WORK WITH TEENS EARNS WADE LOCAL KING AWARD

Charlotte Wade refers to the Teen Challenge Thrift Store as "my baby," an outlet for the co-recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. award to bestow heavy doses of kindness and generosity upon troubled teen-agers.

"I can understand how hard it is being a teen-ager," Wade said. "Sometimes an act of kindness or a friendly gesture can help someone get back on the right path."

Wade, a longtime volunteer of the Teen Challenge Thrift Store in Cape Girardeau, was honored at the fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Friday for her work. The May Greene Elementary School was also honored as co-recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. award.

Funds from the Teen Challenge Thrift store go directly to the Mid-America Teen Challenge Center.

Due to an illness, Wade was unable to attend the ceremony at the First Baptist Church Friday night. "I'm sorry I missed that, because I understand it was a very nice service," she said.

Carol Goldsmith nominated Wade for the award. "When I saw that you could nominate someone for the award, I immediately thought of Charlotte," Goldsmith said.

"I don't even know Charlotte personally, but I certainly know of her work," Goldsmith said. Known as Miz Charlotte at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store, Wade has spent countless hours helping teen-agers with no thought of being compensated for her work.

"When I found out I was going to get an award, I was shocked," Wade said. "It's truly an honor to win something related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's work."

Said Goldsmith: "I have witnessed Miz Charlotte's daily practices of faith, charity and hope while frequenting the Teen Challenge facility. I've also noticed that many other regulars go to the store not so much for the warm clothing or household necessities but to be warmed by Miz Charlotte's uplifting spirit, which she so generously shares."

A member of the St. Mary's Cathedral Church, Wade was moved further by the message on the marquee Sunday: "Congratulations, Charlotte Wade."

"That was a nice thing for the monsignor to do," Wade said.

Said Goldsmith: "She seems to sense when those who enter the store are in need of more than the tangibles of life. And those who have encountered Miz Charlotte somehow know that she is a child of God who wants you to also know of God's goodness. She does that by practicing what she believes. Day in and day out she has a kind word, a prayer and a song in her heart."

Wade said there are others who embody the spirit of King. "I'm not the only one who works at the store," she said. "There are a lot of people in this town who volunteer their time and energy to worthwhile projects. Those are the people who are keeping Dr. King's legacy going."