Local teens help bring awareness, raise funds for new community center
LAUREL — Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”
Dr. King would be proud of two young women from Laurel. Maddy Graham, a sophomore at Laurel-Concord Coleridge (LCC) School and Tyler Recob, a 7th grader at LCC Middle School recently teamed up to bring holiday cheer to others while raising funds for the new Laurel Community Center.
Maddy (Grinch) and Tyler (Cindy Lou Who), garnered donations from family, friends and community members, which in turn, provided a surprise visit to unsuspecting local and area residents from the notable characters of Dr. Seuss’ children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The young Laurelites’ efforts were successful in creating wonderful memories while raising a total of $2,000 for the new Laurel Community Center Project.
Maddy said she wanted to bring cheer to the community, and decided that just might also be a good way to raise some funds for this much-needed project.
“I got my Grinch costume out of the back of my closet in preparation to visit people of all ages in our area and bring them some holiday joy,” she said. “I’m also around people who are involved with fund raising for the new Community Center so I thought it would be a fun way to help out that project at the same time.”
Maddy’s accomplice, Tyler Recob, added, “I’ve been saving my babysitting money and baking for my grandmother and great grandmother to raise some funds for the new Community Center too.”
The list of ‘Whoville’ community volunteers did not stop with just Maddy and Tyler.
Their mothers stepped up to help the girls by providing ornaments, sacks of treats and driving them on their visits.
“I found it so fulfilling to see the reactions of the kids and adults of all ages,” said Maddy. It was a fun way to make some Christmas memories.”
Tyler commented on the need to raise spirits. “This year has been a tough year for a lot of people. The elderly are lonely too. Covid made our visits harder, but we followed the rules, social distanced and wore masks when needed.”
Maddy encourages people of all ages to help out in our community.
“It’s important as a young adult to help others,” stated Maddy. “Raising money for the new Community Center is a way I can give back to the community I grew up in. I feel proud that I helped contribute to something that will outlive me.”
“Doing something for others makes all of us better people,” added Tyler.
Martin Luther King, Jr. would agree. Simple acts of service possess the power to transform lives, in addition to reinforcing key principles of selflessness, engagement, and leadership.
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