Providing provisions

Thumbs up to the Seymour Middle School students who recently collected 5,572 food items for Community Provisions of Jackson County Inc. to help families meet their basic needs. The event was organized by the school’s class officers.

A similar thumbs up to the Cortland Elementary School students who collected 2,475 food items for Community Provisions.

Helping Haiti

Thumbs up to the more than 40 volunteers who recently helped Brownstown Christian Church prepare meals to send to the people of Haiti. For the fifth time since 2015, the congregation of the church participated in a food project, including four years in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission. This year’s goal was 20,000 meals, which can typically feed a family of eight to 10.

Indiana School Nurse of the Year

Thumbs up to Joyce McKinney, the supervisor/school nurse for Brownstown Central Community School Corp. She recently was named the 2020-21 Indiana School Nurse of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Nurses. The award is given to a nurse for their contributions to advancing excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school health. In nominating McKinney, Brownstown Central Middle School Principal Doug McClure applauded her round-the-clock efforts to keep the corporation well at the start of a new school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In this time of confusion and misinformation, she is a steady and reassuring voice," McClure said. McKinney, a 1984 Brownstown Central High School graduate, has been a registered nurse for 33 years.

Giving Girl Scouts

Thumbs up to Girl Scout Troop 1239, which recently honored Mercedes Lynn Gill. The daughter of Marissa Meyer and Joseph Gill of North Vernon was the first baby girl to be born at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour during Girl Scout Week, which was March 7 to 13. More importantly, she was born March 12, 2021, which was the 109th birthday of Girl Scouts. Girl Scout volunteers Kylinda Williams and Amy Brewer, Girl Scout Cadette Maeleigh Banister, Girl Scout Junior Charley Brewer and future Girl Scout Daisy Ansley Williams presented Mercedes and her mom with an official Girl Scout infant T-shirt, Girl Scout cookies and a gift bag filled with toys, clothes and other baby items.