Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PES students join to support the 39th

When soldiers are deployed, families are left behind and some find that simply getting together makes it easier to bear the separation. That was the idea teacher Julia Ingram had at Prescott Elementary School when she invited four PES students with parents away on active duty to form a club.

I wanted the kids to connect with other kids in the same situation, Ingram said.

Timothy Hopkins, Kalei Gober, Anna Belle Byers and Patrick McKinnon thought it was a good idea and the Freedom Kids was formed.

Ingram said that she had in mind the isolation some children feel when parents go through divorce.

They feel theyre alone and no one else is going through this, she said.

Then Ingram thought that finding a way for the students to unite would create a deeper bond. The students designed wrist bands, but then came up with a bigger idea.

Instead of only the members of the Freedom Kids wearing the wrist bands, they decided to use it as a community fundraiser. With that in mind they sought out some advice, selected colors that soldiers are allowed to wear as well, and are now selling the wrist bands at $1 each. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8671s Ladies Auxiliary to purchase international phone cards for members of the 39th Brigade.

VFW Ladies Auxiliary member Mary Ray said she thought the plan was a great idea and her organization helped pay for the first order of bracelets.

While raising money is the obvious goal, theres another attached to the effort.

I hope itll be a reminder of our troops who are away, Ingram said.