2015 Christmas Program
Click any picture to open slideshow. (December, 2015)
Pumpkin Patch Visit
We had a great time at Pleasant Ridge Pumpkin Patch! Click any picture to open slideshow. (October, 2015)
Comfort Dog Visits Sonshine
SonShine Preschool hosted a four- legged friend named Evie and her human, Sheri Jones. They are a team representing the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Kansas District Comfort Dog Ministry. This is a ministry which helps comfort people in crises such as a death, community disaster or other traumatic events. The dogs can also visit nursing homes.
Sheri visited with the kids about the work that she and Evie do. The kids were then given opportunity to ask questions about Evie. When all questions had been satisfactorily answered, the kids were allowed to pet and hug Evie and, by her request, scratch her tummy. What a special treat to have Sheri and Evie at SonShine! (September, 2015)
Sheri visited with the kids about the work that she and Evie do. The kids were then given opportunity to ask questions about Evie. When all questions had been satisfactorily answered, the kids were allowed to pet and hug Evie and, by her request, scratch her tummy. What a special treat to have Sheri and Evie at SonShine! (September, 2015)
Click a picture below to open slideshow
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Sonshine Preschool: A Miami County Favorite
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Special Delivery: Sonshine Preschool makes placemats for Meals on Wheels
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015
By Brian McCauley [email protected]
www.republic-online.com
Paola Mayor Artie Stuteville feels right at home behind the steering wheel.
As owner of a local taxi service, Stuteville is used to driving throughout town and carrying on conversations with many of Paola’s residents. Those driving and communication skills came in handy last week when Stuteville joined other “community champions” in volunteering to help the Meals on Wheels program.
In honor of the national 2015 March for Meals campaign, public officials and other community members volunteered to deliver meals to homebound Paola seniors last week. Stuteville took her turn March 18, delivering most of her meals to seniors living in the Paola Seniors housing development near Lakemary Center.
Many of the names were familiar to Stuteville, who has lived in the community for many years, and each meal was delivered with a cheerful smile and some friendly conversation.
Nadene Nikiel, Paola site manager for the Mid-America Nutrition Program, said that personal interaction is very important to the seniors. She often tries to switch up the delivery routes for her volunteer drivers so the seniors get to see different faces.
The delivery volunteers also often provide more help than just a simple meal.
Last week, Paola Fire Chief Andy Martin was delivering meals when he learned that a woman’s furnace had quit working. Nikiel said the information was passed on to the woman’s daughter-in-law, who arranged for it to be fixed that night. Paola City Clerk Dan Droste even followed up the next day when he was delivering meals.
Stuteville, Martin and Droste weren’t alone in their volunteer efforts. Other community champions included: Sheriff Frank Kelly, Miami County Commission Chairman Rob Roberts, Miami County Newspapers Group Publisher Sandy Nelson, Sports Editor Gene Morris, and veterans Gene Farmer and Russ O’Meara.
In addition to delivering meals, the community champions delivered laminated placemats made by preschoolers at SonShine Preschool at First Lutheran Church in Paola. The idea was the brainchild of Deacon Josh Simons, who delivered about 60 placemats to the Paola Senior Center earlier this month with his 4-year-old daughter, Rose.
March for Meals is a national campaign during the month of March, initiated by the Meals On Wheels Association of America, which seeks to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of the local community.
Meals on Wheels is operated by the Mid-America Nutrition Program, which covers six local counties and has been working to keep seniors independent since 1981. By providing a balanced meal at a senior dining center or in a senior’s home, the program helps seniors remain healthy, according to a news release.
A new van recently was purchased to deliver meals in Paola, Osawatomie and rural Miami County. Funding for the van was provided by a $17,000 grant from the Baehr Foundation, as well as additional financial contributions from the Paola and Osawatomie Rotary clubs.
By Brian McCauley [email protected]
www.republic-online.com
Paola Mayor Artie Stuteville feels right at home behind the steering wheel.
As owner of a local taxi service, Stuteville is used to driving throughout town and carrying on conversations with many of Paola’s residents. Those driving and communication skills came in handy last week when Stuteville joined other “community champions” in volunteering to help the Meals on Wheels program.
