Kohl’s awards local helpers

By SHELBY SCHROEDER

Two volunteers from Niles and one from Youngstown were chosen.

YOUNGSTOWN — Three Youngstown area volunteers have been awarded with gift cards and a chance at $5,000 in scholarship money.

Kohl’s, the Wisconsin-based department store, recognized the young residents for donating time in their communities for the company’s 7th annual Kohl’s Kids Who Care campaign.

Two volunteers from Niles and another from Youngstown were chosen for their acts that went above and beyond what would be expected of them, according to Kohl’s applicant rules.

That could mean volunteering to spend time with the elderly or beautifying park grounds.

And that’s exactly what Hannah Emerson did.

The 8-year-old Niles Girl Scout visited a nursing home for the holidays, sang and handed out gifts. Of everything she did, she said seeing the looks on seniors’ faces was her favorite part.

“When you gave them gifts, they looked like they were going to cry,” Hannah said.

Hannah was also nominated for planting flowers, laying mulch and picking up trash at McDonald Park with a few others in her troop.

She didn’t even mind getting dirty, she said.

Like others her age, Hannah said she looks forward to coming home to play or swim. But Hannah’s knack for helping separates her from many other kids, her mother, Deann Bennett, said.

“She’ll help anyone do anything,” said Bennett. “She’ll walk right up to anyone she meets, and she’ll make them smile.”

The same could be said for 10-year-old Ryanne Lambert of Youngstown.

Carol Rappach, her fourth-grade instructor at Harding Elementary, called Ryanne her “right hand.”

“Ryanne came in the first day [of class] and said, ‘I’m a wonderful helper,’” said Rappach, who allowed her to come into school 45 minutes early each day to help out.

When asked why she volunteered to come to class early, Ryanne said simply, “because I got to see my teacher more.”

Rappach admitted, “When she wasn’t there, boy, did I miss her. She’s the kind of kid you want to take home for Thanksgiving dinner, or adopt.”

Even though she’ll be in fifth grade in the fall, Ryanne has asked to help Rappach the next school year.

And from fifth grade to graduating high school, another Niles volunteer may benefit from winning a scholarship sooner than Hannah or Ryanne.

John Slack, who recently received his diploma from Howland High School, used his site-building skills for charity.

Slack, 18, created a Web site for the nonprofit organization Hearts for a Safe Harbor, along with the slogan, “Be a part of the heart.”

The organization is raising money to build a safe house for children displaced by civil war in Uganda.

“I wanted to bring awareness to this conflict, where children are being forced to sleep on the streets,” said Slack.

The self-taught Slack volunteered to build the professional Web site, http://heartsforasafeharbor.com/, from scratch, and included links where visitors can learn more about the struggle, contact volunteers and donate money.

Slack said he’s received compliments for his work on the site and has been told that donations have increased because of it.

The mothers of all three winners said their children have shown a passion for helping the community at very young ages. And though Hannah, Ryanne and Slack all showed gratitude for the gift certificates and chance to receive scholarships, the mothers say their children are not motivated by prizes.

They help because it feels good. They help because it’s what they know.

“Every year we are inspired by the good deeds these kids have accomplished and are proud to recognize them,” said Julie Gardner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Kohl’s.

The three were among 98 volunteers in Ohio, and more than 1,900 nationwide, who were chosen to be honored. Later this month, 190 regional winners will be chosen to receive $1,000 scholarships, and 10 national winners will receive $5,000 scholarships.

Kohl’s is donating an additional $10,000 to non-profit organizations on the national winners’ behalf.