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Volunteers Help Needy Kids With Back Packs
These are some of the backpacks that were stuffed with school supplies and given to needy students in Plant City.
In Plant City, more than 1,000 needy children got the school supplies they needed thanks to the efforts of a civic club, charity, and car dealer- ship.
Volunteers from Unity in Unity in the Community and Plant City Kiwanis Club packed and delivered more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area schools. It was all a part of the
8th annual Kiwanis “Stuff the Bus” campaign.
The backpacks were deliv- ered to 26 schools in the Plant City area, and were handed over the guidance counselors who gave them to deserving children. Unity in the Community donated $10,000, the Kiwanis Club contributed $2,000, and Stingray Chevrolet donated $1,000.
Patient Waiting For Kidney Transplant Needs Assistance
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Ms. Debra Cason said she has always been health conscious. So, when she was diagnosed with kidney dis- ease in 2008, it was some- what of a surprise.
Ms. Cason said she has already been placed on a waiting list and that she completed all of the neces- sary tests in July. However, she needs $12,000 before she can receive the trans- plant when a kidney becomes available.
“I have insurance, but it will only cover the transplant and nothing else. I must raise the $12,000 to cover the other portion of the med- ical and 20% of the cost.
“I have started a go- fundme account to help. I’m just trying to get the word out.
Ms. Cason said she is the third person in her family to be diagnosed with kidney disease. Her mother, who died in 1998, was the first. Her brother was also diag- nosed with the disease.
MS. DEBRA CASON
... On waiting list to receive kidney transplant
A Tampa native, Ms. Cason had worked and lived in the Ft. Lauderdale for 30 years. When her brother died in 2006, she moved back to Tampa. Two years later, she was on dialysis, and has re- main on dialysis for the past 7 years.
“I thought I had a cold and I had noticed that I was having shortness of the breath. When I got to the hospital, I was told my kid- neys weren’t functioning properly.
“I was surprised because I always tried to take care of myself. I ate right, exercised,
and saw my doctor when I should. I did everything I was supposed to do so I didn’t understand how I could get the disease.”
Ms. Cason said once she receives the transplant, she will be able to return to work and obtain the insurance needed to maintain her health.
A Tampa native, Ms. Cason, 63, graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1969. She continued her ed- ucation at Florida A & M University, where she earned a B. S. degree in Sociology.
After graduating from college, she entered the workforce in the medical field. Ms. Cason said she is currently taking classes on line to update her medical certification.
The mother of two sons, Ms. Cason enjoys reaching and learning new things.
Anyone wishing to con- tact Ms. Cason can reach her at csndebra98@gmail. com. Anyone wishing to make a contribution can visit the account at www.go- fundme.com/transplantDC.
FYI
21st Annual Search Underway For Nation’s Top Youth Volunteers
Over the past 20 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been given to more than 115,000 middle and high school students across the country for helping people in need, raising awareness of worthy causes, addressing needs in their hometowns and many other volunteer activities.
Now through November 3, students in grades 5-12 who vol- unteer are invited to apply for 2016 awards at http://spirit.pru- dential.com or at www.nassp.org/spirit.
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