CHILDREN WASH CARS FOR WASHINGTON TRIP

This weekend children will wash cars for an opportunity to go to Washington, an experience many of them may never have known.

On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sam's Club near the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart, 34 area disadvantaged children will help earn money for a weeklong trip to the nation's capital.

Fred Pennington, photographer at KFVS, said the idea for the trip began over five years ago.

"A Wyoming law student, Shawn Grindstaff, who was a member of Congressman Bill Emerson's staff, first had the idea of bringing area kids to Wyoming, so they could share new experiences," he said. "The kids camped and visited Yellowstone National Park."

The trip was designed to expand the horizons of students who may never have the opportunity to leave the area their whole lives. "We wanted to let the kids know there is another environment out there," said Pennington. "We wanted them to know there was a bigger world out there.

Students for the trip were chosen from various programs, such as the Cape Girardeau Alternative School, the Civic Center, Community Counseling Center, and other area programs.

Pennington said the dream of taking a group of kids on a trip, became a reality, when a group of business owners helped out with the trip's funding. The trip was made to Wyoming for two years.

When Grindstaff graduated from law school, the idea was to go to Washington.

Pennington said a year lapsed before enough money was raised to make the D.C. trip with the kids.

In 1996 enough funds were raised, and a group went. "Thanks to the generosity of area businesses and individuals the kids were able to go," he said.

"We were to meet with Congressman Bill Emerson but Bill died the day we left for the trip; we read about his death in the Washington papers."

Carrie Cline, a KFVS reporter, who works with Pennington on the project, said the trip to Washington can change the lives of the children who go.

"It is a really neat experience for them," she said. The youth will meet with Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and will tour historic and educational sites in the city.

Cline said Emerson's staff has helped plan the trip. "The kids will tour the White House and see the main sights in Washington."

Pennington said a highlight of this year's trip will be a visit to see Rep. J.C. Watts, a black congressman from Oklahoma who was keynote speaker at the 1996 Republican National Convention.

He said it takes just one special event in a child's life to make a difference in his future.

"I came from the inner city of St. Louis," said Pennington. "My mom had 11 kids. One summer a friend of mine paid for my way to summer camp. It opened my horizons."