Here’s a follow-up on the “What a Difference a Day Makes” project that took place Nov. 5 to aid Akron’s Betty Jackson, who has multiple sclerosis.Thirteen volunteers from Neurology and Neuroscience Associates and Greg Kovach with the Ohio Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society painted her kitchen, stained her deck, shampooed her carpet and removed a dead crab apple tree and a heavy vine covering the side of her home and front porch. Mike Edom, Adam Fominaya, Denise Howe, Terry Howe, Phyllis LeFever, Erin O’Connor, Gino Peluso, Bernie Rieser, Pam Rieser, Aja Sinesky, Kathy Stutler, Grace Turner and Spencer Turner not only supplied the muscle, but also the paint and other supplies. Friends in KenyaHats off to Akron’s St. Vincent Elementary School for its community outreach that’s now extending to Kenya.Holly Klein, registered nurse and clinical manager at Summa’s Palliative Care & Hospice Services, helped broker the special relationship.“Our hospice is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization,” Klein said. “And NHPCO has an entity called Foundation for Hospices in sub-Saharan Africa. We became members of FHSSA and have a sister hospice in Kakamega, Kenya. We have sent two groups of staff over to Kenya in the past two years. We have had fundraisers to help renovate their building and have provided necessary supplies.”The staff ended up connecting with a school, Jilca Academy, near the sister hospice. “They have about 200 students, mostly orphaned,” Klein noted.Students at St. Vincent, with the blessings of its Principal Jim Tawney, have begun a relationship with those at the Kenyan academy. “The students have done chores or performed some type of service to earn school supplies to send to Kenya. In about a two-week period every student brought in at least one item and I am told I have about 15 large boxes of school supplies to send to Jilca Academy!“As part of the preparation of collecting the supplies, I came into the school and gave the students presentations and showed pictures of the children in Kenya. I was so impressed with the thoughtful questions the students asked.”Next up, pen pals. Klein said the hope is to get the Kenyan school a computer but acknowledged that will be an uphill climb given that electricity and the Internet are very intermittent.Brighter holidaysThe extremely active Stephen A. Comunale Jr. Family Cancer Foundation will again provide meals to local individuals and families who are battling cancer during the Thanksgiving and December holidays.“Over the last three years, more and more of the delicious holiday food is being donated by local businesses and individuals, so this holiday program is truly a gift given by so many from throughout our community!” writes Marisa Hoffman, associate director of the foundation. “During the 2011 holidays, 76 complete holiday meals will be distributed to families identified by our foundation, local hospitals and cancer-related organizations with which the foundation collaborates on a regular basis. Holiday gifts and cards will also be provided with the December holiday meals with the hope of providing additional holiday cheer this December.”Sponsors are Great Harvest Bread Co. of Fairlawn, Gardener Pies, Hickory Harvest Foods, Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, I.M. Good Snacks, Ivan’s Deli and Sandridge Food Corp.Interested in helping with the campaign? The following are needed — cans of whole-kernel corn, cans of cranberry sauce, family-friendly holiday gifts (unwrapped) like board games, gingerbread house kits, puzzles and card games; and homemade “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Happy Holidays” cards. Drop all donations through Dec. 13 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn front desk, 3180 W. Market St., Akron.Paying it forwardTwinsburg’s Stuart Slomberg is continuing to prove he’s a man of his word, making good on a promise he made 34 years ago when he was a homeless boy of 15. A Coventry Township family set a place for him at their table during the holidays two years in a row, and provided him with heat on cold winter days and support as he finished high school.As an adult, he and his wife, Christine, established a foundation to help children in need. They will be hosting the inaugural “I Wish I May I Wish I Might” dinner Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg.According to Stuart Slomberg, the family told him, “Someday you will be in a position to pay it forward.”Stuart, over the years, has played Santa Claus for children at the Cleveland Clinic’s Rehab Hospital.Proceeds from the dinner will go Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Hospital. For more information, please call 330-524-6007. Tip of the hatLittle did Barbara Lash, a spokeswoman for Hudson’s Laurel Lake Retirement Community, know when she issued the challenge in early September for Laurel Lake Needleworkers and others to knit caps for children in foster care served by Summit County Children Services, what a phenomenal response she would get.The idea was to fill the void since the death of Laurel Lake resident Eleanor Cole, who made on average 300 caps each year for the cause.But the follow-up news is good. “As a result of Barb Lash’s challenge, Laurel Lake has received over 900 beautiful, handmade caps to be donated to Summit County Children Services,” said public relations coordinator Donna Anderson. “Because of the buzz created by your article, Laurel Lake has smashed previous records for the most caps made, a number of people have taken up knitting/crocheting as a new hobby. Laurel Lake has many new friends in the local community, and hundreds of Summit County’s neediest children will have toasty warm ears this winter!”Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.