A1 DecemberFEATURING 2018 THE PEOPLEa OUR FACES THAT / OUR MAKE HUMANITARIANS OUR COMMUNITYa GREAT! 1 OurFaces LIGHTING THE WAY One family’s quest to spread hope and cheer Generous ‘Helpings’ Why MOW delivers 85,000 meals a year Thank Goodness for Friday FFBF fuels Laramie County’s youth Greg Dyekman, A Scout Among Men Humble leader & community steward Building a Better ToMORROW The spark plug behind Day of Giving Ann Esquibel Redman, Trailblazer Only focuses on the positive Adopt-A-Grand-Family Brightening the holidays for families in need MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER A3 December 2018 a OUR FACES / OUR HUMANITARIANS a 3 FEATURING THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY GREAT! Faces INSIDEOur THIS EDITION: HUMANITARIANS Lighting the Way One family’s quest to spread hope and cheer ............. 4 Adopt-A-Grand-Family 4 Making a difference this holiday season .................. 6 Greg Dyekman, A Scout Among Men Humble leader & community steward ................... 8 8 Thank Goodness for Friday Friday Food Bag Foundation fuels Laramie County’s youth .. 10 Generous ‘Helpings’ Why Meals on Wheels delivers 85,000 meals a year ....... 12 14 Building a Better ToMORROW The spark plug behind Day of Giving ................... 14 Ann Esquibel Redman, Trailblazer 16 Only focuses on the positive ......................... 16 A4 4 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a Lighting the Way one family’s quest to spread hope and cheer Gary “Papa” Kelley created the forest with his wife, Nancy. Photo by Rachel Girt. Six-year-old Jessie Hall with her neurosurgeon, By Rachel Girt Dr. Ben Carson. Photo provided by the Kelley family. alking among the their brain in hopes that the child The resulting surgeries, she Her enthusiasm for learning over 300,000 twin- will live free of severe epileptic has had more than 11, left new things inspires Papa Kelley kling lights in the seizures, explains Gary “Papa” Jessie permanently disabled, who taught his granddaughter to WHemi Lighted Forest of Hope, Kelley, who created the forest but without them the disease drive the ATV and fly a drone. located just east of Cheyenne, with his wife Nancy and help of would have eaten away at her “If you have a little patience, it douses visitors with instant holi- many volunteers. brain causing frequent seizures, is amazing what these kids can day cheer, but the trees represent Their granddaughter Jessie Hall, paralysis, and possible death. eventually accomplish.” so much more than that. at six-years-old, underwent the Today, Jessie is 16 and going These proud grandparents The magical forest is a radical surgery in 2008 as a result to high school, says a very spend months each year celebration of life for over a of Rasmussen's Encephalitis, proud Papa Kelley. Despite decorating their yard, large thousand children across the an inflammatory disease that the challenges, she's been a outdoor water feature, and two world who have undergone the relentlessly attacked the right side cheerleader and served on indoor displays for the annual hemispherectomy, a surgery to of her brain causing debilitating student council, as well as being a Hemi Lighted Forest of Hope, remove one-half (hemisphere) of seizures. good student. located at 6565 Ashley Drive, just A5 December 2018 a OUR FACES / OUR HUMANITARIANS a 5 How you can help Happy Holidays Hemi Lighted Forest of Hope FROM WASABI! www.hemiforest.com HaveyourNewYearHolidayPartywithus! over 4 miles east of Cheyenne. Lighting up the trees in their The forest is free and open front yard initially was just a way to the public 6 to 8:30 p.m. to make Christmas memorable seven days a week until the end for their granddaughter who of January. Hayrides and the was planning to visit them in 4620 Grandview Ave #205 indoor displays are only available 2010. But Papa Kelley wanted (in Avanti Plaza off Dell Range Blvd, through Dec. 31 and include hot to go much bigger and light a located between Wal-Mart and Harbor Freight) chocolate, as well as a free stuffed tree for every child who had to 307-514-5606 • wasabicheyenne.com animal for all children who undergo a similar surgery. That come. Donations are welcome at ended up equating to 2,000 feet Open for Lunch 11am-4pm Mon-Fri the Hemi Forest or make your of underground wiring with 22 Dinner 4pm-9pm Mon-Thurs donation directly to the Hemi service points, 450 trees, 450 4pm-10pm Fri-Sat Foundation at extension cords, and 65,000 LED Sun 12pm to 8:30pm All Day Dinner www.hemifoundation.org. See Forest of Hope, 18 A6 6 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a Adopt-A-Grand-Family making a difference this holiday season Grandmother Susan Lyday poses with her grandson, Lazerous Gilbert, who she has raised since he By Rachel Girt was 3. Photo by Rachel Girt. hen her grandson Lazerous Gil- autism, as well as ADHD. age