Retired !

Yesterday, I "retired".

 

After fourteen and a half years running a daycare out of a house a few blocks from my home, I am now officially retired from daycare !

 

Over the past 30 years, I have worked with many many children (including about 70 in my daycare in all), and my first love has always been working with children with "special needs".

 

Advocating for the children of Reece's Rainbow is a way I can connect with children, when I am not actually physically working with them.

This is my story.

 

I was born in 1963, in a town called Boston, in the county of Lincolnshire in England. 

I lived for the first 20 something years of my life in a village called Sutterton, about 6 miles away from Boston. My first real job was working as a clerical assistant for the tax office - not the most exciting job in the world - and after about 5 years I had had enough. 

I applied to a volunteer agency, wanting to do something completely different, and found myself at Meldreth Manor School, a residential school for children with cerebral palsy. I was there for a year - a full time, live-in volunteer (they paid me, I think 14.50 pounds pocket money per week). 
I have to say that my year at Meldreth was life changing - I had never known anyone with a disability before, but getting to know the kids at Meldreth was the best thing I had ever done. As my year at Meldreth was coming to an end, I knew I wanted to do more with disabled kids - but what ? 
 
I heard about an agency called BUNAC, which recruited British students (and the occasional non-student) to work summer jobs in the USA. It had always my dream to visit the US - so I interviewed with the agency, and waited impatiently to see what happened. 
They placed me as a counselor at a summer camp in New Jersey - a camp catering for children with all kinds of disabilities. Did I mention that my year at Meldreth had been life changing ? That was nothing compared to my time at Elks Camp Moore - absolutely my favorite place on earth. To cut a long story short, I worked at the camp for ten years, flying from England to New Jersey every summer - and finding jobs in England to tide me over and fund the next summer's trip. I could go on and on about Elks Camp Moore - but I won't (as much as I want to)
If you live in New Jersey - or know anyone who does - and have a child aged 7-18 with any kind of special need - send them to Elks Camp Moore !! They can attend for a week - free of charge - it's totally supported by the New Jersey Elks - trust me, it's the best fun they'll ever have. 
My last year at ECM was 1995 - but I still think of it often - the place, the staff - and the kids, of course - oh, the memories !! Best place ever.

 

As I mentioned - between summers I had to go back to England and support myself and fund the following year's airfare etc - so I worked a variety of jobs. Mostly within my new field - I worked in a SENSE group home with deaf/blind ladies; I worked at Ingfield Manor School with children with cerebral palsy; spent another couple of years at Meldreth; worked at Broughton House College with teens with autism/behavioral problems; worked as a freelance nanny, helping families out on a short term basis.

 Then there were the other jobs - as an aide in a nursing home; a worker in a salad packing factory; office work in the headquarters of Interflora. I basically did whatever I had to do in order to get back to camp, and to "my" kids - some kids were my campers year after year after year - and to say that the year I quit camp was heartbreaking is an understatement. It had to happen, eventually, though - and amazingly, as soon as I knew I wasn't going back, I met my husband-to-be, Randall, online.

 

A year later, we were married, and I moved from England to South Dakota, to begin my new life.

My first job here was at a local residential/day school for children with disabilities, first with teenagers in the residential section, and then in education, with younger boys with behavioral problems. I worked there a couple of years before opening my daycare in 2000.

 

Now - I don't know what I'm going to do when I grow up !!

 

One thing I DO know, though - is that I will continue to advocate for the older children on Reece's Rainbow.

Even though it is never ending - it is SO worth it - every time I see a child's grant grow, even by a couple of dollars, it just makes my day to know that they have been seen !!

 

While I may not be making a difference in the life of a child on a daily basis any more, I know that each and every time I write a blog, or share a child, or donate few dollars, I make a HUGE difference in the life of a child - a child who, to the rest of the world, is invisible.

 

A hundred years from now no one will remember

How much money I had in the bank

what kind of car I drove

or what kind of job I had.

But I will be remembered

as someone special

because I made a difference

in the life of a child.

 

Please help me - SEE these children and SHARE these children.

Remember - those whose names are in BLACK have not received a donation in over 4 months !!  Donate today and turn them green !!

 

PLEASE see them  !!

 

My Family Found Me !!

Calista - $0 $4.50 $9 $40.50

Maey - $4.64

Wade - $0

Cody Dean - $85.50

Banning - $14.40 $45

Felicity - $0 $22.50 

Katie - $22.50

Qing - $0

Yeardley - $0

Henry - $0 $9

Leona - $9

Charlie - $22.50 $27

Walt - $0 $19.80

Trace - $0 $18

Gwynne - $5

Gavin - $0 $4.50

Lana - $0

Erix - $0

Tallie - $5 $90.50

Laura - $0 $9.90 $14.49 $59.49

Dara - $45

Kambry - $18 $27

Amber - $0

Luke - $0 $36

Lacy - $0 $18

Harry - $0 $4.73

Danny - $23.40

 

We Made it Over $100 !!

