Collection of cancelled stamps provides aid to Lithuanian children

I just finished reading a column entitled "Pagan Babies" by Rhea Bouchard Powers in the July 10, issue of the Valley Breeze and feel moved to share my own educational experiences. In her column, Rhea questions the practice of collecting canceled stamps when she was a young student in a Catholic school back in the 1950s. The rationale for this practice was evidently never clearly presented. Rhea continues to be mystified.

Well, thank God, the time has come to rectify this situation, Rhea. I would like to courteously extend an invitation to you and to anyone else who would like to help the needy by collecting canceled stamps. Believe it or not, students at McGuire School and several other friends from the North Providence community have been productively and enthusiastically engaged in this activity for more than 12 years.

Sister Helen Ivanauskas from Brockton, Mass. is the director of a wonderful organization known as the Lithuanian Children's Relief Fund. Many of us affiliated with McGuire School in North Providence continue to mail her our canceled stamps faithfully. These stamps, in turn, are purchased by various patrons, and the money received is used to help needy children in Lithuania. Sister personally travels to orphanages in Lithuania and provides diapers, medicine, food, and clothing. Burn victims and other young people with health problems that cannot be addressed in Lithuanian have been flown to Boston where doctors have successfully treated these grateful patients.

The Lithuanian Children's Relief Fund always provides us with clear and ample documentation concerning how funds are used to help needy children. This includes financial reports and statistical data. Furthermore, Sister Helen always sends us thank-you notes and pictures of the children who are being helped. It continues to gratify us each year as we see that these needy children, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or socio-economic background, are being helped.

On a personal note, I was educated by four different religious orders in four different Catholic schools, St. Raphael's, St. Augustine's, St. Mary's Academy, Bay View, and Providence College. I also attended two public institutions of higher learning, Florida State University and Rhode Island College. In fact, I actually earned my Ph. D. in organizational leadership at a fine Protestant university, Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia Beach, where I have been privileged to teach as an adjunct professor. Teachers at all of these fine schools, both lay and religious, have touched me spiritually and intellectually.

Furthermore, as a Catholic, I have learned that each person is special in the eyes of God and that everyone deserves honor, dignity, and respect.

I have taught at seven different public schools in the North Providence School Department for the past 28 years and I've been blessed with many friends, administrators, teachers, parents, and former students, who continue to contribute to this phenomenal cause every year.

So, please Rhea, won't you join us in this charitable cause? I'd be glad to provide you or anyone else with literature about the wonderful work accomplished by the Lithuanian Children's Relief Fund.

We can make a difference, together.

Anne Marie McDonnell

North Providence

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