‘...A little child shall lead them’

By Cheryl Keenan

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” — Isaiah 11:6

OAK HILL — Just like their counterparts around the world, Roseanne Berry, executive director of the Fayette-Nicholas Chapter of the American Red Cross, and her co-workers have accepted a number of donations to aid in recovery efforts in Haiti since the devastating earthquake which struck Haiti on Jan. 12.

One of the most heart-warming, however, came early last week when Berry accepted a check from a youngster most would expect to be more concerned with her dolls and games.

Jenna Jones is four years old. Sometimes she doesn’t want to eat the food her mother prepares. At times, she’ll want something else. And sometimes she doesn’t want to eat at all.

Being a fairly typical mother, Marsha Jones does what she can to encourage her daughter to eat, including telling her of children around the world who would love to have the wonderful food Jenna is provided.

Last week, a past life lesson her mother had shared blended in Jenna’s mind with the news from Haiti to lead her to a decision.

“Daddy, I need you to draw me a map to Africa,” she told her father, Jeremy Jones, who’s a minister at Swiss Missionary Baptist Church in Nicholas County as well as a coal miner.

“I want to go there to help feed the children,” she said.

Of course, Jenna told her father, he’d have to accompany her because she was afraid of all the wild animals.

The facts may have been a little confused and lead older folk to smile, but her heart was right, those around her believed. Because of her inspiration, the congregation of the church decided to take Jenna’s plans a step further and send a donation to the American Red Cross to provide relief to those so desperately in need in Haiti. Jenna and her Sunday school teacher spent class time on Jan. 17 placing coins in wrappers for the donation and the church, and some of its individual members, kicked in donations as well.

On Tuesday, Jenna and her family, including younger brother Travis, visited Oak Hill to present the church’s check to Berry to be used to provide aid to those in the decimated island nation.

Berry and her co-workers showed the family photographs of those who would be helped by the donation, and thanked Jenna for her concern. “This is a very nice thing you’re doing,” she was told.

Before they were out the door, both Jenna and her brother, Travis, were presented with stuffed toys and Berry also made arrangements for the family to have lunch at McDonald’s.

The youngster was pleased, but said she didn’t expect to be rewarded. “I didn’t know they’d do that,” she said.

And she didn’t even have to worry about the wild animals.

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Donations still are being accepted at the local Red Cross chapter to help with the recovery in Haiti. Progress has been made, officials say, but those needs will continue for quite a while.

“This is a massive urban disaster of unprecedented proportions, and we know that this is going to be a costly long-term recovery operation,” a representative of ARC’s International Services said last week.

“Terrible times like these bring out the best in people, and we are grateful for the support being given to the American Red Cross.”

Donations made dropped off at the Fayette-Nicholas Chapter at 208 Main St. in Oak Hill (basement of the Oak Hill Post Office), or by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution that will be added to your cell phone bill. You may also visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or call the local office at 304-469-4636.

— E-mail:

ckeenan@register-herald.com