HIKE Presentation to Travis Anderson at Missouri Grand Session

By Melissa Brooks, PHQ Bethel #33, MO

The workweeks’ full of competition and fun, which is Grand Session, was about to begin for Job’s Daughters all over the State of Missouri. On June 21, 2007, the Grand Guardian Council of Missouri held its annual opening banquet. Amid the customary introductions and friendly banter, there was yet another reason to be excited. Missouri jobies were to have the rare privilege of meeting one of the recipients of a hearing aid that is to be bought with the money they had raised for HIKE. The lucky recipient on this particular evening was Travis W. Anderson, a 7-month-old boy who had been diagnosed with profound hearing loss. Like most families, the cost of a hearing aid for their son would be a difficult sum to acquire. So, they appealed to HIKE. Their wish had been fulfilled and they were to receive the check on this evening, in the presence of them that had raised the money.

When the award to the family had been announced, all eyes turned to the guests of honor, Travis, his mother, Rita Anderson, and his grandmother. As they made their way to the East line, there were heard a multitude of voices cooing simultaneously as a testament to how cute little Travis is. The Anderson Family received a check for $3,500.00 to be used on a hearing aid for 7-month-old Travis. His mother, Rita, spoke to the group. She extended her thanks and tremendous gratitude to all that had helped raise the money to help her. Mrs. Marlene Frakes, one of the adult HIKE coordinators for the state of Missouri, commented on the award to the Anderson Family, saying, "It was so great to know that Travis would develop normally and not suffer with speech problems, since he is getting his hearing aid so early. It makes me so proud to be a part of the HIKE Fund."

MO Daughter HIKE Coordinator tells about HIKE, Mom Frakes present ceremonial check and Travis's Mom thanks the Job's Daughters of Missouri

The Job’s Daughters of the state of Missouri are striving to help even more children, who like Travis, having hearing problems, by continuing to raise money through charity projects and attending hikes for HIKE. To date, the girls and adults of Missouri have raised $13,762.67 for the HIKE Fund. Rest assured, this is only a small portion of the money that will be raised by these generous and hard-working daughters.