When Carrolltowne Elementary students heard about the fire that destroyed Sparks Elementary in Baltimore County last month, they wanted to help.
"We talked about what happened, and what it would be like to lose your school," said Jeanne Henderson, a first-grade teacher at Carrolltowne who organized a school supplies drive.
"They listed the things the children wouldn't have and realized what they would feel like."
Within a few days, classrooms were overflowing with donations of crayons, books, pencils, folders, notebooks and paper.
"We want to help the Sparks teachers re-establish their classrooms," said Mrs. Henderson, who also received toys for kindergartners, board games for older students and about $150 in cash.
"The children showed compassion in the way they dealt with this," she said. A Sykesville woman donated almost 20 years' worth of National Geographic magazines that had belonged to her late husband, who was once a Sparks student.
Abby's Teacher Supplies in Westminster contributed bulletin board paper, folders, crayons and other items.
"People came from everywhere and donated," Mrs. Henderson said. "The outpouring of thoughtfulness showed us a very caring school."
Early this month, the children loaded a car with the donations, and Valerie Ivanshyn drove the carload to Cockeysville Middle School, the temporary home of the Sparks students.
Mrs. Ivanshyn made one more pickup Friday. "I hear the Sparks community has been overwhelmed with kindness," she said.
Local soccer enthusiasts can be heroes when they participate ibenefit at SuperSports Arena. The event is part of Carroll County's "100 x $100 Benefit."
Women are invited to participate in an hour of drop-in soccer at SuperSports Arena March 7 at 11 a.m. Baby-sitting will be free, and refreshments will be provided. A donation of $5 per player is requested.
Benefits are being held throughout Baltimore and the surrounding counties to promote public awareness of the HERO AIDSWALK '95, a 5K pledge walk scheduled June 11 in Baltimore. These benefits are being held approximately 100 days before the walk, and organizers hope that each will raise at least $100 for HERO.
HERO, an acronym for Health, Education and Resource Organization, is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to confront the growing epidemic of HIV. HERO provides educational programs to more than 100,000 Marylanders each year, as well as case management and counseling to those who deal with the disease.
For more information on HERO AIDSWALK '95, call (410) 685-1230.
For more information on the benefit at SuperSports, call Sue at 795-6125 or SuperSports at 549-9300.
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SuperSports Arena will hold the regional qualifying tournament for the National Indoor Soccer Championships Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, teams in the boys under-12 division from Maryland and Delaware will compete starting at 8 a.m. The top teams will play in the national tournament in April in Kansas.
On Sunday, the men's over-30 tournament will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the top two teams will go to the national championships. Information: 549-9300.
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The Carroll County Youth Recreation program is sponsoring a floor hockey league for middle and high school boys at SuperSports. Games are scheduled to begin March 19. Information: 549-9300.
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The P.D.D. (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) group will meet at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. March 8. The speaker will be Cinthia London Barracca from the Center for Communication. Her treatment is helpful with language delay, learning disabilities and behavior.
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church is at 2205 Old Liberty Road. Parents, grandparents, teachers and day care providers of children with autism are welcome. Information: 795-6333.
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The Nature Center at Piney Run Park will sponsor a Maple Syrup Festival Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.
The event will be at Hashawha Environmental Center on John Owings Road in Westminster.
Tree tapping, music, food, crafts, demonstrations and syrup tasting will highlight the event. Information: 795-6043.