Fire is a devastating event that could affect anyone. Recently, fifth grade Pointers Run Elementary School teacher Dan Ehrman and his family survived a house fire. The good news is that everyone is safe and unharmed. The bad news is that they lost nearly everything and will be displaced for several months.
You can join in helping the Ehrman family get back on their feet by buying and donating gift cards to such places as Bed Bath and Beyond, Giant, Home Depot, Lowes, Target and Walmart and dropping them off at the school office in an envelope marked for Dan Ehrman.
An added note of encouragement would be nice. The Pointers Run PTA has also established a website for cash donations. Go to http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/fvj7/the-ehrmas-family-fire-fundraiser.
On a brighter news note, Pointers Run is planning the sixth annual Pointers "Run" for April 18. Proceeds help provide playground equipment, class supplies, field trips and other needs not funded by the county.
If your business would like to support the "Run" and get some good advertising, donate $100 or more by Feb. 20 to insure having your name printed on both the brochure and T-shirt. To learn more, contact randy_wallenhorst@hcpss.org.
Pray for good weather on Feb. 15 and then head on out to the Fifth District Country Breakfast sponsored by the Volunteer Fire Department in the Ten Oaks Ballroom from 8 a.m. until noon. They serve pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, scrapple, apple sauce, breakfast beverages and much more. The cost is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 5-10 and free for children under 5. Proceeds help provide equipment to assist the volunteers in serving our community.
You will have another opportunity to support a worthy cause on Feb. 17. Would you believe that eating pizza fights cancer? It does if you go to Ledo's in Clarksville from 4 to 7 p.m. Twenty percent of your purchase price will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Congratulations to Folly Quarter's first two Lego Robatics teams, Lots of Legos and Elite Lego, on successfully competing in robatics qualifier events. After 15 weeks of hard work, they were ready for the challenge and did well. Everyone is already looking forward to next year. Thanks go to Lori Scott for sharing that news item.
Have you heard of Becca's Closet? It's an Atholton High program to provide dresses for students in need. If you have a stylish dress appropriate for a teen, you might like to donate it. To learn more send an email to ahsbeccascloset@gmail.com.
It's time to be seeking scholarships. Some are available locally.
For the 15th straight year, Simon Youth Foundation is providing educational opportunities for at-risk high school students. Any student graduating in 2015 and living within 50 miles of Arundel Mills is eligible to apply for a one-time scholarship of up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. The application period ends Feb. 25. Apply online by going to http://www.syf.org.
Better known in our area would be the $5,000 Amanda Post scholarships, the Amanda Post "Amanda Wins" River Hill High School Student-Athlete Scholarship and the Amanda Post "Amanda Wins" Soccer Association of Columbia/Howard County Student-Athlete Scholarship. These scholarships help to perpetuate the memory of Amanda Post who was a student at RHHS and player with SAC.
The Community Foundation of Howard County is accepting applications for both Amanda Post scholarships. Applications from students who will graduate in 2015 are due in a high school counselor's office by March 9. Go to http://www.cfhoco.org/receive/scholarships and scroll about halfway down the page to links for Amanda's scholarships.