Big, beautiful bouquets to students at Akron’s St. Sebastian Catholic School, who abandoned their uniforms Friday to don jeans and pink clothing to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society.Although it was a very relaxed look, these children, like so many others, know all too well about the seriousness of a cancer diagnosis. That’s why they embraced the idea of digging deep to donate to the cause with special recognition given to October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Winter coat drive Got gently used winter coats (primarily in children’s sizes), gloves, hats and boots you no longer need?Please consider donating them from 5 to 8 tonight at the Classic Car Cruise at the Riverfront Mall complex, Cuyahoga Falls.The need is great and the gifts, up to now, have been light.The coat giveaway has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 29 at the Natatorium and the planners/collectors — Don Sitts and Stephanie Bendel of Don Sitts Auto Group and Silver Lakes Police Sgt. Dann M. Nivens — want to make sure there are enough to go around; and they also need time to get them cleaned. Jim and Theresa
Croyle, owners of White Swan and Quality Cleaners, have donated their services.If you can’t make tonight’s event, you can still drop off your items at the Silver Lake or Cuyahoga Falls police departments.Up to the challengeMajor kudos to everyone who has committed to crochet or knit hats and/or mittens in time for winter for children in foster care served by Summit County Children Services.The challenge was sent out by Laurel Lake Retirement Community in memory of resident Eleanor Cole, who before her death made on average 300 hats a year for the agency.Ninety-year-old Ann Bialy of Akron had her son drop off a large box of hats and scarves. Since then a Wadsworth woman who wishes to remain anonymous has been threaded into the cause: “I have been crocheting hats for a year or more. Have given them to friends, Goodwill, and sent a box full to my daughter in Michigan to take to an elementary school. I have more finished. How about I send you a box of 20 or so for whomever you choose? “I just have a lot of time since retiring, so it gives me something to do and if someone else can benefit, even better.”Style showThe Akron chapter of the Christ Child Society is hosting its 42nd annual boutique (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and luncheon style show Nov. 19 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. The main centerpiece is Lorna’s Vine, an Amish quilt designed by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins, which is up for raffle. It took Judges Choice in the recent Baskets of Quilts Show (out of 100 entries) at Bath Church of Christ.The noon luncheon will be followed by the style show featuring fashions from Toni in Style, Chagrin Falls. For a reservation, which is a must, please call Micki Trenta at 330-668-9068.All quilt questions should be directed to Diana Lucia at 330-836-5217. To purchase tickets, please call Jill Vogel at 330-322-5823. If you’re interested in donating a gift certificate or item to the boutique, please call Shannon Galehouse at 330-929-3665. In the event you’re not familiar with the good works CCS supports, please take note of the numbers from 2010-11:• 1,500 clothing requests — that includes school uniform shirts, pants and sweaters; also coats, hats, gloves, socks and undergarments.• Tutoring for 60 students. “Once a week … four dedicated volunteers tutored students at a local elementary school,” spokeswoman Sharon Connor said.• 31 Infant Bereavement Kits — The kits, delivered to local hospitals, included an infant-size blanket and gown for families who were grieving a deceased infant.• 625 Friendship Bags — Personal-care items were given to children being removed from their homes.• 338 layettes — Distributed to mothers of infants (recommended by hospitals). The gift included diapers, blankets, onesies, socks, bibs, washcloths, bottles, wipes, burp cloths, a sweater set and a book.• An infinite number of meals for the Ronald McDonald House. Members have prepared and delivered meals once a month since 1985 to the families who stay at the house. • Additional support for Cancer Camp, Children’s Hospital, Pregnancy Care and various mission groups.King tile pickupIf you attended Akron’s King Elementary School in the late 1990s, this may be of special significance.“In 1997-98, Sue Delac (art teacher) and a number of parent volunteers took on a face-tile project to celebrate the 75th anniversary of King School,” wrote Jan Enright, retired principal (1996-2003). “As you know, King is slated to come down this week, but the face tiles (one for each child and teacher) were painstakingly removed (a few broke) over the summer and stored at the transition building at 400 W. Market St.“There has been so much interest from students wanting their tiles that [we] have made arrangements for a tile pick-up Oct. 17 and 18 at the West Market Street building. Donations will be gladly accepted for a new project for the new school.”According to Enright, the youngest student would be a senior in high school now.Interested parties should contact Enright (not the school) at janisenright@att.netSpaghetti fundraiserFriends of Patti Schaefer have come together to organize a benefit to help with the enormous expense of caring for her. She was diagnosed in 2007 at the age of 52 with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.“Because of her rapidly declining condition, Patti has required the care of a nursing home for over a year, with the burden of the expenses falling on her husband, Paul,” a spokeswoman for the fundraiser wrote. “As longtime Valley City (Medina County) residents and business owners, Paul and Patti have always generously given of themselves to assist their community, making many friends and touching many lives along the way. Friends and family are now returning the favor by organizing a spaghetti dinner and raffle to benefit the newly established Patti Schaefer Benevolent Fund at FirstMerit Bank (any branch) to assist with Patti’s mounting care expenses.”The dinner/50-50 raffle/prize drawing is planned for 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 1800 Station Road, Valley City. Tickets are $15 at the church; Beriswill Farm Market, 2200 Station Road, Liverpool Township, Medina County; or by calling Anne Barth (330-723-7378), Debbie Schaefer (330-723-3731), Denise Vasel (330-483-4336) or Cathy Keller (330-416-9043). Carryout available.Benefit dinnerA benefit dinner is in the works for Mike Pletikapich, a valued, 10-year employee of Summit Ophthalmology, an active member of the community and a parishioner at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Akron. Cathy Melian, who is part of Friends of Mike Pletikapich, shared the back story: “In April 2011, Mike lost his right leg above the knee due to an infection. Mike has required multiple surgeries, four months of hospitalization and has ongoing rehabilitation.”From 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 12, a benefit dinner will be served at the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 7 at 2610 Ley Drive, Akron. Tickets are $15; $12 for adults over 65 and children 3 to 12; free for children under 3.For reservations or information, please call 330-864-8060, ext. 209. Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.