Invitation Magazine - November 2019

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CAMI JO CARES

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Letter From the Publisher

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Calendar

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InstaLove: Sugar Daddy Bake Shop

Kids and families all over north Mississippi benefit when a grade-schooler takes an interest in helping others.

24 Time for Change

Local outreach programs offer guidance and support for men, women and teens behind bars and as they re-enter society.

28 Sew Far Sew Good

A Mississippi quilting guild is brightening the lives of families with very ill and premature babies.

32 Hope Unbridled

Through equine therapy, Tupelo kids of all ages improve physical strength, learn life skills and find a place to belong.

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In Season: Community Kindness

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Out & About

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Recipes: Turkey Pot Pie

ON THE COVER Colorful and comforting Mississippi-made quilts are a tangible example of community kindness. The Piecemakers Quilt Guild donates their handiwork to organizations far and wide, and locally to babies being treated in North Mississippi Medical Center’s NICU in Tupelo. Read more about the organization on page 28.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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Blessed are the Peacemakers

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New Albany Harvest Dinner

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Tupelo Chili Fest

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Monster Mash

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Okeelala Festival

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Music, Mead & Mutts

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Tupelo CDF Fall Classic

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Tailgate for Palmer

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Paint the Town Purple

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Imagine the Possibilities

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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R In today’s world of social media, text messages and emails, I think we have to be more intentional about being kind. I know I have unintentionally sent a quick message that might appear short or rude. I miss the days when we picked up the phone or, heaven forbid, wrote a letter to someone to say thank you or to wish them well. I worry that in some cases and places, we may have forgotten or lost our ability to be kind to others.

As we discussed concepts for this magazine, we decided that this is the perfect time of year to emphasize being kind to others. We can practice kindness in many ways — in tiny ways that require only our time, or in bigger ways, as we are able.

We can extend kindness face-to-face or anonymously, to friends and loved ones, or to people we may never actually meet.

That’s how kindness has played out

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for a Mississippi quilting guild that is brightening the lives of families with very ill and premature babies at North Mississippi Medical Center’s NICU. The guild has made over 40 quilts for its ongoing mission to give each infant and family a little hand-sewn comfort, to shield the babies from lights and noises in the hospital and to take with them when they are healthy enough to go home.

Sometimes children lead the way with acts of kindness. That’s certainly the case for Cami Jo Fullerton, age 7, who wanted to find a way to help people in her Lee County community. Nearly three years ago, she and her family founded Cami Jo Cares to collect donations of clothing, school supplies and other items for children in need.

And then there are those who extend care and kindness to folks others may not consider, such as incarcerated men, women and teenagers. North Mississippi

@INVITATIONM AG A ZINE

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has initiatives to aid people who are doing or have done their time, through writing therapy, anger management and substance abuse programs, and with getting back into the work force — all vital in reducing recidivism and successfully reintegrating people into life beyond prison walls.

So this season we encourage you to write a note, call a friend, donate some items to those in need or take time to visit someone who might need a warm hug or kind word. It really is rewarding when we spend our time this way. We hope you will enjoy this issue.

Happy Thanksgiving,

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHERS

Phil and Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITORS Allison Estes Emily Welly EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Adams Rachel Burchfield Rachel A. Ishee W. Derek Russell COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur INTERN Abbey Edmonson

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Gandy Robert Lewis Sarah McCullen Lisa Roberts Whitney Worsham CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Frank Estrada

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Becca Pepper Hallie Thomas ADVERTISING INFORMATION invitationmag.com

Serving Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties.

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

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C O M M U N I T Y NOVEMBER 15-DECEMBER 15, 2019

Pontotoc Holiday Open House CHRISTMAS PARADES Ring in the holiday season with these downtown parades:

Red Green Market NOVEMBER 16

Dodd Eye Clinic presents a holiday-themed market benefiting Crossroads Museum in Corinth. Shoppers can find handcrafted and homegrown items, boutique vendors and independent consultants. Free.

8 a.m.-4 p.m., Corinth Depot. corinthgreenmarket.net

Macy’s Museum of Dogs NOVEMBER 21

Macy’s Townhouse for Dogs, a dog daycare center in Tupelo, hosts an evening at its dog museum, with paintings, sculptures, antique collars, rare photographs and refreshments.

Dogs welcome. Free.

4-7 p.m., 638 A&D Center. macystownhouse.com

Magnolia Holiday Marketplace NOVEMBER 23

Magnolia Spring and Holiday Marketplace provides a unique shopping experience featuring several vendors, a performance

by Laura Gibson and a photo opportunity with Santa Claus. Search “Magnolia Holiday Marketplace” on Facebook. Free.

9 a.m.-4 p.m., The National Guard Old Armory, Amory.

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Booneville: 6 p.m. Dec. 2 Fulton: 6 p.m. Dec. 2 New Albany: 6 p.m. Dec. 2 Amory: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 Pontotoc: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 Baldwyn: 6 p.m. Dec 3 Ripley: 6 p.m. Dec. 3 Aberdeen: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Houston: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Tupelo: 7 p.m. Dec. 3 Iuka: 6:30 p.m. Dec 6 Corinth: 5 p.m. Dec. 7

“Frozen 2” SensoryFriendly Screening

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The Downtown, Westtown and By-Pass areas will be open and offering specials to start the holiday shopping season. 1-5 pm.

Thanksgiving Day NOVEMBER 28

Give thanks and gather with family and friends, and consider sharing a meal with those less fortunate.

A Day of Thanksgiving

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Reconnect 4 Autism sponsors a screening of “Frozen 2” for individuals of any age with autism or other special needs, made possible by the Autism Color Run. Free with a paying adult family member.

