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Memory lives through Laura's Ark
By MOLLY MOORHEAD NEW PORT RICHEY -- The aye-aye is the largest nocturnal primate in the world. It has glowing eyes and long, delicate fingers. It forages for food and spends most of its life in trees. It was also the favorite animal of Laura Bowes, a Land O'Lakes girl who dreamed of being a veterinarian before succumbing to a brain tumor a year ago at age 10. But the English-born child's memory endures through Laura's Ark, a community service project established by a Sunday school class at First United Methodist Church. The kids in the class, who prayed for Laura during her illness, bring in toys, books and clothes from home to be given to needy families. Laura's Ark -- it's really a set of shelves with an ark painted on the wall behind it -- sits in the classroom, storing the donations and reminding the children to be generous. "They decided they wanted to bring some goodness out of (Laura's death)," said teacher Julie Calafiura. Her students never knew Laura. They learned about her ordeal because Calafiura works as a nurse with Laura's mother at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. Calafiura was with the girl when she died, and her funeral was at First United Methodist. "We prayed for Laura," Calafiura said. "We realized that was the only thing we could do." To get the project going, the kids, who are all close to Laura's age, sold lemonade and apple cider to raise money for supplies. They drew sketches of how they envisioned the ark and hung them in the classroom. Then with paint and brushes bought with their hard-earned money, the kids painted the brown boat and the sunny scene around it. Kaitlyn Lee worked on the dolphin. Bella Calafiura did the dove. "Laura loved animals," Julie Calafiura said. "That's the whole premise." Now once a month or so the kids dig through their own bedrooms and closets for things they can give to people less fortunate. "I brought a whole bunch of stuff," said Josh Babcock, 10. "I had waaaaay too many toys." Laura's Ark had its first customers a few weeks ago. A Japanese family planning a mission trip to Mexico gave a lesson to the class and filled a few bags with toys and clothes. In the future, Calafiura would like local people to benefit from Laura's Ark. It's not meant to be a large-scale donation center, but Calafiura said it could help individual families on birthdays and holidays. Kids in the class love the idea that their toys will bring smiles to other children. "I'm taking my old stuff that I don't want anymore," Kaitlyn, 8, said. "It's kind of like recycling toys." Bella Calafiura, 9, who donated a slew of Barbie dolls, added: "I just hope a lot of people who really need things can use them." As the first anniversary of Laura's death approaches, Calafiura said the girl's family is feeling tremendous sadness. But Laura's Ark has given them some comfort. "It's good because at least Laura's death has brought some good into the world," said Clair Bowes, Laura's 17-year-old sister. Clair helped sketch the design of the ark and drew outlines of the animals for the kids to fill in with paint. Her next project is to create a banner to hang over the ark. Clair said her sister was an animal lover from birth. "She definitely wanted to be a veterinarian," Clair said. "She just didn't know what kind." So it's appropriate that Laura is being remembered for that passion, and her sister is pretty sure how she would feel about the ark. "I think she would think it's great," Clair said. To helpHow to donate to Laura's Ark: WHAT: toys, clothes and books for children WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 5901 Indiana Ave. Port Richey, FL 34652 CALL: (727) 842-7674
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From today's Pasco Times |
