Letters to the Editor 1-30-14

Special needs prom
Editor: Every senior at Windsor High School has to complete a senior project. This project requires that one completes a minimum of 30 hours in a career field that they are interested in. This career choice has to be related of the field of study one is involved in at WHS. For me, it is business. I am enrolled in the Vineyard Academy at WHS; this means that along with my other basic classes, I am taking Culinary and Business.
When I was thinking of a potential senior project, my mind went to event planning. However, I didn’t just want to shadow an event planner; I wanted to do something on my own and make a difference. So I decided that I would combine my passion for school dances and people with special needs, to plan a prom for all of the special people in Sonoma County who wouldn’t regularly attend their school dances. Many kids from Vineyard Academy will be attending the prom.  
It will be held at Vineyard of faith church on 179 Arata Lane, Windsor CA 95492. I am inviting kids ages 14-22 to attend. All students in Sonoma County are welcome. Parents and dates of the students are more than welcome to come as well. The theme is under the sea. There are dresses available for the girls, jackets and ties for the boys on my website at: www.anightunderthesea.weebly.com.
I am looking for donations, volunteers and more importantly, guests. So if you’re interested in helping or coming, please RSVP by emailing me at Ca**************@gm***.com, or visit the Facebook page: A Night Under The Sea: RSVP or call (707) 838-3134.
Victoria Cahill
Windsor
Birthday food drive
Editor: Hi my name is Memphis. I am turning nine this month. I’m hoping you can help me get the word out about my project. Every year since I was five I’ve hosted a food drive for the Redwood Empire Food Bank on my birthday. This year, I turn nine and plan to raise at least 9,999 meals. I put in about 50 hours of volunteer work, standing in front of the supermarket and canvassing the neighborhood to help make this happen. I also ask people to give me canned goods or make a donation to the food bank instead of gifts. For every dollar donated the REFB can buy 2 meals!
My friend Billy Bartz (at the REFB) says I’m one of the biggest individual fundraiser at the food bank. My first year, when I was five I raised over 700 meals and I was happy and proud, but I knew I could do better. So when I turned six I read a newspaper article about the Toyota dealership raising 1,700 meals for the food bank and I decided to beat them. I ended up with 5,585 meals. On my 7th birthday I raised over 8,000 meals (my goal was 7,735). Last year on my 8th birthday I had a goal of 8,888 and I blew it out of the water by raising over 10,000 meals!!!!
I feel like I’ve made a huge impact on fighting hunger in Sonoma County, raising enough over the last few years to feed 29,000 people! That’s a lot, and I would like to continue to do so. It makes me feel good to help people and to hear I’ve inspired people. I’m doing a presentation in my class next week and I hope some of my friends will feel inspired…If I could reach more people maybe they would want to do Birthday fundraising too.
Check out my website: http://www.memphisfooddrive.com, I’m also on Crowdrise: http://www.crowdrise.com/2014AnnualFoodDrive/fundraiser/chuckers and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Memphis-Annual-Birthday-Food-Drive-2014/119207214922633.
Memphis Roetter
Santa Rosa