By Nila Harris
FALMOUTH — Ruth Proeschel, WoodmenLife Chapter 611 president, heard a story on the radio about a young boy who was crying when he got on a school bus one morning. The bus driver said, “It’s awful early to be crying. What’s wrong?”
The young boy tearfully explained that it was Pajama Day at school and he did not have any pajamas.
After the driver dropped the boy off, he went to a local store, purchased a pair of pajamas for the lad and dropped them off at school.
It was not the first story like that one that Proeshel had heard, but the story got her thinking. “It hit me between the eyes,” Proeshel said.
She contacted Amanda McNew, WoodmenLife community action adviser, about a plan to show appreciation to the Pendleton County bus drivers and monitors for the work they do transporting and caring for students.
The Falmouth chapter held a luncheon July 21, inviting 40 bus drivers and 10 monitors to the event.
The well-attended function featured WoodmenLife members Gary Hicks, Larry King, and Andy Proeshel grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, while other members brought sides of macaroni and cheese, green beans, potato salad, desserts and drinks.
Certificates and pens for years of service were given out to the attendees.
“It was successful,” Proeshel said. “We (Chapter 611) really enjoyed it, and I think they appreciated it.”
WoodmenLife Chapter 611 has a five-star rating for the work they do in giving back to the community.
Each quarter, the chapter chooses a project that supports community, patriotism, fighting hunger, or family.
Some of the things they do locally includes giving to and participating in the Color Blast Back-to-School Event and Kincaid Lake State Park Summer Splash; supporting the Butler Baptist Church’s food ministry, Gathering Wing and Open Hands; and giving scholarships to seniors at Pendleton County High School.
This past Christmas, WoodmenLife provided small gifts for nursing home residents at the three nursing homes in the county.
The members donate money and time to support the community.
“People matter. We want people to know they matter and mean something to someone — not just with words, but with actions,” Proeshel said.
WoodmenLife sales representative Gary Hicks has his office in the log cabin at 855 Ridgeway Ave. Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 111 Montjoy St.