A helping hand

If you want to help change the world, look to Bill Sparks -- and countless others like him -- who have found a way to improve the lives of others.

Sparks, who teaches Sunday school at Maple United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, has had a couple of back surgeries and remembers paying $165 for a walker after he left the hospital. He and his Sunday school class were looking for a project and saw a "Free for the taking" classified ad in the Southeast Missourian. Someone was giving away used hospital beds. It turned out Jackson Manor was replacing its manually cranked beds with electric ones. Whenever there are extras, they go to Sparks, and he and members of the class refurbish them and make them available to those in need.

This effort has led to the formation of a program called Help which collects and lends medical equipment and assisted-living devices. Many of the needy recipients are referred by Love INC, another program that finds ways to meet needs in the community.

Sparks, members of the Sunday school class and others involved in this wonderful outreach program are to be commended for their efforts and for the inspiration the provide to others seeking ways to help others.