Fundraising efforts underway to add all-inclusive playground equipment to Grinnell’s Central Park4/1/2023 The City of Grinnell and its Parks & Recreation board are planning an extension of all-inclusive playground equipment onto the Central Park playground. Fundraising efforts have begun to build a play area to the south of the existing playground. This extension will allow all children, regardless of abilities, to play together freely. The proposed design will include sensory-rich components throughout. It will allow all children to play without the help of their parent/guardian to access the equipment. The six proposed new features will have interactive capabilities including a large arch feature that mobile app users can use to play hundreds of different games to improve motor and cognitive skills. This feature would only be the third one of its kind in the state of Iowa.
Through our research, we have found more than 11 percent of children locally have a disability of some kind. Although the city’s traditional playground equipment is considered accessible by ADA standards, not all children have the same opportunities to play in the same play spaces. This extension to the Central Park playground will add a space where everyone can play while enhancing the jewel park of the city’s park system. In conversations with community members who have personal experience with children that have a disability, it was conveyed that families with a child who has special needs seek out all-inclusive playgrounds. Over the last decade, as playground manufacturers have evolved their product, a focus on inclusive play equipment has popularized. The initiative has collected $200,000 in funding and private gifts, which are either pledged or in hand, of the $300,000 estimated project budget. The goal to install the playground would be the spring of 2024. Once it is built, the Central Park all-inclusive playground will serve the youth of Grinnell and the surrounding communities and allow all children, regardless of ability, a play space to learn and play freely together. Those interested in learning more about the Central Park All-inclusive Playground can contact Grinnell Parks & Recreation Director, Jordan Allsup at 641-236-2620 or at jallsup@grinnelliowa.gov.
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Davis Elementary students and teachers who gathered more than 1,800 food items during a student-led food drive earlier this year are, from left, front row: Mateo Rodrigues, Emalee Harris, Thea Hanson, Ava Gnau, Nora Laver, Noah Graham. Middle row: Clara Sandeno, Govanni Garcia-Rodriguez, Benjamin Graham, Beatrice Robinson, Grace Conway, Paul Schubert, Cora Kaltsas. Back row: April Gosselink-Lemke, Instructional Coach; Maggie Lindberg, Gabriel Hernandez-Perez, Ryder Scarcello, Cooper Muckler, Emmett Brown, Malachi Emerson and Reagan Mackie, fourth grade teacher at Davis Elementary. Submitted photo. Davis Elementary School third and fourth graders learned the importance of making a difference in the lives of others through a student-led community food drive. The food drive, which was held in January and February, was part of a service-based learning project at the school where students learned everything from how to create and work in committees to doing interviews, creating a website and flyer and script creation and phone etiquette. The project included the students learning from community partners like MICA, Grinnell College, Grinnell Food Coalition, The Iowa Kitchen and Tiger Packs.
