Young Volunteer Helps The Arc of Carroll County Obtain New Chairs

The Advocate of Westminster and Finksburg
7/23/2008

Westminster, MD., June 11, 2008----Chris Anderson, from Westminster, MD. has been a friend of The Arc of Carroll County in the past. His first project for The Arc was to raise funds and build a beautiful patio area at their Westminster location that is enjoyed daily. But, this time he has outdone himself.  Last November, when Chris was attending a meeting at The Arc, he noticed that there were not enough chairs to seat all of The Arc’s clients and that the existing chairs were all different mixed types.  Chris had an idea, and he contacted Don Rowe, Executive Director of the Arc of Carroll County to meet.      
 
Mr. Rowe liked his idea and Chris started his ambitious journey to get chairs for The Arc of Carroll County, an advocacy organization that works to provide services and support to people with developmental disabilities and their families in the county.
 
Chris designed both a printed and electronic flyer seeking funds for the chairs. He sent it out  to his friends, family, Board Members of The Arc, and families and friends of the Arc participants. He also set up The Arc as a charity on a website called GoodSearch, which is a search engine that contributes pennies to your charity each time it is used.  By spring, Chris had collected $1,190.00 toward the purchase of new chairs.  This ambitious project did not end there...  Chris had another idea.  He contacted the Store Manager of the Westminster Staples, Tony Griczin and asked Mr. Griczin about the possibility of giving The Arc a discount on these chairs. Chris negotiated a generous 35% discount off of the purchase of 50 chairs. He also went the extra mile by driving some of the clients of The Arc to the Staples store to select the most comfortable chairs for them, and they selected chairs with arms that were picked up by The Arc.
 
And the story does not end there… Chris is now raising funds to purchase another 50 chairs with arms for The Arc.   Mr. Rowe, The Arc staff,  and Board of Director’s for The Arc of Carroll County appreciate the selfless efforts made by this young citizen. Let’s give everyone a place to sit in 2008!   Other people interested in contributing to the chair fund or volunteering for The Arc of Carroll County, should call 410/848-9124 or email drowe@arccarroll.com.

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