The Kind of Youth we have In North Little Rock--
Youths’ project helps family recover from fire
North Little Rock Times 3.3.05
Marcus Howard
Every year, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, children usually spend their after-school time giving second reads to the red-and-pink cards they’ve collected from their friends and sweethearts. Afternoon candy feasts are also standard.
But this year, six-year-old Keyaira Johnson watched her family’s home at 400 Beech St. destroyed by fire after a Valentine’s Day party at the Sherman Park Our Club; her usual after-school haunt a half-block away.
The North Little Rock Mayor’s Youth Council had thrown the party for the club, and found themselves throwing another bash a week later to present a donation of household items they collected for Keyaira’s family, with the help of Butterfly Community Ministries.
Jan Scholl, director of the teen group, said that having seen the fire from a window while wrapping up the party was what made the Youth Council want to pitch in.
“We have a way of personalizing everything we witness,” she said, “and my first thought was ‘How do you live through losing everything?’”
Scholl added that house fires have also personally affected other Youth Council members, three of whom had previously lost their homes to fire.
“It was such a sad thing to see [Keyaira’s grandmother] going back into the house alone [after the fire],” she said. “It was certainly a downer to be there to have a nice party for the children, and then have this happen.”
Scholl said that she sent out an e-mail message to the members of Youth Council, informing them of the fire and asking for help with donations. And the group’s members took it from there, she said, heading up a drive to help replace the Berry family’s material losses.
“They just poured out all their hearts to those people,” she said, adding that the Youth Council’s 75 members logged more than 10,000 hours of community service last year. “Kids have the biggest hearts, but they get a bad rap because people don’t realize this. If you need something done, kids will do it and do it with heart.”
Natalie Stagg, a senior at North Little Rock High School who has been a member of the Youth Council for three years, said that when she got the message from her group’s director, she “kind of took over from there” and spearheaded the donation drive.
“I really like volunteering and organizing stuff,” she said. “By volunteering, it’s helped me realize and see we take a lot of stuff for granted. It’s just nice knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”
The Youth Council and the nonprofit Butterfly Ministries teamed up to collect furniture, food, clothing, electronics and appliances for the family. They were even able to supply Keyaira with some toys.
“[Keyaira] was excited and was loving the idea of having a desk in her room, because she is a good little student,” Scholl said. “We felt really good that we could make a difference for that child and her family.
“Everything matched and it was amazing how it all came together. All they have to do is move in, and they’re all set.”
Rose Berry, Keyaira’s grandmother, said that she and the girl were at home and watching television in different rooms when the fire erupted. Keyaira called to her from a room in the back of the house, saying that she’s seen the fire, Berry said.
Veronica Berry, Keyaira’s aunt, said that she was at work at the time.
“I was hurt,” she said recalling her initial reactions. “I felt a lot of hurt.”
The tragedy was amplified by the fact that her mother had lost her husband a few weeks earlier, Veronica Berry said.
She said they’ve been living with her older sister since the fire, and they’re still looking for a new home, but the donations the received at the “welcome home shower” will go a long way toward starting over.
“The donations helped out a lot,” she said. “I was very surprised. It just feels really good.”
She said that the help they received also touched Keyaira.
“[Keyaira] was happy, and when she saw me, she told me all about it,” she said, adding that her niece went on at length about the toys, clothes and candy that were collected for her.
North Little Rock Times 3.3.05
Marcus Howard
Every year, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, children usually spend their after-school time giving second reads to the red-and-pink cards they’ve collected from their friends and sweethearts. Afternoon candy feasts are also standard.
But this year, six-year-old Keyaira Johnson watched her family’s home at 400 Beech St. destroyed by fire after a Valentine’s Day party at the Sherman Park Our Club; her usual after-school haunt a half-block away.
The North Little Rock Mayor’s Youth Council had thrown the party for the club, and found themselves throwing another bash a week later to present a donation of household items they collected for Keyaira’s family, with the help of Butterfly Community Ministries.
Jan Scholl, director of the teen group, said that having seen the fire from a window while wrapping up the party was what made the Youth Council want to pitch in.
“We have a way of personalizing everything we witness,” she said, “and my first thought was ‘How do you live through losing everything?’”
Scholl added that house fires have also personally affected other Youth Council members, three of whom had previously lost their homes to fire.
“It was such a sad thing to see [Keyaira’s grandmother] going back into the house alone [after the fire],” she said. “It was certainly a downer to be there to have a nice party for the children, and then have this happen.”
Scholl said that she sent out an e-mail message to the members of Youth Council, informing them of the fire and asking for help with donations. And the group’s members took it from there, she said, heading up a drive to help replace the Berry family’s material losses.
“They just poured out all their hearts to those people,” she said, adding that the Youth Council’s 75 members logged more than 10,000 hours of community service last year. “Kids have the biggest hearts, but they get a bad rap because people don’t realize this. If you need something done, kids will do it and do it with heart.”
Natalie Stagg, a senior at North Little Rock High School who has been a member of the Youth Council for three years, said that when she got the message from her group’s director, she “kind of took over from there” and spearheaded the donation drive.
“I really like volunteering and organizing stuff,” she said. “By volunteering, it’s helped me realize and see we take a lot of stuff for granted. It’s just nice knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”
The Youth Council and the nonprofit Butterfly Ministries teamed up to collect furniture, food, clothing, electronics and appliances for the family. They were even able to supply Keyaira with some toys.
“[Keyaira] was excited and was loving the idea of having a desk in her room, because she is a good little student,” Scholl said. “We felt really good that we could make a difference for that child and her family.
“Everything matched and it was amazing how it all came together. All they have to do is move in, and they’re all set.”
Rose Berry, Keyaira’s grandmother, said that she and the girl were at home and watching television in different rooms when the fire erupted. Keyaira called to her from a room in the back of the house, saying that she’s seen the fire, Berry said.
Veronica Berry, Keyaira’s aunt, said that she was at work at the time.
“I was hurt,” she said recalling her initial reactions. “I felt a lot of hurt.”
The tragedy was amplified by the fact that her mother had lost her husband a few weeks earlier, Veronica Berry said.
She said they’ve been living with her older sister since the fire, and they’re still looking for a new home, but the donations the received at the “welcome home shower” will go a long way toward starting over.
“The donations helped out a lot,” she said. “I was very surprised. It just feels really good.”
She said that the help they received also touched Keyaira.
“[Keyaira] was happy, and when she saw me, she told me all about it,” she said, adding that her niece went on at length about the toys, clothes and candy that were collected for her.
posted by Steve Nawojczyk at 7:33 AM
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