year include Marsteller Middle, Linton Hall, Bristow Run Elementary, Cedar Point Elementary, Dumfries Elementary, Glenkirk Elementary, Bull Run Middle, Gainesville Middle, Osbourn Park High, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Triangle Elementary, Kerrydale Elementary, Fred M. Lynn Middle, R. Dean Kilby Elementary, Rippon Middle, Mary G. Porter Traditional School, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Pennington School and Weems Elementary.

The Manassas Host Lions Club will hold its annual Poker Tournament on Oct. 17 at the Manassas Rescue Squad building, 9322 Center St.

The first-place winner will take home a flat-screen, high-definition television set with surround sound and worth $1,995.

Players must check in between 3 and 3:45 p.m. and play will begin at 4 p.m. sharp. All players will get a free sub, drink, chips and cookie during the event. A $50 donation per player is required, and all proceeds will benefit the local Lions-supported charities.

There is a limit of 200 players.

There was a clear, mild Saturday morning for the gathering of the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee as they celebrated the installation of their Adopt-A-Street signs on portions of Hastings Drive, which they have pledged to clean.

Teacher Susan Bardenhagen says she feels proud every time she drives by the sign, knowing she’s a part of the cleanup group.

The Democratic Committee has been cleaning the stretch from Lake Jackson Drive to Dumfries Road, which includes a park and two ponds, since March. The number of volunteers helping out varies.

Most recently, the group numbered a dozen who wore orange vests and carried yellow plastic bags as they moved down the street picking up cans, bottles, cigarette butts, stakes, cups and a myriad of papers and glass.

The Adopt-A-Street plan was put in motion by Committee Chairman EJ Scott and member Illana Naylor, who serves on the Manassas City Solid Waste Committee.
Scott said the street was adopted because, “We wanted to show that we cared for our community and the environment. We want to be good stewards of the earth and we know that if every person just does a little, it can make a big difference.”

Dr. Steven Jackson, who has been practicing dentistry in Manassas for 25 years, is a supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. In conjunction with supplier Henry Schein Dental, he has a “Think Pink, Practice Pink” theme in his office. Some of the pink items in his office include gloves, masks, patient napkins, cups, polishing hand pieces, and scrubs.

This is the fourth year the office and Schein have made a contribution to help in the fight against breast cancer and help to fund research and care in the fight against all cancers.

… all the staff is thinking pink.