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Purple toilet helps raise awareness of Alzheimer’s

LEAVITTSBURG –The Community Skilled Health Care Centre in Warren has teamed up with the LaBrae K-12 complex to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s by using a purple toilet.

The Organized Students Active in the Community group at LaBrae, led by advisor Lynn Gilbert, has taken the the traveling ”purple potty” to each of the district’s four buildings to raise funds and support for the Alzheimer’s Association.

The toilet was displayed at the recent school band concert and spaghetti dinner and will be at other events, including a talent show 6 p.m. March 31.

Caleb Hineman, a senior at LaBrae and member of Organized Students Active in Community, said they have been meeting with Community Skilled representatives to discuss different fundraising ideas, with LaBrae being the pilot school for the fundraiser.

Hineman said the group toured the nursing home facility and met with Kathleen Coburn, admissions director.

“We contacted the Alzheimer’s Association and decided to have a one-month fundraiser. We had the toilet in each hallway of the school with the message ‘Flush Away Alzheimer’s,’ Hineman said.

The Trumbull Career and Technical Center’s interior design class decorated the toilet and TCTC’s electrical technology class created the awareness ribbons and banners.

Gilbert said the high school had the display the first week and generated $520.

The group also is selling memorial flowers and is holding a pie in the face and duct tape a teacher to the wall 11 a.m. today at high school cafeteria.

Gilbert said many staff are on board to take part in the event.

Reina Pickens, a senior, said the group held a Hat Day and other theme days and raised more than $50.

Hineman said the purple toilet attracts people’s attention and has them asking questions of what is taking place.

“It brings up a good opportunity to discuss what we are doing and raising awareness,” Hineman said.

The color purple is used for Alzheimer’s Awareness. Gilbert said March was selected because its is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Brandy Manes, admissions nurse at Community Skilled Care Center, said the nursing home was looking for a school to help with the project.

“We fundraise for Alzhemer’s all year long,” Manes said.

Ethan Stishan, a junior, said an assembly was held at the LaBrae Intermediate School for a presentation by Helen Paes, educational director at the Alzheimer’s Association, explaining what Alzheimer’s is and what the fundraiser will do, and future fundraisers.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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