ORCHID: To all the fire chiefs in Trumbull County for partnering with the ASAP coalition and TAG Law Enforcement Task Force to assist families affected by alcohol and drug addiction. The Alliance for Substance Abuse and Prevention coalition, along with the TAG Law Enforcement Task Force, created and is distributing a brochure to help families find treatment for their loved ones and support for themselves. County fire departments that provide EMT services will have the brochures to leave with families when responding to overdose emergencies. First responders often make contact with families who are in crisis, and this is an opportunity to give them resources they may not otherwise know how to access. It is partnerships like this that make a difference in our community.
ORCHID: To a group of women who, for the past 10 years, have gathered weekly to sew quilts for hospitalized children. The project, called Quilts for the Heart through Project Linus, makes quilts for children with serious health problems up to age of 18 at St. Joseph Health Center and Akron Children's Hospital. The women meet about four hours each week at Tod Avenue United Methodist Church and average 25 quilts per week.
ORCHID: To area robotics teams as they are finalizing their robots for upcoming competitions to be held in March and April. Champion, Girard, Warren G. Harding, Austintown and Youngstown schools have robotics teams which recently completed their robots. The local schools are part of the Northeast Ohio First Robotics Alliance and include students in grades 9th through 12th. Competitions will be held March 9 and 10 in Pittsburgh, March 23 and 24 in Cleveland, and April 6 and 7 in Cincinnati.
ORCHID: To Second Harvest Food Bank in Youngs-town as it recently held its annual Harvest for Hunger kickoff. The organization is holding a month-long food and funds drive that takes place during March to help replenish food bank shelves during the spring and summer months when donations sometimes taper off. Last year, the Mahoning Valley community raised more than $130,000 and collected more than 34,000 pounds of food. All food collected stays in the tri-county area to help local residents.
ORCHID: To a group of history instructors and students from Youngstown State University who are working to get the historic John Stark Edwards House in Warren back on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was taken off the list in the 1980s when it was moved from its location on South Street.