[BobD]

Hey everyone--do any of you live in the Charleston, SC, area? I got this e-mail, and I'd like to help...

I am writing on behalf of a non profit organization DORANNE HOMES INC in the Charleston South Carolina area. We are registered with the secretary of state in SC.

Doranne Homes helps families with children who are about to become homeless. Our most recent famil is a single woman with 5 kids whose rental home burned down last year. Unable to find somewhere to rent which she could afford, the 6 of them lived in one room in a motel for 3 months until we got involved and found someone to rent them a house at a price she can afford.

We also get involved in helping to solve any problems which either contributed to their financial problems or which may have derived from the life chaos which the working poor experience. Her oldest son is 15 and has had many problems in his life. Right now he is struggling, having gotten involved with some beginning criminal behavior (breaking and entering) and personal problems with drugs. We are providing intensive programming with the child, hoping to help him salvage his life. We asked him to consider some type of hobby which he can spend time doing alone and just this week he has expressed an interest in wood carving. In one of the many many places his family has "lived" he knew someone who was a carver and remembers his work as something he had wished he could do.

While we can find resources on line, and can find "angles" to get him tools, books and wood, the BEST thing would be to learn from someone more experienced - who might also act as a mentor with him regarding other aspects of a socially responsible life. We searched the state listings for clubs here in South Carolina but the one which is listed has an e-mail address which is no longer active.

I was hoping you might know of someone in the Charleston or Summerville South Carolina area who might be interesting in providing assistance and friendship to this young man. Please let me know if you do.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Donna Foster Myer

If you live in the area, and would be interested in mentoring the teen, please let me know!

Bob

[Baldy]

Bless you Donna. There are too few people in this world willing to help kids like this. Though I am many states away and would not be close enough to do you any good, I can only give moral support in this case but hope there are people close enough to take it on. It is people like you who make this life worth living.

Dick