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Navajo school helped
Local printer's employees raise money to repair mission and school damaged by vandals.
Date published: 1/3/2006 By KATHLEEN LEWIS By KATHLEEN LEWIS A mission and school that helps Navajos in New Mexico was vandalized in September. Windows and doors were broken, classrooms and offices were trashed, and tools and vehicles were stolen. AKA Printing and Mailing in Spotsylvania County found out about the misfortune because the mission is one of its clients. The direct-mail service company responded by sending a check to help with repair costs. But it didn't stop there. AKA employees helped raise the $6,500 that the company sent to provide a Christmas meal and children's gifts for the American Indian community. "We fed and partied 1200 people. And we had gifts for the kids, thanks to AKA. It was extremely generous on their part to do this," said Libby Jennings, director of development for St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School. The mission holds an annual community dinner for the people of the Eastern Navajo Reservation. They give out gifts such as clothes, blankets and shoes. "These are folks that live barely above marginal living. They can't afford to buy Christmas gifts for their kids," said Jennings But this year, the Navajo children's gifts were purchased by AKA employees who volunteered to do the shopping. Karen Rawson, AKA's vice president of operations, said most of the company's clients are non-profit organizations, so each year, the company adopts one of its clients for a companywide fundraiser. "We try to give an opportunity for our people to give," Rawson said. When it came to choosing a client-partner for the year, the mission was selected, said Rawson. About 225 gifts--five skids worth--were delivered by truck to New Mexico, just in time for the celebration. To reach KATHLEEN LEWIS:
Date published: 1/3/2006
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