SIXTH-GRADERS AT MAY GREENE WIN GRANT MONEY FOR APPLICATION

Sixth-grader Ashley DePree wonders what World War II soldiers wore, what they ate and what happened to them when they returned home.

DePree will get living history lessons next semester at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home through a $2,000 grant she and classmates at May Greene Elementary School wrote and won. The students wrote a proposal, saying what they would do with the grant.

Students will exchange stories with veterans weekly. The project is called "Love for Others," a name developed by student Angie Smith.

She said, "We want to let them know we care for them and not just for ourselves."

The grant is one of seven awarded through the Southeast Missouri Youth as Resources project.

Jack Stokes, assistant professor of social work at Southeast Missouri State University, helped select the winning grants. A total of $9,500 was awarded.

"The project at May Greene really captures the spirit of the project," Stokes said.

The National Crime Prevention Council offers grant money for the projects. Stokes said children decide what is important to them. The grants give them money to make a difference.

This is the first time Youth as Resources grants have been awarded in Southeast Missouri.

The veterans will give first-hand accounts of war, something May Greene students are curious about. "I like to hear stories with a lot of action," said Tekoa Hines.

Samantha Kennedy said: "I've heard stories about the war from my grandpa. I'd like to compare his stories to theirs. I know they've probably had different experiences."

Tabatha Burke said, "I feel like this will be a good project, not just us being friends to them but also the knowledge we can learn from them."

Teacher Peggy Moses said half the money will be spent on a bus to take students to the Veterans Home once a week for the rest of the school year.

They plan to buy T-shirts for the veterans with the message "It takes a village to raise a child." Money will also be spent on activities with the veterans.

Other winning projects:

-- Jackson High School peer tutors will work at Safety City in Jackson City Park.

-- The Junior Optimist Club is building a sand volleyball court at Washington Park.

-- A basketball team at the Cape Civic Center will do renovations at the center.

-- The Jackson Church of Christ Youth Group will replace tile and paint at the Civic Center.

-- Another group of basketball players will refurbish a rose bed outside the Civic Center.

-- A group of young parents working with Division of Family Service will develop a nursery at the Civic Center.