Tripp - $93.50 $95.50 $100

Beau - $72 $162

Charlene - $0 $337.50 $945.07

Lucas - $0 $117

Ysabelle - $90 $112.50

Gertie - $0 $9 $99 $103.50

Lyla - $96 $100.50

Jotham - $27 $418.50 $720.50 $1366.38

Quilliam - $10 $32.50 $61.35 $71.20 $91 $100

Fabio - $75 $102

Leila - $55 $64 $69.99 $101.49

Sullivan - $23 $33.80 $64.40 $109.40

Willow - $5 $14 $17.88 $89.88 $2589.88 !!

Wetherby - $45 $108 $2575.50

Tobias - $91.89 $100.89

Rebecca - $13.50 $2158.50

Jamison - $4.50 $2104.50

Vanessa - $61.50 $106.50

Peterson - $0 $46.80 $129.15

Leigh - $13.50 $242.10

Ezra - $4.95 $2009.95

Bella - $0 $15,000  !!

Simon - $0 $9 $99 $100

Chelsia - $90 $112.50

Eben - $5.40 $86.40 $200.12

Flynn - $13.50 $31.50 $76.50 $121.50

Oliver - $0 $45 $1048.70

Saam - $0 $4.50 $153
Ben - $67.50 $139.50

$90 - $100

Stacey - $0 $94.50

Haile - $0 $5 $95
Quinn - $94.50
Logan - $89 $91
Graciella - $67.50 $90
Bart - $0 $90

$80 - $90

Tovi - $0 $86
Levi - $50 $72.50 $81.50

Katerina - $81
Sonny - $13.50 $36 $81
Jonathan - $75 $80

$70 - $80
Morris - $75

Hans - $72
Chase - $71

John - $70.96
Griffith - $70.75
Ross James - $0 $34.20 $70.20

$60 - $70

Luca - $68
George and Martha - $0 $4.50 $67.50
Eriq - $67.50

Daphne - $0 $67.50

Flynn - $0 $67.20
Posey - $66.60
Cambria - $59 $65.30

 Hannah - $65.25
Dolly - $65.16

Nathaniel - $9.90 $64.90
Joel - $0 $18 $40.50 $63.00
Harding - $0 $63
Rylan - $63

Lia, Joe, Sy and Abe - $63

Yerick - $62.50
Veronica - $61.55
Betsy - $22.50 $27 $61.50

Nicholas - $60

$50 - $60
Rupert - $0 $4.73 $58.73
Kirk - $0 $13.50 $58.50
Yani - $0 $5 $23 $57.20
Adelaide - $0 $26.10 $36.90 $56.70

Chasen - $55
Jeremiah - $54.50
Sarahfina - $0 $5 $54.50
Chantelle - $23 $36.50 $54.50

Faye - $49.05 $54.05

Julian - $54
Melanie - $49.50 $54
   Andersen - $0 $9 $54
Carlton - $9 $54

Charissa - $0 $13.50 $40.50 $51.30

Merlin - $51

Ellisyn - $0 $50
Tyrek - $0 $50
Elizabeth - $45 $50
Mason - $0 $5 $50

$40 - $50
Daisy - $13.30 $17.80 $35.80 $40.65 $45.15 $49.65

Cailin - $0 $4.50 $49.50
June - $13.50 $49.50
Gene - $0 $18 $49.50

Tobias James - $4.50 $49.50
Leonard - $5 $15 $49.20
Jett - $48
Trudy and Tristan - $5.40 $13.50 $47.70
Lorelie - 46.35

Vera - $45.90
Antonio - $45.50

Jory - $45

Hayden - $0 $45
Quincy - $0 $45

Eponine - $45
Freddie - $0 $45
Clara - $0 $45
Mandy - $45
Aaron - $45
Isaac Matthew - $45
Weston - $45
Evelyn - $27.50 $41
Monacella - $41

Jared - $40.50
Mackenzie - $40.50
Alexandra - $0 $9 $31.50 $40.50

$30 - $40
Brock - $22.50 $27 $39
Edison - $0  $4.50 $38.70
Jimmy - $4.50 $38.70
Charles - $0 $4.50 $38.70

James - $37.50

Charlie - $0 $37
Shirley - $0 $5 $36.50
Alder - $36
Dollie - $36
Cody - $0  $4.50 $34.20 
Natalie - $0 $34.20

Quinn - $34

Jasper and Jasmine - $33.30
Reilly - $0 $9.90 $32.40

Kendra - $23 $32
Ellie - $5 $23 $32
Lizzie - $0 $4.73 $22.73 $31.73
Colleen - $0 $4.50 $9 $31.50

$20 - $30
Zann - $10.80 $19.80 $24.30 $28.80
Alexey - $28
Kellsey - $28

Karis -$27.90

Maiya - $27.90
Miko - $5 $27.50

Mariah - $0 $9 $27
Piper - $22.50 $27

Iris - $22.50 $27
Alice - $27
Peter - $23.50 $26.20

Zephan - $25.65
Paulo - $13.50 $25.65
Max - $0 $25.20
Willis - $25

Nelton - $0 $23
Kandie - $0 $23

Alex - $22.50
Huey - $22.50

Shia - $0 $22.50
Nadine - $22.50
Kaelin - $0 $22.50
Warner - $0 $22.50
Meredith - $0 $22.50
Jenny - $22.50
Alex - $22.50
Antoinette - $22.50
Matthew - $19.80 $20.80