The students set a goal of collecting 500 food items to donate to MICA. They had collection boxes at Davis Elementary and Grinnell-Newburg Community Schools, Drake Community Library, Grinnell Chamber office, GARC, Grinnell Mutual Insurance, Pioneer Bookshop, Grinnell College and Hy-Vee. The food drive netted more than 1,800 food items along with monetary donations, which were used to purchase additional food items at Hy-Vee. April Gosselink-Lemke is the instructional coach and Reagan Mackie is a fourth grade teacher at Davis. Lisa Wang and her son, Jack, age 5, who was diagnosed with Batten’s disease in October, enjoys a moment together during a benefit on behalf of the Wang family on Saturday, March 4 in Malcom. The benefit raised more than $58,000. Batten’s disease is a very rare and rapidly progressing brain disease. It is an inherited disorder that primarily affects the nervous system. It is a fatal disease and there is no cure. By J.O. Parker
Folks came dressed in “Attack 4 Jack” shirts with hearts of compassion and open pocketbooks to help the family of a 5-year-old Brooklyn boy who is fighting for his life. Jack Wang, the son of Mike and Lisa Wang, was diagnosed in October with NCL2, also known as Batten’s disease, a very rare and rapidly progressing brain disease. It is an inherited disorder that primarily affects the nervous system. It is a fatal disease and there is no cure. An estimated 320 people filed into the Malcom American Legion Hall on Saturday, March 4 for a benefit meal and auction held on behalf of Jack, who is in preschool at BGM Elementary School. Attendees enjoyed a pork meal with all the fixings followed by a gun raffle and silent and live auctions. By the end of the evening, more than $58,000 was raised for the Wang family. Everything was donated from the meal to the auction items and even the auctioneers gave their time. And American Legion members gave all their tips from the bar to help the family. All the funds from the event go to the Wang family. “We just appreciate what everyone has done for our family,” said Lisa of the benefit for her son. “I know Jack is very appreciative, even though he can’t say it.” “It’s great seeing the community come together to help this family,” said Tonya Kuntz, who was at the benefit with her husband and two children. Angie Thompson recalled when a benefit auction was held for her family in 2006 after her husband had a heart attack. Since then, Thompson has been donating to auctions and volunteering her time to help other families. She said it is the best gift she can give. “It was very rewarding what the community did for us,” said Thompson. “It’s very rewarding to give back to the community that helped us years ago.” “It’s always an honor to be an auctioneer at these benefits,” said Brady McClenathan, one of three auctioneers at the benefit. “It never surprises me what a small community can do for a family in need.” Shannon Arment, Jack’s preschool teacher at BGM, said Jack is a sweet, loving and happy boy. “His smile will melt your heart and his laugh and giggles are contagious,” Arment said in an earlier interview. Arment said Jack loves animals, especially farm animals, and his favorite song is “Old MacDonald.” “His face lights up when you sing it to him,” said Arment. “He loves listening to music and watching any Disney movie. He enjoys listening to books especially books with animals. He also likes playing with dinosaurs and going to the zoo. Jack loves seeing his friends at school and gets excited when they come up to him and greet him. His friends love seeing him, too.” “We are so appreciative when a small town comes together,” said Chelsey Plants, who helped organize the benefit. “Daniel McCammant, who was at the benefit in support of the family, said it was great seeing everyone come together for Jack and his family. “Thank you to the community for supporting this family in their time of need,” said John McCammant, who helped with organizing the benefit and auction. “It’s amazing.” “I’m used to doing for others,” said Jack’s mother, Lisa. “All of this is so heartwarming.” UnityPoint Health - Grinnell: Unity Point Health – Grinnell was recognized as the 2023 Business of the Year for its work and dedication to the Grinnell and surrounding community. The award was presented to Jennifer Havens, President & CEO of UPH Grinnell, and the board during the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce annual celebration on Wednesday, March 8. Pictured are, from left: Leah Van Rees, Lisa Hart, Donna Fischer, Henry Rietz, Jennifer Havens, Bill Menner, Kim Jones and Sarah Smith. The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce recognized UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center as the 2023 Business of the Year at its Annual Celebration, which took place March 8 at the Grinnell College Golf Course. “We are humbled and thrilled to have received this honor from the Chamber,” said Jennifer Havens, President & CEO of UPH Grinnell. “Our team members have been through so much the past few years, and it’s really encouraging to see them and our organization recognized for the hard work and dedication to our community’s health.” The Chamber recognized UnityPoint Health for their demonstrated history of success in the Grinnell community and surrounding region. “UnityPoint Health - Grinnell is a significant contributor to our local economy; they have shown innovation out of necessity and work tirelessly to keep our residents healthy,” noted Steve Gant, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce. The Grinnell Chamber’s Annual Celebration recognizes outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals in a variety of award categories. Nominations are sought from the public, with the final recipients chosen by