Community Corner

Collins Student's End of Year Party Helps Homeless

Grace Harrison raises funds for Lifebridge.

The following was a courtesy submissions.

Grace Harrison wanted to throw a party to celebrate the close of the school year, and wound up doing a lot more than that.

Grace, 12, is a sixth grader at . When she began planning the party, she saw it as an opportunity to do something good.  She turned it into an event to raise funds for Lifebridge, in Salem.  As the result of her party, the Salem charity received $350, or enough to help 12 of the mission’s homeless clients. 

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She chose because she has volunteered there as a member of the youth group at . She was also inspired after reading a firsthand account of a girl her age who had lived in homeless shelters, and Grace wanted to do something to help.

“I love the feeling that giving brings me,” she said.

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Grace approached the Rev. Laura Biddle, the pastor at Tabernacle, and asked to use that building’s cellar for the May 25 event.  Biddle agreed, waiving the rental fee for that night. 

Promoting the event as a chance to have fun and help a charity, Grace invited more than 50 friends and classmates, each of whom donated $3 to enter, and once inside, purchased snacks and drinks which were donated by Grace’s family. 

The event raised $250 that evening.  On Sunday, May 27, members of the Tabernacle congregation donated an additional $100 after Rev. Biddle told the story of Grace's party at the start of the church service.  

On Thursday, May 31, Grace presented Mark Cote, the director of Lifebridge, with the $350 check.  Grace would like to make her party an annual event. 


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