Beacon Apr 2024

Page 4B THE BEACON April 2024
BATESVILLE
By
Sue
Siefert
Community
Correspondent
O
ur
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Communities
Award recipients Jim and Maureen Saner, Jill Hollins, George Junker, Kristine Beal,
Jaime Nobbe and Paulette Varble.
batesville@goBEACONnews.com
Congratulations to Batesville’s
“Stars”
Over two hundred fifty
guests recently gathered at
Batesville’s “Celebration of a
Night Full of Stars” to recognize
its 2024 award recipients
for the difference they each
make in the community.
Jim and Maureen Saner
were recognized as the
“Volunteers of the Year”
following a nomination by
their sons, Jim, Jr., Andy,
and Matt who noted their
parents “jump right in when
there is a need in the community,”
and shared a portion
of their involvement. Jim and
Maureen were instrumental in
starting the St. Louis Catholic
School Bingo forty years ago
to aid in the school’s funding.
The couple is known throughout
the community for their
dedication to helping provide
Christmas gifts and assistance
to over one hundred twentyfive
families in need annually.
The couple’s involvement
has included the Kiwanis
and PTO. They have been
involved since the inception
of the health center in 2013
which provides healthcare to
the underserved in Franklin
and Ripley Counties. In their
comments, Jim noted, “You
really need to have a Maureen
Saner at your back … she
makes me look great!” Maureen
concluded with, “Use
your ideas – share your ideas
and bring more to the community.”
St. Louis School Principal
Patty Mauer nominated Jill
Hollins, fourth grade teacher
at SLS as the “Educator of the
Year”. Patty noted, “Jill has a
passion for continuous learning
and positively impacts
her students every day. She is
our STEM teacher for grades
K-8 and has been an educator
for twenty-one years. In her
acceptance speech, Jill shared,
“I want to thank everyone, my
teachers, family, friends, and
especially my students. Seeing
them grow every day makes
me an even better person.”
George Junker was the
Distinguished Service Award
recipient in recognition of his
involvement with several organizations
and foundations. In
his acceptance speech, George
noted, “You don’t have to be
an expert to raise all levels for
students and the community…
just make a difference.”
So Loved Kids Clothing
Closet received the “Organization
of the Year” award with
Jaime Nobbe, co-founder and
president speaking on behalf of
the organization, “Every child
feels so loved by us helping
HARRISON
By
Amanda
Kirchner
Community
Correspondent
harrison@goBEACONnews.com
Harrison has received a
blessing. This blessing comes
in the form of a Safe Haven
Baby Box now located at the
Harrison Fire Department
Station 56 at 200 Harrison
Ave, Harrison, OH.
A Safe Haven Baby Box
is an anonymous way to
surrender an unharmed
baby 30 days old or less in
a safe manner. ‘No shame.
No blame. No name.’ is a
tagline used by Safe Haven
Baby Box. This has resulted
in forty-two babies safely
surrendered in the boxes
and one hundred forty-seven
babies safely handed over in
fifteen states over six years.
The new Safe Haven Baby
Box in Harrison, OH was
Baby Box #203 that has been
installed in the USA.
them. In the past four years, our
volunteers have helped 1,230
kids … and it started with a
couple of moms throwing
around an idea of how we could
help those in need with clothing
and personal needs.” Due
to the overwhelming volume
of donations from the community,
the organization outgrew
its original location and now
resides in a free-standing
building within the Batesville
The idea to bring a baby
box to Harrison was born
when Sue Dermody, a former
client advocate, heard about
these boxes and proposed
getting one in Harrison to
Diane Elrod, who then raised
$11,000 toward the cause.
Then with the generous
donation of their time and
skill from local businesses,
Maxwell Construction, Kist
Electric, and Zuber Safety and
Security, the Safe Haven Baby
Box was installed. Also, a
big thank you to the Harrison
Fire Department Station 56
who will maintain the baby
box and be the guardians
awaiting any precious baby
surrendered in the box.
On February 14, 2024,
a ceremony was held to
bless the Baby Box. The
founder of Safe Haven Baby
Box, Monica Kelsey, was
in attendance and spoke
about the background and
purpose of Safe Haven Baby
Area Resource Center campus.
Kristine Beal, Co-Founder and
Vice President, and Paulette
Varble, Treasurer joined Jaime
in expressing appreciation to
the community that has helped
to make their mission a reality.
Jaime concluded with, “I was
a mom on a mission, and they
believed in us, and we believe
in better. Those involved have
big hearts and want to make a
difference.”
Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Box, speaking
at the Blessing of the Box.
Box. Also in attendance
were Harrison Mayor
Ryan Grubbs, State
Representative Cindy
Abrams, Honorable Judge
Amy Searcy, and Pastor
John Calabrese.
“It was a beautiful day for
the Safe Haven Baby Box
blessing yesterday! More than
75 people were in attendance
for the blessing, and it was
a sweet, sweet day for the
community. The box is now
open to be used for women in
crisis to surrender their babies,
aged 30 days old and younger,
anonymously and without
shame. Reach Out Pregnancy
Center is honored to have
raised the funds for the
box, so this community has
another alternative to keeping
abandoned children safe and
loved. We are thankful to the
mayor and City Council for
agreeing to the need for this
box in our community,” said
Jackie Sulfridge.
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