Children’s Ark Helps Moms Become Better Parents
Parenting is never easy, but it’s more difficult for some than others.
Parents whose children are placed in foster care often do not receive the necessary support and education to improve their parenting skills. So, when their children are returned to them, they often repeat the same mistakes and the children are again returned to foster care.
Janet and Paul Mann, who have cared for more than 50 children in eight years, opened The Children’s Ark in hopes of reducing the number of children caught in this vicious cycle.
Mothers and children stay at The Children’s Ark from 6 to 18 months. In nearly two years of existence, six mothers and seven children have “graduated” from the program. The Manns also provide respite care for other foster families and kids who have lived in their home.
“We provide the individual attention necessary to these mothers and their children,” said Janet Mann. “We act as a surrogate family.”
The Children’s Ark is an innovative foster parenting program that provides protection and nurturing of a foster family home for young children, with a residential support and education program for their mothers. It’s the only opportunity in Spokane for children in foster care to remain with their mothers in a supervised setting. In fact, it’s believed there is no program exactly like it anywhere in the United States.
The third annual fall benefit dinner for The Children’s Ark will be Sept. 30, beginning at at 6 p.m with a reception and tour of the home, 2236 W. Pacific. Dinner at 7:30 will be served at The Cannon Street Grill. A donation of $100 per person is requested. Seating is limited.
Donations are the organization’s primary source of funding. Call 455-5035 for reservations or to make a tax-deductible donation.
More fund-raisers
The 14th annual Fallen Leaf Fun Run, sponsored by the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation of Washington, will be at 10 a.m., Sept. 29, in Manito Park; check-in is at 8:30.
Proceeds from the run help support the foundation’s local efforts and research into sudden infant death syndrome.
Following the run will be an awards ceremony for winners in various age groups, and drawings for other prizes.
Call 456-0505 for more information.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane began a UPC symbol collection drive, Sept. 15 which will continue through the end of the year.
Ronald McDonald Houses will receive Kimberly-Clark products for UPC symbols redeemed from Kleenex, Scott’s Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes, Scott Family Napkins, Poise Pads and Guards, Lightdays Pantiliners, Huggies Diapers, Pull-Ups Training Pants, Scott 1000 Bathroom Tissue, Scott Clean Paper Towels, Depend Incontinent Products, Kotex Feminine Products, New Freedom Feminine Products, Huggies Baby Wipes and Goodnites Underpants.
Labels should be sent to Spokane Ronald McDonald House, 1015 W. Fifth, Spokane, WA. 99204-3001.
KPBX-FM, Spokane Public Radio, will present a concert with ragtime pianist Dick Zimmerman and vocalist Ann Fennessy at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at The Met.
A wine tasting by Mountain Dome Winery and gourmet cookies from Cobblestone Baking Co, will be served during intermission.
The concert is underwritten by Lukins and Annis, P.S., and Group Health Northwest. All proceeds benefit KPBX.
Tickets are available at the station, 2319 N. Monroe.
For more information, call Kathy Grabicki-Sackett, 328-5729 or (800) 328-5729.
Events
“A Greek Grandmother’s Story: Yaya Sofia’s Village” will introduce children to the Greek culture when The Children’s Museum of Spokane opens its storefront quarters on Oct. 3 in River Park Square.
Following a mosaic path that leads to a white-washed house, children will learn how the Greeks make baskets, prepare food, and dry herbs, apricots and figs. They will also observe architectural forms from niches to arches.
Kids can don festive costumes and grind wheat and coffee, smell spices and watch weaving and pottery in the making.
The museum’s several hands-on interactive exhibits will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays, through Dec. 29.
Admission is free to founding members, and $2.50 for non-members. Children under 1 are admitted free.
George Karl, head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, will be the guest speaker for Gonzaga Student Body Association’s Annual Speakers Series, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, at GU’s Martin Center.
“It’s great to have someone who has contributed so much to the Northwest (to) take time to come to Spokane and address our students and the public,” said Ryan Mullarky, the association’s vice president of activities.
Karl is expected to discuss the essence of competition and winning.
Admission is $5. For more information, call 328-4220, ext. 2272 or ext. 5824.
Volunteer Opportunities
Make-A-Wish of Washington State-Spokane will conduct an orientation and volunteer training session from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, in The Heart Institute’s second-floor classroom.
“Make-A-Wish strives to grant the highest quality wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses,” said Judy Rogers, director. “To do this, we need trained, dedicated, caring volunteers.”
For more information, or to make reservations, call Rogers at 458-2618.
Sacred Heart Hospital’s Service League invites community members to an informational session from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, in the hospital’s Leahy Room. Service volunteers will discuss programs and answer questions for those interested in volunteering.
“There’s something about helping out - whichever way you choose to do it - that just makes you feel good,” a spokeswoman said.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will have its 1996 Volunteer Recognition Event, Oct. 23, at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute.
Each year, RSVP recognizes dedicated senior volunteers who donate their talent, expertise and time. In 1995, 172,000 service hours were donated at 101 work-stations throughout Spokane.
RSVP needs a sponsor for volunteer lunches ($175 for 38 lunches) and a sponsor for 396 anniversary mugs ($120 for 36 mugs). Also needed are donations of goods or services to be awarded as door prizes, and money to be used as needed.
Donations must be received by Sept. 25. For more information, call Peggy Gross at 838-3577.
Nonprofit News
Shea Construction, along with subcontractors and the donation of land from Wells Fargo Bank, will partner with Habitat for Humanity-Spokane to build a home in one week.
Habitat for Humanity provides a means for low-income families to become home-owners.
This is Shea’s second “blitz-built” Habitat home.
David Shea, president of Shea Construction Inc., is building the second Blitz House to celebrate his company’s 10th anniversary.
“We have a greater commitment to this community than (just) to make profit and find our livelihood,” said Shea.
A dedication ceremony for the latest Habitat home, 2618 E. Boone, will be at 5 p.m. Saturday.
xxxx HEALTH NOTES Mental Awareness Week, Oct. 6 to 12, will be filled with a variety of events, sponsored by Eastern State Hospital, Spokane Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane Mental Health and Spokane Regional Support Network. The week begins with a candlelight service at 6 p.m. in Riverfront Park’s Lilac Bowl. Other highlights include: Oct. 7, 5-6:30 p.m. - suicide prevention training, sponsored by Suicide Prevention Task Force, Room 320, Spokane County Health District Building. Oct 7, 7-9 p.m. - conference for parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Providence Auditorium. Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. - free depression screenings, sponsored by Greentree Behavioral Health, 524 W. Sixth. Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - depression screening, sponsored by Spokane Mental Health, at Gonzaga University’s Crosby Student Union. For more information, or a complete calendar of the week’s events, call Terri Ann Fredette, 838-4651. The following classes will be at Valley Hospital and Medical Center: Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 p.m. - “Smoke-Free,” two phases: “preparation and quitting,” group sessions for eight weeks; followed by eight-month “maintenance and staying-quit” phase; Classroom B. The first session is a free orientation. Call 744-7666 for more information or to register. Tuesday, 7-8:30 p.m. - “Men and Prostate Cancer: Be Informed.” The free informational meeting covers early detection, diagnosis and treatment options; Classroom A. Sept. 25, Oct. 2 and 9, 7-9 p.m. - “Anger, Assertion and You,” a three-part series focusing on expression of feelings in a productive manner, overcoming barriers to healthy self-expression, learning how and when to say no, and anger management techniques; Classroom A.