Purchase tickets at reconnect4autism.com.

Doors open at 9 a.m., show starts at 9:30 a.m., Malco Corinth Cinema.

The Agape CDC Inc. and The Agape Center offer free food and unconditional love to the community. Search “A Day of Thanksgiving Agape” on Facebook.

11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., The Agape CenterLOJCM, New Albany.

Tupelo Holiday Open House

Honky Tonk Throwdown NOVEMBER 30

Shop special sales, enjoy treats and enter to win a gift basket stocked by participating stores when downtown retailers host their annual holiday open house. Noon-4 p.m.

Crossroads Arena in Corinth hosts this evening of fun featuring line dancing, mechanical bull rides and performances

by Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, Confederate Railroad and Buckshot Daisy. See website for ticket pricing. Doors open at 4 p.m., Crossroads Arena, Corinth.

tupelomainstreet.com

crossroadsarena.com

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Shop Small Saturday NOVEMBER 30

Head to your favorite local retailers the Saturday after Thanksgiving to celebrate Shop Small Saturday, a national movement to support small businesses.

Houston Downtown Open House DECEMBER 1

Festive lights, music, carriage rides and special deals for shoppers. 2-5 p.m., Chickasaw County Courthouse. facebook.com/houstontrailandtrace

Cookies With Santa & Health Fair DECEMBER 5

North Mississippi Medical Center GilmoreAmory invites the community to a free health fair. Bring your camera for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 4-6 p.m., NMMC Gilmore-Amory, 1105 Earl Fry Blvd., Amory.

Disney on Ice D E C E M B E R 5 -8

BancorpSouth Arena brings Disney magic to Tupelo with a special Disney on Ice performance. See website for schedule and ticket prices. BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. bcsarena.com NOVEMBER 2019 | INVITATION

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ugar Daddy Bake Shop is connecting the Tupelo community through its creative cookies and cakes. Leeann Lesley and her husband, Rob, purchased the old Mary McGuire’s Bakery and turned it into Sugar Daddy Bake Shop because they thought a bakery would nicely complement their other two businesses, Romie’s Grocery and Rob Lesley Catering.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Leeann said. “It’s something that my husband and I really knew nothing about. We love to feed people, and as far as custom orders for birthday

SUGAR DADDY BAKE SHOP

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cakes, it’s really fun to be a part of that.”

The bakery is known for its daily creations with a theme reflecting what’s going on in the area.

“I love being a part of what’s going on in the world,” Leeann said. “If it’s hot outside, we’ll do some cute hot Mississippi cookies. If the Danvers manager is missed, we’ll do some Danvers cookies. We create our edible art for whatever is going on in the world.”

The shop’s Instagram page features an array of holiday-themed concoctions, FOLLOW ON INSTAGR A M @suga rdaddyba keshop

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specialty birthday cakes, petits fours and cookies. Social media is a big part of keeping the bakery connected with the community.

“I have a lot of younger people who work here, and that’s what they’re all about,” Leeann said. “So many people get to see what we’re showcasing daily. It’s fun to get to share that and see the excitement around it. Our bakery is being connected to our community, and I just love that.”

To see their latest locally inspired sweet treats, visit Sugar Daddy on Instagram at @sugardaddybakeshop.

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Ta l b ot Hou s e Ba ke r y & C a fe Since 2017, residents of Talbot House Sober Living for Women have been acquiring life skills and work experience at Talbot House Bakery — and providing delicious house-made rolls to lucky north Mississippi residents. In September, the bakery reopened in the West Main shopping center as Talbot House Bakery & Cafe.

Talbot House provides a safe, stable, and supportive home environment for women transitioning from treatment programs to independent living. All proceeds from the operation of the bakery fund the organization.

Head chef Amanda Roberson has worked at the bakery for two years. She is thankful for the opportunities Talbot House has given her.

“This entire experience has been amazing for me,” Roberson said. “Working with these ladies I have gained so much. I’ve become employable.”

The new bakery has a dine-in cafe

and is now open for lunch. In addition to its signature cinnamon rolls, the expanded menu features panini made with sourdough or honey oat bread, roll of the day, soup of the day, desserts and fountain drinks. Also, “pay-what-you-want” coffee is available all day, with donations for each cup benefiting Talbot House.

Roberson and the rest of the bakery staff are excited about the new location and renovated space.

“Our new location is 100% better,” Roberson said. “We are easily accessible now and have foot traffic that we wouldn’t have at our previous location.”

Talbot House Bakery & Cafe is located at 101 North Industrial Road in the West Main Shopping Center. Hours are 7:30 a.m.2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday, with lunch starting at 11 a.m. daily. Call 662-260-4318 at least 24 hours in advance to order a pan of rolls.

S a i nt s’ Bre w In 2007, a group of All Saints’ churchgoers decided to serve pastries and coffee to their underprivileged community.

Today, Saints’ Brew serves Tupelo and Lee County’s food-insecure communities a free and nutritious breakfast every weekday morning from 7-8:30 a.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church.

Besides a reliable source of breakfast, the program also offers resources for homelessness outreach, referrals for mental health and substance use treatment, education, employment and housing.

“My experience with Saints’ Brew has been wonderful,” Saints’ Brew director Hannah Maharrey said. “To see a community rally around those in need and offer not only a food resource, but a comforting

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word or sympathetic ear has been lifechanging.”

Saints’ Brew is a charter organization in the food recovery and gleaning efforts recently implemented by the Tupelo-Lee County Hunger Coalition. The organization served 1,887 meals in September, and 197,534 meals since 2010.

