United Methodist Women: Nancy Smith

United Methodist Women (UMW) have participated in helping with several Jo Kelly school carnivals. The students that go to this school have challenges that make it impossible for them to be a part of a carnival without help. The kids are severely disabled and some of them have multiple disabilities. We have pushed wheelchairs, helped the kids roll a ball to hit stacked aluminum cans, put their hands on a noise maker, helped with a catapult that shoots stuffed animals into a playpen or helped them take part in the wheelchair cake walk where the kids win a bright colored leis that they wear. There is a small noticeable reaction from some of the kids either in a sound or a little smile and the teachers feel our support in helping with this event. There is something that all of us can do to help, even with vision problems like Jeanne Boyd has, who helps with the rhyym band or physical issues like Nancy Boddie has, who has helped with name tags. 

We also have helped serve a Thanksgiving feast for the teachers,  helped push wheelchairs for their themed prom and helped with the modified Special Olympics in the spring.

UMW has also had work sessions to make cloth bibs that the students wear.  Again, there is something that everyone can do, from cutting out the material to sewing them to stacking the completed bibs. It is a rewarding gathering as we talk while we work and watch our pile of finished bibs grow.

Most of the ladies who have helped at Jo Kelly school have been there more than once-we have been able to shine a light in an otherwise dreary day and given of ourselves to those whose reactions are limited and subtle. But we know what we did in Christian love and service.