In honor of the national 2015 March for Meals campaign, public officials and other community members volunteered to deliver meals to homebound Paola seniors last week. Stuteville took her turn March 18, delivering most of her meals to seniors living in the Paola Seniors housing development near Lakemary Center.
Many of the names were familiar to Stuteville, who has lived in the community for many years, and each meal was delivered with a cheerful smile and some friendly conversation.
Nadene Nikiel, Paola site manager for the Mid-America Nutrition Program, said that personal interaction is very important to the seniors. She often tries to switch up the delivery routes for her volunteer drivers so the seniors get to see different faces.
The delivery volunteers also often provide more help than just a simple meal.
Last week, Paola Fire Chief Andy Martin was delivering meals when he learned that a woman’s furnace had quit working. Nikiel said the information was passed on to the woman’s daughter-in-law, who arranged for it to be fixed that night. Paola City Clerk Dan Droste even followed up the next day when he was delivering meals.
Stuteville, Martin and Droste weren’t alone in their volunteer efforts. Other community champions included: Sheriff Frank Kelly, Miami County Commission Chairman Rob Roberts, Miami County Newspapers Group Publisher Sandy Nelson, Sports Editor Gene Morris, and veterans Gene Farmer and Russ O’Meara.
In addition to delivering meals, the community champions delivered laminated placemats made by preschoolers at SonShine Preschool at First Lutheran Church in Paola. The idea was the brainchild of Deacon Josh Simons, who delivered about 60 placemats to the Paola Senior Center earlier this month with his 4-year-old daughter, Rose.
March for Meals is a national campaign during the month of March, initiated by the Meals On Wheels Association of America, which seeks to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of the local community.
Meals on Wheels is operated by the Mid-America Nutrition Program, which covers six local counties and has been working to keep seniors independent since 1981. By providing a balanced meal at a senior dining center or in a senior’s home, the program helps seniors remain healthy, according to a news release.
A new van recently was purchased to deliver meals in Paola, Osawatomie and rural Miami County. Funding for the van was provided by a $17,000 grant from the Baehr Foundation, as well as additional financial contributions from the Paola and Osawatomie Rotary clubs.
Soccer balls have special message for preschoolers
Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
By Brian McCauley [email protected]
www.republic-online.com
A recent story time session at SonShine Preschool in Paola had extra special meaning thanks to Mike Morris of Children’s Evangelistic Ministries.
Morris spoke to the preschoolers at First Lutheran Church last month and presented each one with a special gift — a multi-colored soccer ball that also serves as a visual representation of the story of Jesus Christ.
Morris explained how each color represents something different. Gold is a reminder of how heaven will be paved with streets of gold, black represents the sin that separates us from God, red represents the blood of Jesus Christ, white is a reminder that all of our sins can be forgiven, and green is a reminder to grow in Christ each day by reading the Bible and praying.
“God made each one of us different, and he made us special,” Morris told the preschoolers.
He then showed them a video that describes how missionaries like he and his wife Betty have delivered the soccer balls all across the world to places like Mexico, Haiti, Peru, Brazil and Iraq.
“I love to tell the story,” Morris said.
Church members Daryl and Camille Benedict helped fund the purchasing of the soccer balls for the preschoolers.
By Brian McCauley [email protected]
www.republic-online.com
A recent story time session at SonShine Preschool in Paola had extra special meaning thanks to Mike Morris of Children’s Evangelistic Ministries.
Morris spoke to the preschoolers at First Lutheran Church last month and presented each one with a special gift — a multi-colored soccer ball that also serves as a visual representation of the story of Jesus Christ.
Morris explained how each color represents something different. Gold is a reminder of how heaven will be paved with streets of gold, black represents the sin that separates us from God, red represents the blood of Jesus Christ, white is a reminder that all of our sins can be forgiven, and green is a reminder to grow in Christ each day by reading the Bible and praying.
“God made each one of us different, and he made us special,” Morris told the preschoolers.
He then showed them a video that describes how missionaries like he and his wife Betty have delivered the soccer balls all across the world to places like Mexico, Haiti, Peru, Brazil and Iraq.
“I love to tell the story,” Morris said.
Church members Daryl and Camille Benedict helped fund the purchasing of the soccer balls for the preschoolers.
