I haven’t been able to talk about my brother because of my guilt and shame in not being able to help him. But I want to find ways to help others. I don’t talk about Steve anymore. He’s become my secret. The one I’m too ashamed to share. Steve and I were uncommonly close, that…
Author: Bruce Petillo
How inclusion helps companies, communities value diverse backgrounds
Those in a position of hiring should consider the deep backgrounds we all bring and add value for the cultural insights we will share with them. Throughout my K-12 experience, my parents never fully understood my extensive after-school curricular activities. Staying late after school seemed off, perhaps, even wrong to them. While hard at the…
‘I’m feeling like myself again’: St. Louis woman shares story of surviving breast cancer
After months of tough treatments, Darcy Hardwick Smith is only days away from finishing her journey. ST. LOUIS — Believing in the process is important when someone is on a personal journey. Especially when facing cancer, because the journey is not an easy one. Darcy Hardwick Smith knows exactly how tough the road to better…
Daughters Day reminds me how National Charity League promotes mother-daughter bonds
The National Charity League helps promote positive relations between mothers and daughters. There are 3 local chapters. Although I was blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl 18 years ago, we have never celebrated National Daughters Day. However, this September, when I received a reminder about National Daughters Day from the National Charity League, I…
Overland Park man encourages community to donate kidneys
Joey Sughroue has Alports Syndrome, a rare disease damaging his kidneys. He asked all of his friends and relatives for a living donation. They have not found a match. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Joey and Audrey Sughroue enjoyed their wedding day this past summer surrounded by friends and family in downtown Kansas City. The couple met just…
Families to start Hope House Children’s Hospices Dark Runs
Two families will be starting off Hope House Children’s Hospices Dark Runs this October in Telford and Chirk as hundreds sign up to light up the night. Over two Saturdays hundreds of people and families of all ages will get together to ‘glow’ crazy and raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices. You can complete…
Northampton business launches wellness walks for men to improve their mental health
The relaxing walks aim to provide men with an opportunity to meet more people and talk about whatever they want Fortnightly wellness walks have been launched in Northampton in a bid to improve physical and mental health for local men. Personal trainer and nutrition coach, Simeon James, has teamed up with social enterprise Saints Coffee to…
Red Cross volunteer returns home to Puerto Rico for hurricane relief
Dianna Trush returns to the island she calls her “homeland.” MILWAUKEE — Dianna Trush said when she was a child in New York, American Red Cross volunteers helped her family back on their feet after their apartment building caught fire. More than half a century later, Trush called it an honor to represent the Red…
Packing fresh paint and new trees, army of volunteers descends on SLC apartment complexes
The Home Depot Foundation and Housing Authority of Salt Lake City have partnered for more than decade to improve community spaces in housing facilities across Utah’s capital. Two permanent supportive housing facilities in Salt Lake City got a face-lift Wednesday, thanks to efforts from hundreds of volunteers. The Home Depot Foundation teamed up with the Housing Authority of…
Volunteers feed community
The Mount Union Food Bank is a mission of the Mount Union Ministerium and, as such, is supported by volunteers and contributions from member churches. The food bank is also supported by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, businesses and organizations. Kennard and Kay Coons are the food bank’s new coordinators, assuming duties following the recent…