Celebrating the valley's young people
There's plenty to celebrate about the Flathead Valley's young people. Honesty, integrity and generosity are still in style here at home within their ranks.
Corey York was leaving her job at Flathead High School one afternoon last month only to discover that the back end of her van had been crushed in the school parking lot. She initially saw the damage as her bad luck, thinking whoever had caused it was long gone.
However, Scott Harmon, a student at FHS had done the right thing - he took responsibility for the accident, left his contact information on the van's windshield and apologized.
"Scott Harmon is a young man of integrity," York wrote. "It was an inconvenience but because of his honesty, that was all that it was."
York was relieved to know that not only would she not have to pay for something they didn't do, but moreover, that there are still people out there who know the difference between right and wrong.
Many of the Yorks' friends have commented on how lucky they were to have the person responsible own up to the fender bender. And even more who know the kind of person Harmon is, have told them they weren't surprised at all.
The seventh and eighth grade students at West Valley School put together a plan early in March to help young victims of the tsunami that struck Asia Dec. 26.
The kids pitched in on the fund-raising project by coming up with a donation of a ton of hay, selling Community Day discount coupons at Herberger's, and a manning a hot apple cider stand. All told the students were able to raise over $800.
The involvement of the community was a major factor in their success said West Valley's science teacher Kim Davis. The kids thanked Herberger's for the chance to be involved in the Community Days event, all the businesses that allowed them to place donation/raffle boxes, and a big thanks went to Wally and Michelle Wilkinson and Duane and Nancy Nelson who generously donated the hay for the raffle.
Finally, thanks goes out to everyone who bought raffle tickets, bought community coupons and bought snacks from the basketball tournament concession stand. Each and every donation contributed to the students achieving their goal.
The kids want their efforts to directly benefit children victims of the tsunami, so they chose to send the money to "Lifeline of Hope," a nonprofit international adoption and orphan aid mission with a headquarters in Kalispell. As the tsunami's long-term effects take hold of the Asian region, Lifeline of Hope is working to provide ongoing support to the area's orphans, construct permanent and expand existing orphanage facilities, and deliver medical supplies and toiletries.
To find out how to help call 257-0868; or write to Lifeline of Hope, Tsunami Orphan Relief Project, 135 Kelly Road, Kalispell, MT 59901; or visit www.lifelineofhope.org.