a selection committee composed of chamber of commerce members. In addition to naming UnityPoint Health - Grinnell as the 2023 Business of the Year, the Chamber recognized other businesses, organizations and individuals during the event, which was sponsored by The Bill Menner Group, Grinnell College and UnityPoint Health - Grinnell. The award recipients and a brief description of each are included below: Restaurant of the Year: Prairie Canary finds creative ways to engage with a broader audience offering a variety of special evenings and occasional brunches. Appealing to residents and visitors alike, the business utilizes locally sourced products whenever possible. They recently took the opportunity to reinvent a previously underutilized space in their building, renovating the lower level to a fun and trendy, password protected (code: 2023) Speakeasy. Service Business of the Year: MCG (Mahaska Communications Group) has shown substantial growth over the past few years both in physical locations as well as service offerings. Having officially broken ground in the community in 2021, they have become a trusted and engaged community partner, working to help address community-wide access to broadband, and assisting with standing up hotspots for events and even partnering with their sister company to provide temporary lighting in the community when needed. GrinnTogether Awards: These awards aim to highlight positive collaborations and recognize businesses, individuals and organizations who are doing exemplary work to make Grinnell a great place to live, learn, work and play. 1. 100+ People Who Care: Born from a vision by local philanthropists, the group aims to meet financial needs of organizations in the area. The collective philanthropy from this group has supported efforts in and around the Grinnell community to the tune of more than $285,000. Now 130 members strong, the group continues to grow and support even more causes into the future. 2. Liz Hansen: An educator in the Grinnell-Newburg School District for 32 years, she hasn’t strayed far from education in ‘retirement.’ Her work with the Grinnell Education Partnership and the Grinnell Newburg School Foundation helps support local families by focusing on equitable solutions - including affordable internet access and summer enrichment programming - for those in our community. She recently authored a children’s book and is donating the books’ proceeds to PALS. 3. Read 2 Lead: Their work to help address early childhood literacy spans many community partnerships and their collaboration with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library offers a book delivered monthly to children ages 0-5. Their Back 2 School Bash helped secure more than $10,000 - a real commitment to help support the schools’ literacy efforts and local elementary students. 4. Dustin Sharp, Sharp Barbering: Dustin has dedicated time and effort to build his business, made time to advocate for his trade locally and regionally which ultimately gained support via an apprenticeship program, and serves as an educator to others in his industry. Opening his businesses doors to provide free haircuts for area youth is just one tangible example of his leadership and positive impact in the Grinnell community. The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce works to support its member businesses and organizations, and community at-large. “We have tremendous businesses and organizations in our community,” noted Rachael Kinnick, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We are grateful to each and every one of them for their part in making Grinnell an extraordinary place to live, learn, work and play.” For more information on how to join the Chamber or get involved, please visit grinnellchamber.org or call 641-236-6555. Restaurant of the Year: Kalyn and Paul Durr, owners of Prairie Canary in Grinnell, where honored with the Restaurant of the Year Award during the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce annual celebration held on Wednesday, March 8. Service Business of the Year: MCG (Mahaska Communications Group) has shown substantial growth over the past few years both in physical locations as well as service offerings. Having officially broken ground in the community in 2021, they have become a trusted and engaged community partner, working to help address community-wide access to broadband, and assisting with standing up hotspots for events and even partnering with their sister company to provide temporary lighting in the community when needed. 100+ People Who Care: Born from a vision by local philanthropists, the group aims to meet financial needs of organizations in the area. The collective philanthropy from this group has supported efforts in and around the Grinnell community to the tune of more than $285,000. Now 130 members strong, the group continues to grow and support even more causes into the future. Read 2 Lead: Their work to help address early childhood literacy spans many community partnerships and their collaboration with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library offers a book delivered monthly to children ages 0-5. Their Back 2 School Bash helped secure more than $10,000 - a real commitment to help support the schools’ literacy efforts and local elementary students. Dustin Sharp, Sharp Barbering: Dustin has dedicated time and effort to build his business, made time to advocate for his trade locally and regionally which ultimately gained support via an apprenticeship program, and serves as an educator to others in his industry. Opening his businesses doors to provide free haircuts for area youth is just one tangible example of his leadership and positive impact in the Grinnell community.
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