Nolan - $20

$10 - $20

Bonn - $9 $19.80
Krista - $14 $18.50

Alice - $18.41

Luigina - $18
Brad - $18

Telvin - $18
Thomas Quincy - $18
Carson - $0 $18
Marygrace - $0 $18
Isaiahu - $0 $18
Roland - $18
Delta - $16.71

 Eva and Ella - $5 $9.50 $15.80

Sammy - $10 $14.50

Garrett - $10 $14.50
Gage - $0  $4.50 $14.40
Jensen - $0 $5.40 $14.40

Heath - $14
Cheryl - $14

Brad - $0 $13.50  
Athens - $9 $13.50

Haines - $0  $9 $13.50
Vaida - $13.50
Graham - $0 $5.40 $10.80
Jennifer - $10.80

Dean - $10

Artie - $10

Waniya - $10
Venetia - $10
Mitch - $10
Chelsea Anne - $10

$9 - $10
Harrison - $0 $9.95
Amelia - $4.50 $9.90
Celeste - $0 $9.90

Joy - $5.40 $9.90
Sam Thomas - $9.90

Carissa - $5 $9.50
Brenna - $5 $9.50
Alys - $9.50
Nelson - $0 $4.50 $9.50

Justin - $9

Brayden - $9

 Deacon - $0 $9
Colton - $0 $9
Ciel - $0 $9
Galan - $0 $9

Guido - $4.50 $9
Jayden, Tyrel and Tresean - $9
Andreus - $0 $9
Henrik - $0 $9
Lanikai - $0 $9
Ginny - $9
Linus - $0 $9

$8 - $9

Oskar - $0  $8.10
Melody - $0 $8.10 

Jolina - $8

$6 - $8
Vijay - $7.50

Jamie - $7.20
Kevin - $0 $7.20

Jessica - $7

Jill - $0 $6.30
Anna Michelle - $0 $6.30

$5 - $6

Chelsey - $0 $5.40 
   Aleah - $0 $5.40
Lucy - $0 $5.40

Shaughan - $5.40
Frannie - $5.40
Alexis - $0 $5.40
Brookelyn - $0 $5.40

Matty - $5

Frank - $5

Hanson - $5

Patrick - $5

Jinger - $5

Robert - $5

Rhyder - $5

Saul - $5

  Trent - $0 $5
 Yaeger - $0 $5

Adelina - $5
Coralina - $5
Sandy - $5
Havalah - $5
Shayla - $5
Frieda - $5
Clarabelle - $0 $5

Madison - $0 $5
Shaine - $0 $5
Halden - $0 $5
Jacob - $0 $5
Elinor - $0 $5
Asherton - $0 $5

$1 - $5
Edward - $0 $4.73
Jaime - $0 $4.64

Jacques - $4.50

Tomo - $0  $4.50  
  Jacque - $0 $4.50
Drew - $0  $4.50   
  Piper - $0  $4.50
Emilie - $0 $4.50 
 Nigel - $0 $4.50 
   Sophia - $0 $4.50    
Sheila - $4.50
Luken - $0 $4.50

Bazil and Bendek - $0 $4.50
Christopher - $4.50
Kurt - $4.50
Timmy - $4.50
Luciana - $4.50
Marco - $0 $4.50
Audrey and Anna - $0 $4.50
Kippy - $0 $4.50
Timothy John - $4.50
Mike - $0 $4.50
Sherman - $4.50
Philip - $4.50
Leroy - $0 $4.50
Fiona - $0 $4.50
Ginny - $4.50
Mark - $0  $2
Cavan - $0 $2
Seth - $1.80
Frye - $0 $1.80
Belle - $0 $1.80
Percy - $0 $1.80
Jonathan - $1.80

Eddie - $1.80

....and now -

If we could please focus on zapping the zeros today, I would be extremely grateful.

There are 37 older, overlooked children with ZERO in their grants. 

Jamie - $0

 

Porter - $0

 

Shawnessy - $0

 

Victoria - $0

Jade - $0

Adonai - $0

 

Amadeus - $0

 

Skyler - $0

 

Esther - $0

 

Selah Rose - $0

 

Brooke - $0
 
 

Tanner Jay - $0

Matilda - $0

  

Stephan - $0

 

Micah - $0
 

 

Chelsea - $0
 

 

Eloise - $0

 

Joshua - $0
 

 

Marc - $0
 

 

Buddy - $0
 

 

Beth - $0
 

 

Evan - $0
 

 

Tallis - $0


Maxim - $0


Cody - $0


Ryker - $0


Corbett - $0


Dorothy - $0


Keely - $0


Denny - $0


Averi - $0


Marcus - $0


Patti - $0


Scout - $0


Pearson - $0


Willa- $0


 Harper - $0

 

 

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