Page 7 - Palm City Spotlight - September '22
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Palm City Spotlight, Page 7

       Good Works from page 6                                                                              Neighbor Who Took In Little

        Mustelier says, “The Martin Artisans Guild has been                                                Girl Awarded For Advocacy
      an amazing partner by recognizing the importance of arts
      in the communities we serve, connecting skilled artists to                                             Not all children have
      our programming, and raising funds to elevate the quality                                            advocates. Fortunately for
      and increase the diversity of art classes we are able to                                             one 8-year-old girl in the
      offer at the Golden Gate Center for Enrichment.”                                                     local foster-care system,
        On July 16, Martin Artisans Guild president Mallo                                                  Jenny Starts was there to be
      Bisset and board member Bellerjeau attended Stuart’s                                                 that advocate.
      Sixth Annual Back to School Bash. The yearly event,                                                    Starts and her husband,
      which is hosted by the Stuart Police Department and                                                  Brent, took on the role of
      was held at Murray Middle School, is an opportunity for                                              caregiver earlier this year
      parents and community members to meet school leaders                                                 when their friend and
      and teachers and get vouchers and school supplies.                                                   neighbor, who was a foster
        Martin Artisan Guild members contributed enough                                                    parent, could no longer care
      money to purchase 30 backpacks, shirts and supplies.                                                 for the child.
        Bisset and Bellerjeau were on hand to thank members                                                  Communities Connected for Kids recently awarded Jenny
      of the Stuart Police Department for overseeing the event                                             the Topaz GEM – or Going the Extra Mile – award for her
      and to meet other community members.                                                                 advocacy for the child’s dental and health care. Communities
        So far, it’s been a great start to the “Art Hands on                                               Connected for Kids oversees and coordinates the child-
      Deck” program, but it’s just the beginning. There are lots                                           welfare community in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee
      of plans in the works for more collaborations with Martin                                            and St. Lucie counties.
      County nonprofits.                                                                                     The little girl “ended up spending a lot of time with us
        Bellerjeau  is  enthusiastic  about the  future.  “When                                            when our friend’s mother passed away, so we said we could
      I stepped into this position, I found the guild already                                              just keep her with us,” said Starts, a former foster care and
      had many talented artists sharing their ability and time                                             adoptions recruiter in the California system of care.
      as volunteers. When connecting our artists to projects,                                                The couple began the process of becoming what is called
      I’m very grateful, it’s such a joy to see the hearts of                                              a “Level 1” caregiver – someone who is licensed to care for a
      our members as they use their vast experiences, skill,                                               specific child rather than any child in need of a foster home.
      creativity and funds to help people from other nonprofits                                            And that’s when the real advocacy began.
      in Martin County.”                                 United Way of Martin County is looking for students to     “She had a need for dental care that required sedation that
        For information about the Martin Artisans Guild, visit   join Students United and make a difference in the local   case management had been working on for several months,”
      www.martinartisansguild.org.                       community.                                        said Mary Altiery, case management supervisor in Martin
                    Photos provided by Martin Artisans Guild                                               County who nominated Starts for the award.
                                                           While many food resources are available, finding them     When an appointment in Orlando didn’t work out, Starts
      United Way Inspires Students                       can be challenging as there wasn’t one comprehensive central   began working with case management to find a provider who
                                                                                                           could help.
                                                         resource that listed all free meal options. “When I saw that
      To Make A Difference                               United Way of Palm Beach County had created a food finder     “Mrs. Starts was able to locate a local dental surgeon who
                                                         map, I thought it would be a great resource to have something   was able to get the child in immediately,” Altiery said. “She
        For Martin County residents struggling to put food on   like this for our community,” McCarthy said.   went above and beyond in advocating for that little girl and
      the table, a new resource is available – the Martin County     McCarthy combined  data  using Google Maps  to   to considerable time and expense to herself to get the child
      Food Finder Map. Created by United Way of Martin County   create a map that can be easily shared and embedded on   the dental care needed.”
      Students United Member and Clark Advanced Learning   community partners’ websites in hopes that the nonprofit     Starts’ tireless advocacy extends beyond her own home.
      Center senior Evan McCarthy, the map indicates where free   community will embrace the resource. In the future, he   She is currently in the process of opening a Christian-based
      meals are available, including food pantries, soup kitchens,   hopes student volunteers will update and expand the map   school with her friend Meghan Pybus. The Stuart school
      food for seniors and food for children when they are out of   to ensure that the listed resources remain up to date.  opened its doors Aug. 15.
      school.                                              “We are fortunate to have many places people can     The mission of Communities Connected for Kids is
        McCarthy was inspired to create the map through his   turn for help here in Martin County. I hope to continue to   to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being for all
      experience with United Way of Martin County’s Students   build awareness of food insecurity, so people feel more   children in Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast through a
      United program, which was designed to empower students   empowered to reach out and get help.”       community network of family support services.
      to mobilize community resources and make a positive impact     Applications for the next class of Students United
      through the spirit of service.                     members are open until Sept. 23 for students in grades 9 to
        Students visit local nonprofit agencies where they learn   11 who are Martin County residents. For more information
      about the services they provide and the clients they serve.   or to apply, visit United Way of Martin County’s website
      Students learned that over 11 percent of Martin County   at www.UnitedWayMartin.org/StudentsUnited.
      residents lack access, at times, to enough food for an active,     To access the Food Finder Map, visit www.
      healthy life.                                      UnitedWayMartin.org/FoodMap.

                 October 11th







                 Last day to register to vote for the November 8th
                              General Election




                 El 11 de octubre es el último día para registrarse para votar en las elecciones generales del 8 de noviembre




 Register to Vote
 Online at


                                      Register to Vote Online at
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                               Regístrese para votar en línea en www.RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov





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