Volunteers help keep the program in operation on Thanksgiving and Christmas, to serve those in need. And each year, All Saints’ Episcopal Church Neighborhood Life committee hosts a special Christmas dinner for Saints’ Brew, Dec. 22 this year.

To learn more about Saints’ Brew and how to get involved, call 662-842-4386, email saintsbrewtupelo@gmail.com or visit allsaintstupelo.org.

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T he C o n g re s s io n a l Awa rd G old Me d a l Re c i p ie nt s personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration. Participants may register at 131/2 years of age, and must complete their goals by age 24.

Fifteen Mississippi residents received The Congressional Award Gold Medal in 2019: Jessi Davis of Dumas; Taylor Fields of Aberdeen; Jessica Gates, Jacob Lindsey, Teiryne Miller, Kacilyn Pegues and T’ajahlon White of Shannon; Jonah Holland of Belmont; Morgan Lyons of Plantersville; Callie Phillips and Maurissa Shumpert of Tupelo; C.J. Weddle of Vardaman; Mikayla Shelton of Bruce; and Jerry Clark and Cammie Moore of Grenada.

Learn more at congressionalaward.org.

The Congressional Award program presents gold, silver and bronze certificates and medals to hardworking individuals who have shown exemplary dedication to setting and achieving goals. Gold medal recipients must complete 800 hours in four areas: voluntary public service,

Asya Branch, a University of Mississippi graduate from Booneville, is Miss Mississippi USA 2020 and the first African-American woman to win the crown.

“Being that winner was truly an incredible experience and such an emotional moment,” Branch said. “I hope that through this I am able to inspire others to never give up on their dreams.”

Her platform is prison and criminal justice reform. The cause hits close to home for this seasoned pageant queen, who grew up with her father in prison.

“He was and still is one of my biggest supporters and motivators,” Branch said.

“He taught me to show that there was depth behind me, and that I was so much more than just a pretty face. I will continue to look forward to the day that my father is physically back in my life.”

Branch will go on to represent the state in the Miss USA pageant in the spring.

The winner of Miss USA 2020 will go on to represent the United States in the Miss Universe competition.

DEMARCUS BOWSER PHOTOGRAPHY

M i s s M i s s i s s i p p i U SA

“Through pageants, I’ve learned that I have a powerful purpose in this world: to positively impact the lives of children of incarcerated parents, by sharing my story and proving that regardless of your life circumstances you can accomplish anything in the world,” Branch said. “You’re not defined by your hardships.”

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KIDS ALL OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI BENEFIT WHEN A GRADE-SCHOOLER TAKES AN INTEREST IN HELPING OTHERS. WRITTEN BY CAITLIN ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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amie Geller, of Tupelo, is familiar with the kindness of strangers and has no qualms about asking for support when needed. It is an ethos that was instilled in her during childhood, when her two hardworking parents experienced tough times.

“We used to shop at secondhand stores and get help from our school for clothing,” Geller said. “I still remember getting a pair of clogs that I thought were ugly, but eventually learned to love because I needed them.”

So when her 7-year-old stepdaughter, Cami Jo, came to her asking for ways to give back and help other kids, Geller sprang into action.

“Everybody does something for others,” Geller said. “Some pay for coffee for the people behind them; some donate time. But we wanted to do something a little different.”

They just didn’t know what that something was. Geller took to social media for suggestions for ways she and Cami Jo could help the community. A Facebook user offered the idea to collect items for families in need. Shortly after, Geller and her husband, Patrick, established Cami Jo Cares.

A single Facebook post brought Cami Jo Cares to life, but the family’s mission, and high demand in north Mississippi, has kept it going for nearly three years. The organization, which recently became a nonprofit charity, collects lightly used clothing and toys and disperses them to those in need across the region.

“People don’t realize how much those old books, clothes or toys can make a huge difference in someone’s life and teach them amazing values,” Geller said.

Collected items run the gamut, including newborn clothing, school supplies, winter coats, coloring books, arts and crafts, gift cards and cleaning supplies. But one thing they all have in common: no charge.

“Everything is completely free and goes directly to families,” Geller said. “Some secondhand stores are not cheap. That’s not us.”

Cami Jo Cares collects items for anyone of need, whether it’s a single parent who could use help putting gifts under the tree during the holidays, a family who lost everything in a storm, or a child who needs clothes and books to start a new school year.

What started small through word-of-mouth awareness has today

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morphed into a nonprofit with nine drop-off locations across Lee County. The group is small but focused. Geller is vice president, her husband, Patrick, is president, and Gail Austin, whom they met one year when trickor-treating, is the director.

Austin helps organize events and secures support to keep them growing, including working closely with the Dream Riders Biking for Children, the group that gave Cami Jo Cares their first cash donation.

Cami Jo, now almost 10, does not run the charity day to day, but she does pitch in during the summers and work at the events hosted by Patrick, Cami Jo and Jamie Geller, along with Gail Austin, run the nonprofit Cami Jo Cares to help families in need. the organization.

“She’s still got a lot to email and will receive a link to fill out the application. The process learn,” Geller said with a laugh. “Keeping a kid’s attention is not is largely based on the honor system, and families can usually expect easy.” support within the month of applying.

But the Geller family remains involved and committed to the “We don’t require a lot because we don’t judge,” Geller said. cause. This fall alone, Cami Jo Cares hosted a Superhero Sunday at “It’s all about the kids.”

Arby’s in September, Halloween-themed events in October, and has As awareness of the group grows, supply and demand have planned a food drive and benefit at Arby’s Nov. 16. The group is become factors. Geller said at times they have a waitlist, which continuously looking for ways to engage the community, not only happened in August during back-to-school season, as their inventory to gather donations but also to reach those in need who might not of popular clothing sizes ran low. For this reason, they never turn know how to ask for support. away a lightly used donation that meets their standards. This To receive assistance, adults can make contact via Facebook or

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leaves their garage packed to the brim with clothing, their shed stocked with toys, and donated items tucked into corners of their home.

