Dear Editor:
This Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for the good and generous and caring people of the community of Goodrich. I am the first grade teacher of a little girl named Jennifer Martinez, who was very recently diagnosed with cancer. She is currently at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor receiving aggressive treatment. This past weekend, a bake sale was organized and held to help raise some money to help her family with sudden and unexpected expenses (Jennifer has three little sisters, including a newborn). In addition, several other efforts have been underway here at the schools to help provide needed supplies for the family and some items of comfort and distraction for Jennifer. The response has been TREMENDOUS and gratifying. People from the whole community’parents, students, teachers, Girl Scouts, church groups, and all sorts of individuals and families’have gone above and beyond to bake, organize, volunteer, and donate to help out this little girl and her family. Most of these individuals have never even met Jennifer or her family. They just heard about the situation and flew into action to help out. We are so lucky to have this kind of warm and caring community.
Right now, many among us have our own worries about the economy and the future. But that doesn’t seem to have mattered a bit when one family had a need that seemed greater and more immediate. People I’ve never met quietly slipped us large bills for a few cookies. Teenagers at Friday evening’s GHS play parted with precious cash without hesitation. It was an amazing thing to witness.
I would also like to give a special thanks to a group of moms that have been doing the lion’s share of the organizing and work on behalf of our little Jennifer’Leslie Cicalo, Dawn Toms, Gail Bellas, and Mary Everhart. Thank you so much, ladies! I know this is a busy time of year for any family, but to take on this extra work is a lot, and it is so very, very appreciated.
Please keep Jennifer and the whole Martinez family in your thoughts and prayers. Knowing what I do about this community, I know I really don’t even have to ask.
Deborah Gragg, First Grade Teacher
Reid Elementary School