Penny Patter

By: Bettie Witherspoon
Bob Abrams is a part of our history
   In 1992, we held our first charity ball to celebrate Better Beginnings’ silver anniversary. Twenty-five "Shining Stars" were named who had made a difference in our community during our existence. Bob Abrams was one of those so honored. We had never had an event for which we charged more than $7. I was so anxious. I was not sure that anyone would care enough about us to pay $50 to attend. Even so, attendance was by invitation only.
   I just wanted to celebrate, more than anything, the fact that we had managed to survive for 25 years. We asked for RSVP and — joy-to-the-world — we got a good response from our own community and from county and state friends as well. Even the governor sent a representative and a congratulatory proclamation. East Windsor Mayor Ralph Bradley was the honorary chair and sponsor and presented the awards. Except for the first and worst panic attack of my life that afternoon, and except for some unexpected guests at the "door", everything went smoothly.
   I was floating around like one of the 25 balloons when Bob approached me. He told me it was amazing that there are people there who ordinarily couldn’t stand each other and sometimes wouldn’t even speak to each other. I shook my head, disbelieving.
   He continued, "But here they are, enjoying themselves together, all because they have a common interest in Better Beginnings and concern for the children and families you serve." I was astonished. I thanked him. How like him to find such perceptive, kind words to say to me. The idea that we provided a peaceful setting in which people could celebrate together the many kindnesses that had bound our service over the years made me incredibly happy.
   His remarks have stayed with me all this time. So have his many acts of kindness and the knowledge and wisdom he shared. As an educator, he supported the value of early childhood education as well as our after-school and summer services for school-age children. He carved out a niche for us in the educational community and a mutual bond.
   One of the ways he shared his knowledge and wisdom was a column in the Windsor-Hights Herald. He made our community a better place and even though he has returned to his home state of Oklahoma, his work here lives on.

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Friends you can bank on are interest-ing

   You can count on PNC! Their employees and friends made sure that our young children and our classrooms are well supplied. Boxes and boxes of items collected arrived, containing all manner of materials, brand new clothes and blankets, paper goods of all kinds, learning games and more.
   All the way from Maplewood we have toys and other useful items from Suzanne Salandy; anonymous slipped past me with some useful goods also. "Mr. Jonathan" Craig made his weekly visit, bringing paper goods, pens, and a classic children’s book. I am thinking of converting the book into a puppet play for the after-school children to perform for our youngest students.
   All kindness is appreciated. Like magic, kindness begets kindness, and breeds joy. "Just like a magic penny, Hold it tight and you won’t have any … Lend it, spend it, and you’ll have so many … they’ll roll all over the floor."

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Saving while struggling

   
Janna found it easy to take her two children to a fast food restaurant two or three times a week, on the way home from work. She decided to cook at home, and finds it healthier and cheaper. She puts half of what she is saving in their small savings account and pretends it doesn’t exist. The other half goes to pay down debt. In addition, she uses leftovers to take her lunch to work. Again, the savings go half-and-half to savings and debt reduction.
   Margie quit smoking. The cost of her habit affected her health as well as her finances. Now, she sets aside the money she was spending on cigarettes in an emergency fund, not just for herself, but also to help neighbors, family and friends who may have a crisis.

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Penny Pincher

   …laughs when someone says she is "cheap" she says it is just "centsible." She also does not consider herself "poor" since she has adequate food, shelter, and clothing. Many in our country and world do not. Because her little projects involve re-using items that would go to the "landfill" (nice word for garbage dump), she considers herself "rich" in enjoying the beauty of the earth. She congratulates Super Dooper and Lollipop classes for decorating empty, clean and dry plastic soda/water bottles to become coin collectors for Better Beginnings’ penny drive. So far, they have collected $7.60; that is 760 pennies, quite a haul for little guys!

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Week-end funwork for families and young students to enjoy together

   
Take a walk together to find leaves that have fallen, then use them for rubbings or prints, a beautiful art work, also useful to observe and discuss the shape, vein structures and more. Full instructions, including intelligence employed, can be had upon request.

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P.S. Better Beginnings will be celebrating its 40th year in 2007. Watch for details!

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If you have comments, suggestions, an idea for Penny Pincher or want to put in your two cents, donate, contribute or volunteer, please write to us at P.O. Box 187, Hightstown, NJ 08520 or [email protected], or call Executive Director Luz Nereida Horta at 448-6226. Want to know more about us? Visit our Web site www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc.
Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967. Penny Patter originated in 1997 when Better Beginnings started a million-penny drive as one effort to deal with severe budget cuts.