Geller has long-term plans to rent a storage unit and hopes to one day open a brick-and-mortar outlet to collect the goods.

But for now, the Gellers are utilizing the space they have.

“We take the donations whether we have room or not,” Geller said. “Even if it means piles in the living room, kitchen and even the bedrooms. We just never know when someone will have a need, and we want to be ready to help.”

To learn more about Cami Jo Cares, visit facebook.com/CamiJoCares.

Applebee’s

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Cami Jo Cares CHRISTMAS PANCAKE CELEBRATION

Celebrate the holidays with Cami Jo Cares at a pancake breakfast benefit event from 8-10 a.m. Dec. 14 at Applebee’s Grill + Bar in Tupelo.

A $5 ticket buys breakfast and activities for children, with special guests and surprises. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be handing out gifts and posing for photos.

The organization will give away jeans for kids; nonperishable foods and big-ticket items will be raffled.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

To purchase tickets, email camijocares@ yahoo.com or visit the following CJC drop-off locations in Tupelo: Arby’s, Sully’s Pawn Shop and Wet Paint.

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OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI OFFER GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR MEN, WOMEN AND TEENS BEHIND BARS AND AS THEY RE-ENTER SOCIET Y. WRIT TEN BY W. DEREK RUSSEL L

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ransformation is no easy task. Creating good habits — or breaking bad ones — requires motivation and focus. For those doing jail time, attempting to change behaviors while also facing legal ramifications can be incredibly challenging. But a few organizations throughout northeast Mississippi are geared

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toward just that: change. Thanks to these groups, incarcerated men, women and teens have access to writing workshops, college degree programs, behavioral counseling, therapy and help entering the workforce upon their release — initiatives that can motivate and aid in self-revision.

KEEPING TEENS ON TRACK Xavier Neal is a case manager and care coordinator in Corinth specializing in proactive work to keep teens who have faced juvenile court in Lee and Alcorn counties on track. Neal works for Region IV Mental Health Services, which provides community-based services to enhance and empower quality of life through a person-centered and self-directed approach for children and adults. Region IV provides outpatient services to individuals in need of mental health care and treatment for alcohol and drug abuse.

In addition to the juvenile detention program, Neal also runs the Teen Initiative Program, a court-ordered group therapy program where troubled teens practice anger management, discuss resisting peer pressure and manage conflict resolution.

“We incorporate all that hoping the kids make better decisions,” Neal said. “We use evidence-based programs.

We also provide them with family therapy and individual therapy. A lot of times, people have a stigma on mental health. People deal with this daily. So with the rising number of children that suffer from depression or anger issues or how to handle difficult feelings … if we can catch them during these difficult times, either through the court system or in the juvenile detention center, it helps to prevent the recidivism of them going back.”

In addition to home-based services, Region IV also has a schoolbased program where Neal monitors grades as well as the students’ behavior on campus.

“As a person who had some trying times as a youth myself, if I would have had somebody at that time sit me down, talk to me

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about my issues and the possibilities of what could really happen … it would have been monumental,” Neal said. “Adults have already experienced a lot, but a lot of times a child is put into situations that they can’t handle. We want to be there to help with that and keep Continued on page 26 them from making costly mistakes.”

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WRITING THE WRONGS Louis Bourgeois is executive director of the Mississippi Prison Writes Initiative, which teaches creative writing classes to inmates as a form of expression through critical thinking. The program began in 2014 as a way of giving the inmates a creative outlet and a way to tell their stories.

“Originally, we simply wanted to publish inmate writing from Parchman (Mississippi State Penitentiary), but there was very little writing to be found there,” Bourgeois said. “We set up a workshop to cultivate Parchman inmate writing for publication, and from that one class, we went into other Mississippi prisons in order to cull more writing. Then, it became apparent that the classes also served the inmates not only as a way for them to tell their stories, but also as an educational experience that enhanced other aspects of their prison studies.”

VOX Press Inc. has published two books of collected writing by PWI writers, “In Our Own Words” and “Unit 30.” A forthcoming collection titled “Mississippi Prison Writing” is in the works. Proceeds from the sale of the books help replenish supplies for the program.

In 2019, with aid from the Mississippi Humanities Council, PWI partnered with Hinds Community College to add college courses to its program. Eight women completed coursework in English composition and were awarded credits by HCC. Additionally, plans are underway to offer more courses in history and literature, as well

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as associate degree programs for some of the inmates.

Bourgeois said the classes and skills have been proven to reduce recidivism while also igniting a passion for both writing and reading among those enrolled.

“The response to our classes by our students is always fabulous,” Bourgeois said. “We have students who have taken our classes many times over. It’s interesting, to me, the type of individual who takes our classes. Many of our students would not necessarily take an art class or a music class — they are inclined toward reading literature and writing. I feel we are creating real intelligentsia.”

More than 300 inmates across the state have gone through the program, with courses offered at Parchman, Alcorn County Correctional Facility, Marshall County Correctional Facility and the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. In 2020, the classes will be offered in Greenville and Greenwood.

Bourgeois said that learning new ways to pour yourself into something can be cathartic. “(It’s) shining a light in the darkness,” Bourgeois said. “It’s amazing. It’s what teaching is supposed to be. Just pen, paper and actual books. It’s relevant and needed. I think our students from across the state often astonish themselves with what they have written. Then they want to write more and more, until finally they become writers and didn’t even know it.”

