Page 42 - 1984.Millard.North

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Touching Lives

W hat has bells on the tips of its mental Center each Friday. For them it is
pointed shoes, two floppy "horns" not only a recreational activity but also
~ also with bells, maroon legs, a big physical therapy. According to Owens, it is
smile and was last seen walking through "good for the kids." A direct correlation
Omaha area hospitals? exists between physical coordination and
No, it is not a quack doctor, nor is it the ability for the handicapped to learn.
a poinsettia or a clown as some guessed. The Senior Kim Woods related her exper-
costume was that of a court jester and the iences with the program. Last year she
smile belonged to Senior Sally Meyers. simply observed. "At first I was so
Meyers, along with ten to twelve other depressed." But after becoming involved
students in Friends Inc. and sponsor Dennis with the kids this year she said, "The kids
Owens, visited St. Josephs, Immanuel, and are having fun and it isn't depressing
the Veterans' Home during the Christmas anymore."
season to share their time, talents, and Karen Kris also commented on the
smiles with patients who probably would aspect of depression in relation to volunteer
not get to go home to their families for the work in general. "It is sad in a good way.
holidays. You know you can touch someone's life."
Many of the students discovered one
particular person with whom he/she could .
relate well. For Meyers it was a three-
year-old girl, fascinated with the many bells
on her costume, who climbed into Meyers's
lap. The event was made all the more
poignant by the child's constant refusal to
let the doctors and nurses hold her.
Senior Kris Miller touched the life of
a 13-year-old girl in a similar manner. A
large portion of the students entered her
room and sang "Silent Night", the girls
favorite Christmas carol. Miller tried to talk
to her but the girl was uncommunicative.
"I gave her a hug," said Miller. "And she
started talking about going to Kansas City
with her family for Christmas." As the
group departed, the girl offered Miller a
hug.
Though Friends Inc. is largely organ-
ized around community service, it was not
originally founded for this reason. Friends
Inc., which stands for Friends In Need of
Caring, began five years ago by Owens and
Sue Hart from Millard South. The purpose
was to provide an outlet for seniors who
were angry about the splitting of the
schools.
The need for this outlet is no longer as
prominent as it was five years ago. Thus the
group has begun to focus on people outsid~
of the high school environment.
Friends Inc. was not the only group
responsible for volunteer work. Every
Friday during sixth hour around 30
students met at the pool to participate in ·
the Handicapped Swim Program. The
program has been in existence for nine
years and under the direction of Owens for
the past eight. Ten to twelve physically
handicapped and/or profoundly retarded
students come from the Millard Develop-
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