A helping hand
Thumbs up to the congregation of The Point in Seymour, who have raised enough money to help wipe out $7.1 million in personal medical debt in Jackson and surrounding counties. The Seymour church recently partnered with New York-based nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to make a difference in local residents’ lives who have struggled to pay their bills. Over the next few months, thousands of people in Jackson, Jennings and Bartholomew counties will receive letters in the mail stating their medical debt has been paid by The Point and has been removed from their credit history.
Hairless
Thumbs up to the 12 candidates who raised $36,650 for this year’s Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry Hairless for the Homeless fundraiser. Kenna White was the top fundraiser for the Seymour organization with $2,540. The other fundraisers and their totals were Eddie Murphy, $6,100, Cody Schryer, $3,336; Karen Battin, $3,251; Matt Nicholson, $3,085; Chandra Campbell, $2,146; Kaylee Heilman, $2,026; Andy Rumph, $2,160; Autumn Welch, $2,032; Steve Deweese, $2,000; and Amy Hiester, $1,470. So far this year, 117 Jackson County residents have been helped through their homelessness journey by Anchor House and 5,569 families have been served by the food pantry, providing 153,468 meals.
Successful festival
Thumbs up to Seymour Oktoberfest committee and all the volunteers — and the city workers — who made the 47th annual event such a great success. The committee recently awarded $3,000 in Community Progress Grants to six local nonprofit groups and organizations. The Arc of Jackson County, Mental Health America of Jackson County, Southern Indiana Hispanic Services, the Jackson County 4-H Shooting Sports Club, Boys and Girls Club of Seymour and Child Care Network. Requests for the fall grant cycle are due by Dec. 31.
Community support
Thumbs up to officials with Cummins who gave each of the employees at the Cummins Seymour Engine Plant two hours off with pay Oct. 3 and $20 for food to enjoy the 47th annual Seymour Oktoberfest.
Representing Indiana
Thumbs up to the Seymour teen who recently earned the opportunity to represent Indiana in the National American Miss Pageant at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in November. Jacqueline Rivera, the daughter of Elmer and Claudia Rivera, was named the 2019 National American Miss Indiana junior teen at a pageant last month in Indianapolis.