STARTING OVER For those who made mistakes and served their time, having someone to rely on when they are ready to re-establish their lives on the other side of the prison walls can make all the difference.

That’s what Missy Lunceford has been working toward the past 14 years in meeting with female inmates in Lee County.

“We quickly realized how our Lee County jail is often a revolving door because the ladies were coming in over and over,” Lunceford said. “Thus, Day One, a re-entry program, became an idea.”

The program helps incarcerated women prepare for the day they are released.

“All of our study and research has shown that (our) going into a jail prior to (their release) is what can make a difference,” Lunceford said. “We want to show them that women can have a good time together. We eat, and we laugh, and we want them to know about having a support group.”

In addition to fellowship, Day One offers aid with clothing, outreach opportunities and preparing for job interviews.

“We talk about the gamut of it,” Lunceford said. “Financial responsibilities, interview skills, jobs available and how to take responsibility for yourself. Basically, how to begin again. If you’re willing to help yourself and receive help, we’ll talk to you. It’s a blessing, and I love doing it. I see myself growing as well. We’re all broken in humanity, but it’s beautiful to help each other.”

To learn more about the Prison Writes Initiative or the Teen Initiative Program, call 662-816-8058 or 662-287-4055, respectively.

For information about Day One, call Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo at 662-842-3338.

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A MISSISSIPPI QUILTING GUILD IS BRIGHTENING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES WITH VERY ILL AND PREMATURE BABIES. WRITTEN BY RACHEL A. ISHEE PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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here’s nothing more precious than a newborn baby, but for babies born before 37 weeks, and their parents, the journey to strong and healthy can be a long, scary one.

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild, an Oxford-based quilting club made up of about three dozen members, is dedicated to making the lives of families with preemies a little brighter.

The Piecemakers started using their fabric scraps in a rewarding way about a year ago, when guild president Deborah Robinson learned of a member of her church whose baby was in the neonatal intensive care unit at Tupelo North Mississippi Medical Center Women’s Hospital. The mother had asked the church if anyone could donate quilts for the babies and their families. Robinson had several quilts already made, so she contacted the hospital to see if they would accept them. The answer was yes — and the Piecemakers have been supplying the NICU with handmade pieces of art ever since.

“It helps to bring some color and happiness to the environment,” Robinson said. “You see these quilts, and they make you happy.”

NMMC in Tupelo draws patients from surrounding areas. Its level-three NICU provides care for infants born as micropreemies

weighing less than 1,000 grams, and babies born at term who are critically ill. Christy Whitley is a perinatal social worker at the facility.

“Seeing the beautiful, handmade quilts when entering the NICU helps provide a home-away-from-home feeling for our families,” Whitley said. “The NICU can be a very intimidating atmosphere. Seeing that someone else cares about your baby and the difficult journey families experience lessens the emotional burden of a NICU hospitalization.”

The quilts not only add some fun color and patterns to an otherwise sterile environment but also help make the babies more comfortable.

“The idea is to make them the size of the incubator and have it fit over the top of the incubator to prevent so much light from seeping through onto the baby,” Piecemakers founder Ann O’Dell, pictured at left, said.

Exposure to bright hospital lights can be harsh on their underdeveloped eyes.

“The neonatal setting is purposefully quiet and often dark, to simulate a mother’s womb,” Whitley said. “Premature infants or infants born ill require limited stimulation.

These quilts help tremendously to provide developmentally appropriate care.”

Great time and care goes into making each one of these quilts, and the recipient is always on the mind of the quilter even though they will never meet.

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As one of its many community service projects, the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Oxford makes cheerful quilts for babies being cared for in the NICU at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

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Continued from page 29 “We’re careful about the kind of fabric that we use because, of course, this quilt goes home with the baby when it leaves the hospital, so we don’t want to use cheap flannel that will come apart,” O’Dell said. “Our guild members are showing a lot of creativity when putting together these quilts and some of the designs are just so precious. People will use fabric that has a theme on it like pictures of comic book characters or fantasy characters.”

It generally takes a quilter a couple of days to make a 30-inch by 40-inch quilt for the babies, depending on how complicated the design is. And the hours of work that go into each quilt do not go unappreciated — the recipients cherish these pieces of kindness.

“I’ve heard comments from families that have received quilts when their babies were in the NICU unit, and most of the comments are about how special those quilts are to them,” Robinson said.

“When you make a quilt for somebody, you make it for the sake of giving it to them. It’s their choice to do with it what they’d like, but I always say a quilt is made to be used.”

Robinson estimates that the guild has made around 40 quilts for the NICU. With 30-40 babies getting care there each month, it’s difficult to keep up with the demand, but that doesn’t stop the guild from trying their best to make sure every baby gets its own quilt.

“We make as many as we can,” O’Dell said. “We are adding members all of the time, so maybe at some point we will be able to.”

“We’ve talked about trying to partner up with other guilds to help out,” Robinson said.

Making baby quilts isn’t the only project the Piecemakers have taken on. The guild picks several organizations each year to benefit from their work.

“We’ve made quilts for children who end up in foster care, and we’ve made wheelchair quilts for a retirement community,” Robinson said. “For Christmas last year I did several wheelchair quilts. Some of those people are there by themselves, and they don’t really have family. I just thought that I’d try to spread a little love and let some of these people know that strangers are thinking about them.”

The quilts are not only warming hearts and people in north Mississippi — some have even made their way to countries around the world.

“When Habitat for Humanity was active in the area, we saw to it that every family that was given a house had a quilt,” O’Dell said. “As groups from Oxford travel to other countries to install water purification systems, we send a quilt for them to hang in their facility.”

As for the name, Piecemakers Quilt Guild, the founding members chose it nearly three decades ago to reflect the tranquility that comes along with constructing a quilt for someone.

