First Waughtown youth donate to WSPD cause
Patches support autism awareness and Special Olympics
Virtual Sunday school hasn’t kept a group of pre-k/primary children from pursuing one of their most fruitful activities – helping others. The A-Team Class of First Waughtown Baptist Church presented $602 to Officer Mike D. Crider of the Winston-Salem Police Department on Sunday, May 2, in front of the church at 838 Moravia Street.
The donation came in response to a story in The Chronicle profiling Winston-Salem Officer Crider. The article noted that Officer Crider is leading a departmental effort to sell commemorative patches for $10 each to promote autism awareness and to support Special Olympics of North Carolina, both causes that affect his family. The goal for the fundraiser is $5,000 – $10,000.
The A-Team, taught by Senora Boulware and her granddaughter Jonae Hanna, is noted for its philanthropy. Over the years, the class has raised thousands of dollars for Brenner Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and other causes that impact children.
When Ms. Boulware read about the patches, she saw one more opportunity for the A-Team to help others. “We have had children in our class with special needs,” she said, “and this activity is another learning and sharing experience for us.”
With only two weeks to raise the money, parents and children went to work planning and implementing their individual fundraisers, like making and selling cookies, popcorn, and refrigerator magnets, and running laps for pledges.
Senior Pastor Dennis W. Bishop and several members of the church joined the parents to see nine of the children present their donations to Officer Crider. He thanked them for their generosity and commended them as he gave them patches based on the size of their contributions.
Additional donations came from Harper Marie Boulware in Springfield, Va., and JUST GIRLS – Hearts of Albemarle, a girls’ advocacy organization in Elizabeth City, directed by Dr. Wanda Hughes.
All of the children received snack packs before heading home, happy that not even a pandemic could keep them from helping others.
To purchase a patch to support autism awareness and the Special Olympics, please call the Winston-Salem Police Department Community Resources Unit at 336-773-7835.
