Sometimes a columnist can chose to write funny stories about herfamily,www.thetoryburchus.com, or embarrass herself by sharing travel escapades, or evenget on her soapbox about local issues and other important topics,like who's more perky - Rachel Ray or Kathy Lee.Sometimes a column, however, just needs to highlight the peoplein our community who truly make a difference. This is one of thosecolumns.I met Jackie Ordelheide when she was known as "Miss Nolle" atCentral Elementary in the Francis Howell School District. I was afrightened little first-grader and she was my teacher, my firstteacher, as they didn't have kindergarten back then in the darkages.With a ready smile and a fun-loving but firm presence, shesteered her wide-eyed charges onto the wonderful path oflearning.Sunday, at 9 a.m. in Frontier Park in St. Charles, she willembark on a more literal path, along with many other walkathonparticipants and their furry friends. The walkathon is part of anannual Trails for Tails, the St. Charles Humane Society's biggestfundraiser.In addition to the dog walk, there will be pet contests,North Face clearance, likePet/Owner Look-a-like, Best Kisser, Best Buns, Most Amazing Trickand Best Costume. Vendors and demos of pet products will beavailable, and the 2007 Animal Hero of the Year will berevealed.This is the 17th year for Trails for Tails, and Jackie's 17thyear participating. By her side will be Warner and Roscoe, twodachshunds that were lucky enough to find a home with such anenthusiastic animal lover.Warner is a puppy mill rescue Jackie named after Kurt Warnerbecause she acquired him on Super Bowl Sunday in 2000. Roscoe, alsosaved by a rescue group, arrived in 2006. Jackie describes him as"a sweetheart, but very opinionated."Jackie and the barking beauties that have participated with herin the past can be proud of all the money they've collected forTrails for Tails, about $20,000 over the years. Jackie hascollected the most pledges of all the participants for 15 of thoseyears. Obviously, lots of other people besides this former studentthink the cause she champions is worthwhile.She got started volunteering for the Humane Society 19 yearsago, and has been involved in the organization's moves from onefacility to another. They've outgrown their current location onPralle Lane, and are raising funds to build a new permanent shelterat the same location. The St. Charles Humane Society, establishedin 1973, cares for and provides homes for nearly 1,000 cats anddogs each year. It's the only no-kill and non-tax-supported animalshelter in St. Charles County,BOTTEGA VENETA Women Crossboody Bags.Jackie's duties have included doing laundry, walking dogs,cleaning cages, writing thank-you notes for contributions, workingwith special needs animals, and basically, as she puts it,"anything that needed to be done." She says she's been amplyrewarded by knowing that the shelter spays,www.guessshopusa.com, neuters and microchipsall animals before they are adopted, and that it's a no-killfacility. She states "another high is seeing that the animals areproperly cared for and having them get adopted into a foreverhome."Jackie was born and raised in St. Charles and graduated fromwhat was then Lindenwood College. "My passion for 31 years wasteaching young children and when I retired in 1987, I could pursuemy other passion - helping animals," she said.Jackie has been known to go above and beyond the call of dutyfor her four-footed friends. I remember hearing of herpainstakingly trying to catch a stray dog so she could take it tothe shelter. Every day for months she would drive to where the doghad been spotted and try to coax it out of its hiding place withfood,Guess online. She doesn't give up on the creatures that many ignore, andurges others to "please adopt a shelter animal. Older animals areideal, too. They have been potty trained, and are more settled andhave a multitude of love to give."If you're interested in contributing to the St. Charles HumaneSociety, or want more information about Trails for Tails or itsother events, visit www.stcharleshumanesociety.org or call636-949-9918,Guess wedge shoes.Those wanting to enter the Trails for Tails dog walk mustcomplete and sign a registration form and turn in their paidpledges on or before the event. Prizes will be awarded to the toppledge fundraisers.Whether you participate or are there to just watch the fun,perhaps you'll see my former teacher and her pals leading the pack,making a difference, one foot - and paw - at a time.Karen Diekamp Hitchcock of St. Charles is a medical secretarywho writes a semimonthly column for the Journal. She can be reachedat kdhitch1hotmail.com 相关的主题文章：

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