“A great majority of the group liked the name ‘Piecemakers’ with its sort of play on words,” O’Dell said. “We feel that we are ‘peacemakers’ too, because piecing a quilt is a very satisfying kind of thing, and sharing information, ideas, instructions about quiltmaking, and even sharing the quilt itself, we think is also a peaceful kind of thing.”

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Unbridled THROUGH EQUINE THERAPY, TUPELO KIDS OF ALL AGES LEARN LIFE SKILLS AND FIND A PLACE TO BELONG.

WRITTEN BY RACHEL BURCHFIELD PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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bout 16 years ago, Sherry Jenkins began searching for an extracurricular activity that her then 8-year-old daughter, Meredith, who has central auditory processing disorder, low muscle tone, dyslexia and ADHD, could participate in. It came down to two options: horseback riding or karate. After a family visit to Carver Lane Stables in Tupelo to watch a riding lesson, Jenkins’ son, Nicholas, looked at his mother and said, “There’s no need to go anywhere else.”

Thus began a passion for not just Meredith but the entire Jenkins family. After Meredith won her first blue ribbon, she looked at her mother and told her, “See, I can do this!” That moment inspired Jenkins to want to provide that feeling to as many people as possible. Jenkins is now executive director of the Hope Unbridled Equestrian Program in Tupelo.

“I want anyone who comes here, whether they are able-bodied or handicapped, to succeed where they are and have a place to belong,” Jenkins said. “I want all of our students to achieve the highest they can achieve. There is no judgment and no boundaries here as far as what you can be.

I want all of them to have the feeling of ‘I can do this.’”

Hope Unbridled was launched in 2015

by Bobby, Sherry and Meredith Jenkins and Terry Timmons. This nonprofit equine therapy program offers recreational riding, horsemanship programs, psychotherapy — and hope — to budding equestrians of all ages, abilities or circumstances. The program has served over 50 children so far.

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Unbridled, and Anna, now 14, has been riding with Jenkins and her team since the program started four years ago.

“Anna has always loved being around animals and bonds so easily with the horses,” Crystal said. “Her favorite thing to do is love on her horses and claim them as her own. She thrives with this hands-on environment. With Hope Unbridled, she is able to be involved in activities that other kids her age are doing. Hope Unbridled brings so much joy to Anna’s life — not only has this strengthened Anna physically, but it’s improved her social skills, cognitive skills and increased her self-esteem.”

Horseback riding is therapeutic for several reasons, Jenkins said. It helps with anxiety, because when participants learn to control a 900-plus pound animal, they are also learning self-control, boundaries, a sense of belonging and a sense of leadership.

From a physical standpoint, riding a horse improves core strength while also teaching riders hand, eye and leg coordination.

Horseback riding releases serotonin, which provides a sense of well-being. Horses, who

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are herd animals, are able to pick up on a rider’s state of mind and respond intuitively.

“Horses don’t care if you’re skinny, fat, polka-dotted, a good student or a bad student,” Jenkins said. “They care about who you are there in that moment.

They aren’t thinking about tomorrow or yesterday, and they don’t hold grudges. They are remarkable animals.”

By learning how to care for a horse, 14-year-old Benjamin Boatner is also learning how to better care for himself, said his mother, Emily. Born at just 23 weeks gestation and weighing a little over 1 pound, Benjamin’s outlook was bleak. But thanks to experiences like Hope Unbridled, he lives a full life. Benjamin has pervasive developmental disorder, which falls under the autism umbrella. Always hoping to improve his development, the Boatners decided to give Hope Unbridled a try.

“In many ways, he is able to care for the horses better than himself,” Emily said.

“He rides freely, without the use of lead ropes, commanding and guiding the horses.

Our hope is that Benjamin will be able to translate his capabilities acquired through horse therapy to his everyday life at home and interacting with people.”

Benjamin’s aunt is Terry Timmons, one of Hope Unbridled’s cofounders. But regardless of blood ties, to Emily, everyone there seems like family.

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of home for us these days,” Emily said. “They are truly like family to us. Any parent of special needs kids knows the emotional toll it can take. It can be a difficult road. Sherry has hugged me through my tears, laughed along at Benjamin’s most unconventional sense of humor and shared in the joy of Benjamin’s accomplishments.”

Hope Unbridled is home to 10 therapy horses, trained specially to win over even the most cautious rider. Kristie Dye’s 9-year-old daughter, Avery, who, like Anna Holcomb, also has cerebral palsy, was so nervous when she first started with Hope Unbridled that she wouldn’t even look at or touch the horses, Kristie said. Almost five years into the program, it has not only helped Avery physically, particularly with her balance, but she isn’t afraid anymore.

“Our family is so grateful for all the work that they do,” Kristie said.

Hope Unbridled comprises four core programs: Ride On, a riding program for special needs participants of any age; Stride Out, a leadership development horse-riding program for students from all walks of life who are looking to develop riding and

The Hope Unbridled Equestrian Program in Tupelo has been providing equine therapy to children of all ages, abilities and circumstances for nearly five years, helping riders to improve physical strength and social skills.

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horsemanship skills; HoofBeats of Hope, where a licensed mental health professional partners with horses in therapy sessions to address issues resulting from the traumatic effects of abuse, neglect, loss, depression, anxiety, chronic illness and addiction; and Stable Solutions, for at-risk youth ages 12-18, to teach positive life choices and confident coping skills.

Jenkins’ Hope Unbridled continues to grow, with plans to utilize the program’s horses to help students practice reading, as horses don’t care whether kids read a word incorrectly, or read to them fast or slow.

