New year brings new ways to give, to Afghan children and pets of the homeless

Welcome to the new year. I have received several e-mails about some very interesting projects.

Gary Lyon sent a request that the community help out with the Adopt-an-Afghan-School Campaign and Pen-pal Program.

Cynthia Walker's little sister Melissa is a U.S. Air Force officer serving one year tour of duty in war-torn Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Melissa has fallen in love with the children there, and is truly saddened by the education conditions they endure. Children are attending classes in 120-degree tents with limited teachers and, in many cases, no supplies.

Melissa is seeking to gather the following supplies for shipment to her for distribution in Afghanistan: spiral notebooks, packs of loose-leaf paper, regular pencils (not mechanical as they do not have refills available), hand-held pencil sharpeners, pens, colored pencils, colored markers, glue, scissors, old textbooks (especially reading and math) and small book sacks.

Gary will provide a truck and drive the donated items to Las Vegas to ship out from Nellis Air force Base.

He said, "I'm looking at embedding with Melissa's unit to film an episode of a kids' talk show I co-host."

I know what a filled school backpack gives to a child - a new beginning. Every child in the world deserves that opportunity.

Adopt-an-Afghan-School Campaign and

Pen-Pal Program

WHERE: We need a local drop-off area

CONTACT: Gary Lyon at galyon123@sbcglobal.net; or Cynthia Mullins at 1601 Mullins Drive, Plano, TX 75025, (972) 312-1969 or cynthiamwalker@comcast.net.

I had never heard of this program before until I received an e-mail from Genevieve Fredericks.

When I first started doing checks of the homeless on the Carson River, I was amazed how many of the family had pets. I thought they barely get by having adequate food and clothing for themselves and clearly could not afford shelter, so why in the world did they have a dog to feed?

I didn't take me long to figure out: for protection and peace of mind. Living out on the streets or river is not always the safest place. I have known some pretty amazing mothers who have had to resort to that, and having their pets to protect and give their children a sense of safety was a priority.

And the children loved their dogs and cats. Coming home to them was a stable aspect of their lives.

Feeding Pets of the Homeless is a year-round national effort to supply donated pet food through food banks. Dr. Gary Ailes from Sierra Veterinary Hospital is collecting pet food and supplies.

The donations also go to seniors on a very limited income whose only companion might be a little dog or cat.

Feeding Pets of the Homeless

WHERE: Drop off supplies at Sierra Veterinary Hospital, 1477 N. Saliman Road

CONTACT: 883-0261; or for assistance with receiving pet food, call FISH at 882-347, or stop by 138 E. Long St.

WEB SITE: www.petsofhomeless.com

Finally, if you want some relaxing entertainment downtown, the Mile High Jazz Band presents "Cool Jazz in January."

Swing into the big-band event at Comma Coffee and check out the 17-member Mile High Jazz Band performing music in the spirit of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman and more-contemporary styles from their repertoire of more than 100 charts.

Cool Jazz in January

WHEN: 8-10 p.m. Jan. 9; swing dance instruction, 6-7:30 p.m., $5 additional

WHERE: Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson St.

COST: General admission is $5 at the door; $4 for members of the Mile High Jazz Band Association; and free for age 18 and under

CONTACT: June Joplin at 883-2662. For information about the band, call 883-4154

WEB SITE: milehighjazz.com

• To have your information included, contact Kim Riggs at kimriggs@att.net.