Thumbs Up! April 27, 2015

All across the country, the annual Great American Cleanup has come and gone for this spring. In Lee County, numerous citizens, both young and not so young, gathered to improve the appearance of their community. Among the trash busters could be found the Lee County High School Navy ROTC cadets, the city of Leesburg’s Law Enforcement Explorers and a group known as the Kinchafoonee Cleanup Crew. The day was also designated as an amnesty day at the county landfill, allowing citizens to rid themselves of unwanted items at no charge. Community service workers separated the debris and several hundred pounds were sent to recycling instead of the dump. In just that one day, handled by volunteers alone, 27 1/2 tons of all sorts of litter, as well as 154 vehicle tires, were removed from roadsides and properties of Lee County.

Albany Technical College and Albany State University recently signed an articulation agreement which enables a student to attend both schools and earn a four-year business degree. As the cost of obtaining any level of higher education continues to soar, it is this sort of out-of-the-box thinking, planning and implementing of student choices that paints the most accurate picture of how the future of a college education is beginning to shape up. With three institutes of higher learning, students in this city have many unique opportunities to continue to learn and become successful, contributing citizens. There are great number of young people about to graduate from high school that will need to become desirable members of the workforce, and soon. Darton, ASU and ATC are all waiting to be a part of the class of 2015’s future.

Carol Hay Hollomon was the mother of Megan, a child with disabilities that required constant care and oversight and lived to only the age of 14. It was this woman who spearheaded the idea of a respite house, appropriately called Megan’s House. Knowing the difficulties shared by many parents of disabled children, Megan’s mom, as she liked to be called, and Easter Seals of Southern Georgia are the reasons there is such a place in Albany, Thomasville, and Waycross. Easter Seals West Georgia also has a respite home in Columbus. Qualified staff offer a break for the caregiver while at the same time providing peace of mind about the care the child will receive. It was this fine lady’s dream to see a bigger house built, one that could accept four children rather than just two at a time. A capital fundraiser started just over a year ago and not long after, Carol Hollomon passed away. Donations have now reached $300,000, an expectation equal to about three years of fund-raising. Most recently, the Albany Bass Club presented a check for $7,100 raised at a tournament. Megan’s mom would be so happy.

Faith Community Outreach offers temporary shelter and assistance primarily to women, often with children, right here in Albany. With the goal to assist the women in returning to a life of self-support, training is also provided as well clothing, hygiene items, food and referrals to community resources. This past week, United Healthcare donated 10 computers for use at the shelter’s new computer lab. The residents can now learn to use a computer, search for jobs and children and teens will be able to complete school assignments. Many obstacles fall in the path of those seeking refuge at Faith Community and one has just been removed. Thank you, United Healthcare for this generous gift.

Golden K Kiwanis Club, Matthews Funeral Home and Mark’s Greenhouse deserve recognition this week for a new granite marker and a red maple tree placed at the Kay Hind Senior Life Enrichment Center. Golden K set the wheels in motion, believing quite rightly that a memorial should be placed at the center in remembrance of all the men and women who served in United States Armed Forces. When asked about the cost of a sizable red maple tree, Mark’s Greenhouse obliged with a free one. Matthews Funeral Home donated the marker. To the club members, the donors and especially to all who have served this nation, thumbs up!

— The Albany Herald Editorial Board