“We are about people learning to accept people as they are,” Jenkins said. “We make a difference by giving people a place to belong, grow and find themselves.”

And what about Meredith, whose journey inspired Hope Unbridled and whose inspiration has been able to positively impact so many? She’s 24 now, and, in addition to being a cofounder of the program, is Hope Unbridled’s equine manager, helping other kids find their places in the world, places where they, too, can thrive.

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Lisa Kwasinski , Terry Timmons, Meredith Jenkins, Sherry Jenkins, Bobby Jenkins and Angie Brummett of Hope Unbridled.

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BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Wives of Warriors hosted its fifth annual Blessed are the Peacemakers 5K run Sept. 28 at Fairpark. The event was held in honor of fallen law enforcement officers and heroic men and women who currently serve.

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1. Jeff and Alonna Snyder with Russell Fox 2. Audrey Wylie, Angie Henry, Cindy Googe, Grace Brymer and Susan Winstead 3. Vickie Turner, Christy Frazier and Greg Putt 4. Brad Robinson, Anthony Mallard, Romiell Dunlap and Brad McMurry 5. Tim Chism, Jim Johnson and Dylan Myrick 6. Lori Loden and Haley Boston 7. Jennifer and Haley McGill with Brandi Sears, Beth Tucker, Michelle Shepherd, Kristi Hall and Nikki Sanchez

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HARVEST DINNER N E W

A L BA N Y

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Down From the Hills Harvest Dinner took place Oct. 13 at the Union County Heritage Musuem. This year’s farm-to-table dinner raised money for the museum, and featured a menu by guest chefs John Stokes, Jeff Stanford and Mark Christie.

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1. Tayter Scott and Janet Kurtz 2. Sharon and Terry Medlin 3. Lezlie Simmons, Samantha Allen, Mary Jennifer Russell, Lauren Cornett and Angie Moore 4. Elle Hamilton, Lilly Swilley and Analisa Choairs 5. Jean Dillard, Nancy Saul and Anne Stephens 6. Brooklyn DeShea and Kelly Phillips 7. Lori Henson, Sandra Owen and Joy Fisher

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TUPELO CHILI FEST T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association hosted the 20th annual Tupelo Chili Fest Oct. 11 at the Farmers Depot. The festival included lunch, live music and a chili contest. Participants were encouraged to dress in costume.

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1. Bo Ruff, Pam Leed, Zach Shumpert, David Lee, Anthony Mallard, Keon Poindexter and Mikey West 2. Jorge Alvarez with Ben and Keirstyn Haas, Jordan Beedle, Deana Carlock, Alex Farned and Leigh Ann Mattox 3. David Atkins, Kim George, Carron Wooten, Tina White, Lisa Blaylock, Lisa Hughes and Sonya Persbacker 4. Deanna Hall, Traci Cummins, Larry Pittman, Kayla Hensly and Mitch Keys 5. Brittany Strong, Belea Payne, Joe Tanner and Rich Barnes 6. Joel Melton, Ruth Williams and Charlotte Crump 7. Lakin Baxter, Kristy Randle and Amber Megginson 8. Jason Pellum, Amanda Caldwell, Taylor Wages, Jordan Elrod and Brittany Ruff with Mark and Brooke Hinton 9. Cathy Graham, Dana and Brooke Miller, Tabita and Brian Walls, Chris Miller and Jason Graham 10. Lauren Dunlap and Tiffany Dickerson 11. Ashley Minch and Keith Lindley 12. Helga and Ron Ashby

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CHILI FEST

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MONSTER MASH C O R I N T H

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

Magnolia Regional Health Center hosted the third annual Monster Mash community Halloween event Oct. 24 at Crossroads Arena. Attendees enjoyed games, prizes, trick-or-treating and a costume contest.

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1. Shiloh and Gus Null 2. Mary Anna and McCoy Moss 3. Bayle, Evie and Ellie Kate Christian 4. Kyron, Kyan, and Kensley Herman 5. Reid and Ella Reid Bostick 6. Jackson and Candace Marlar 7. Henry Dodd and Blakeley Fowler 8. Kelsey and Lisa Quinn 9. Judy Atkins and Ella Davis 10. Maddox Davis, Kaley Thompson and Braylen Davis 11. Oliver and Sophie Hampton

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MONSTER MASH

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OKEEL AL A FESTIVAL BA L DW Y N

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The 40th annual Okeelala Festival took place Oct. 5 at Latimer Park in Baldwyn.

The event included a classic car show with 32 classes of vehicles, Mississippi-made artwork and crafts, live music, food vendors and a parade of beauties.

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1. Brenda McGaha and Rae Pounds 2. Oneta Cole and Rayne Gould 3. Tonja King, Beverly Smith, Regina Bink, Cynthia McShan, Olivia Moore and Linda Johnson 4. Haley and Bridgett Lackey with Thatcher Young 5. Toney and Amanda Mobley with Patti Coggins 6. Samantha and Adleigh Wombel 7. Marie Hughes and Lori Tucker

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MUSIC, MEAD & MUTTS T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The second annual Music, Mead & Mutts fundraising event took place Oct. 12 at Queen’s Reward Meadery. This event featured catering by Woody’s and music by The Alley Cats, with proceeds benefiting the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society.

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1. Holly Temple with Julie and Helen Monts and Alli McAlexander 2. Lauren Scott with Amber and Chris Maynard with Duke 3. Joel Young, Rachel Allred and Morgan Burger 4. Rick Griswold with Devin, Sheryl Blackburn and Sharon Young 5. Heston and Layla Lollar with Willow and Bebe 6. Gabrielle Cooper and Teresa Mendenhill 7. Miguel Mendez, Feather Burns and Neville Eroll 8. Mike and Lynn Baum with Murray Lace and Tanya Reedy

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TUPELO CDF FALL CL ASSIC T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Community Development Foundation’s Golf and Tennis Fall Classic Tournament took place Oct. 10 at Tupelo Country Club.