of 18. The program is mostly supported bert was 8 years old, Susan Lyday’s As part of the adopt-a-grand-family through federal dollars funneled through holiday wishes came true when a initiative, Lyday received a gift card to buy the Wyoming Department of Health’s Aging Wstranger from Laramie adopted their family for shoes, clothes or other items needed plus a Division but also receives funding from United Christmas through the Community Action of special gift. She bought Legos when Lazerous Way, community services block grants, and Laramie County’s adopt-a-grand-family initia- was younger but, for many years now, all he donations. tive. wanted was books. “He reads every night until The older relative caregiver program has 63 That was about 10 years ago, and the same midnight.” clients, who care for well over 120 children woman has continued to provide for all Lyday calls the gifts a “blessing.” “She’s a good in the county, said Debbie Walter, Kinship Lazerous’ Christmas presents since then. lady. That’s all I can tell you.” Support Services Access Care Coordinator. Lyday’s finances have been pretty strapped. The adopt-a-grand-family initiative is “This year there were 28 people on the list for Retired, living off of a fixed income, she ended part of the older relative caregiver program, the adopt-a-grand-family initiative, but I could up with guardianship of her grandson, when he available through Kinship Support Services list all 63 people,” Walter said. “They all need was just three. at Community Action of Laramie County. help.” “He’s such a remarkable, smart child,” Lyday The program serves people who are 55 years Walter explained that at least 80 percent says, fondly. She homeschooled Lazerous, who of age and older who are caring for someone, of the clients are caring for children because has been diagnosed with high-functioning a relative or a family friend who is under the the parents have either abandoned them A7 December 2018 a OUR FACES / OUR HUMANITARIANS a 7 completely, are homeless, are drug users, or are incarcerated. “It’s not that the parents don’t love their children,” Walter adds. “Whatever situation they find themselves in, mostly drug abuse, the grandparents are the only ones left who can care for children.” These grandparents are on a very fixed income, many well below the poverty line, How you can help often just living off of Social Security. They’re usually well past retirement age, and many Community Action of suffer from health issues. Laramie County One grandmother, who is raising two www grandkids, came to Walter for help. She had The adopt-a-grand-family initiative is one of .calc.net only a monthly income of $208 plus received many programs offered through Community Action of Laramie County. Community Action some assistance with her rent and food stamps. of Laramie County is dedicated to eliminating poverty by empowering people Walter said, “It’s hard to deal with because through education, advocacy, crisis intervention, and by providing opportunities toward self-sufficiency. you know they’re struggling. It just is Photo by Rachel Girt. heartbreaking to me.” As part of the older relative caregiver no money for Christmas and was panicked, would abandon him at his grandmother’s program, Walter can arrange for a variety of absolutely panicked.” house 10 hours at a time until Lyday gained services such as a Lifeline, sidewalks being Walter completely understands the situation guardianship of him. His mother has now set shoveled in the winter, a ride to the doctor, these grandparents find themselves in. She has her life straight, gotten off of drugs and alcohol. home modifications like railings, or provide been raising her grandson for 11 years. His father stopped visiting him when he turned Happy Meal coupons. The third Thursday When grandparents come to Walter, they are 3. of the month, the program also has a group devastated by what is happening. “There is the “In my mind, I already had a mother, and support meeting at the North Christian Church heartbreak that you feel for your grandchild that person was my grandmother. She loved me that includes dinner and respite workers to take who is going through all of this. Then there’s and took care of me, and I love her,” Lazerous age of 18. The program is mostly supported care of the kids for the evening. the heartbreak that you feel because your child said. “But living without the discipline of a through federal dollars funneled through That is why the adopt-a-grand-family isn’t stepping up to the plate or isn’t able to.” father was hard. I had no one to show me how the Wyoming Department of Health’s Aging initiative makes such a difference in these Walters is genuinely grateful for having her to be a young man, no one to talk with about Division but also receives funding from United families’ lives during the holidays, Walter said.