By TaMaryn Waters, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
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Tallahassee Democrat, Sunday, December 14, 2008 — The Magnolia School students and parents have never met the family they sponsor at Big Bend Cares. But they know their needs.
The small private school on Tharpe Street has been committed to helping the agency for several years. For consecutive years the school has sponsored a family of six, consisting of a grandmother living with HIV and five children.
The school has decided to continue helping this family for as long as they need it.
"What the Magnolia School is doing is wonderful because it's an entire school that's helping one family," said Melissa Walton, director of development for Big Bend Cares.
She said Magnolia is the only school in Leon County that sponsors one of its families.
The agency, which provides services to residents living with HIV and AIDS, is providing Christmas help to 87 families and an all-time high of 210 children. She said about 20 children are still in need of sponsorship.
Walton said most of the donations and toys they distribute are given through private donations.
She said Magnolia's family was very appreciative of what the school provided, which included canned goods, clothing, toys, hand-made ornaments and other gifts.
Katy McGlynn, Magnolia's administrative director, said the school is trying to make a big effort to provide the family needs and some of the extras that might make the children smile.
"Our goal is for them to be blown away," McGlynn said.
There are 55 students at the K-8 school. McGlynn said the students have gotten to know details about the family. They know each child's favorite color and some of their favorite things.
But she said, for confidentiality reasons, the students and parents are not permitted to meet the family. So the children may not be aware that they're helping a family affected by HIV.
McGlynn said, "They just know that it's a family that wouldn't otherwise have a Christmas."
Contact Reporter TaMaryn Waters at (850) 599-2162 or tlwaters@tallahassee.com.
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