The event was presented by Renasant Bank, and many local businesses were sponsors.

For upcoming CDF events, visit cdfms.org.

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1. Arian Waldrop, Kellie Mathis, Gracie Menetre, Maggie Clark, Beth Ikerd, Jennifer Mulrooney, Anna Terrell Rea, Becca Heyer, Angelia Thomas, Bonnie Mize and Tiffany Edwards 2. Mike and Jake Scott with Tyler Rosenthal and Mike Nanney 3. Beau Hill, Jonathan Poland, Bill Dickerson and Brent Baxter 4. Zandra Hereford, Kayla Baxter and Carol Ann Padgett 5. Rick Hill and Andy Franks 6. Connie and Lawrence Renfroe with Cora Polson 7. Gene Nobles and Jesse Bandre 8. Sean Koehn, Chip Turner, Michael McCrory and David Lee

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TAILGATE FOR PALMER S TA R K V I L L E

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT LEWIS

Palmer Home for Children held a tailgatethemed fundraiser Oct. 5 at the Palmeiro Center at Mississippi State University. The event included football game viewing, food and cocktails.

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1. Kristin Budzak, Ally Walker, Amanda Crawford, Jessica Corley, Morgan Hudson, Tori Heckman and Savannah Harrell 2. Jack and Missy Walters with Jay and Margaret Cook, Mallory and Kenny Lacey and Foley and Robby Holditch 3. Tony and Francis Carr with Terry and Cathy Kemp 4. Missy Walters, Anna Katherine Martin, Abby McCartney and John Ross 5. Margaret Cook with Parker, Thomas, Daryll and Charlie Guest and Jay Cook 6. Mary Kathryn Nichols, Lindsey Whatley and Danielle Atchley 7. Bricklee Miller and Mike Dunlap with Jack and Lynda Forbus and Martin Lifer

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PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

S.A.F.E. Inc. hosted Paint the Town Purple Oct. 3 in Fairpark to raise awareness of domestic violence. The event included food, door prizes and activities, and information regarding prevention and available services was distributed by local agencies.

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1. Nicola Agnew and Tabita Smith 2. Shelia Davis, Dell Hatch, Beverly Gonzales and Robert Lukes 3. Stephanie Johnson, Lakesha Gamble, Kristen Adams, Emily Brandy and Dena Waldo 4. Cheryl Falzone, Annette Rinehart and Chris West 5. Alicia Abel and Jerry Trailer 6. Joellen Murphree and Tiffany Scales 7. Aundra Agnew, Sommer Armstrong, Michelle Allred, Dana Phyfer and Shoneel Walker

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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

CREATE Foundation hosted a career expo Oct. 1-3 at BancorpSouth Arena. The event featured interactive activities related to 18 different career pathways for more than 7,000 eighth graders from north Mississippi.

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1. Gavin Jones and Riley Griffin 2. Camri Westmoreland, Morgan Green, Jolee Young, Sarah Skelton and Anna Reese Woods 3. Jasmine Gardner and Ashanti Moore 4. Lacy Hester and Lacy Greer 5. Shkara Bush, Jhyia Johnson, Gavin Weatherspoon and JaKayle Brown 6. Garner Holcomb and Michael Smith

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CELEBRATION VILL AGE T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The 18th annual Celebration Village holiday market took place Oct. 24-26 at Tupelo Furniture Market. Proceeds from the event benefit Sanctuary Hospice House. Learn more at sanctuaryhospice.org.

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1. Toni Floyd, Anna Jackson and Jessie McKissick 2. Hannah Mason, Kaitlyn Jeanes and Lacey Atkins 3. Misty Riley, Pat Eaton and Natalie Riley 4. Caitlin, Jenny and Mallory Lesley 5. Brenda Shetter, Kelly Krumcke and Michelle Flatt 6. Shelly Daniel and Amber Jamison 7. Morgan Poole, Maylee Chambers and Madison Pearson

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OUT & ABOUT VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT INVITATIONM AG.COM

G u mt re e Mu s e u m A r t Tou r of Ho me s

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Mu g shot s C o r n hole Tou r n a me nt fo r M at t Mc K i n ne y

8 1. Don and Nancy Presley with Belva and Pete Poland 2. Sylvia Ferguson, Shirley Neuhaus, Jean Laney, Betty Harris, Polly Crenshaw and Lori Clayton 3. Helen Boerner, Deborah Stone, Helen Monts and Lisa Johnson 4. Tracy Kramer and Lee Waltress 5. Sandra Hudson and Anna McNamara 6. Missy and John Box 7. Melba Williams and Kathrine Jackson 8. Jonathan Winter, Phillip Elgin, Preston Dill, Matt Coleman, Glen Hutcheson, John Brady and Matt McKinney 9. Hollywood Page with Darlene and Lawrence Buse, Christopher and Donna Stevens and Todd Johnson

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MISSISSIPPI'S BEST

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POT

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S E R V E T H I S C L A S S I C D I S H F O R A M E M O R A B L E A N D S AT I S F Y I N G M E A L T H E D AY A F T E R T H A N K S G I V I N G .

RECIPE BY KIMME HARGROVE

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andwiches aren’t the only way to use up leftover holiday turkey. For a warm, heartier option, try this turkey pot pie recipe from Invitation Magazines food blog contributor Kimme Hargrove. A traditional pot pie uses staple ingredients including carrots, potatoes, onion and celery, but you can substitute other vegetables such as butternut squash, turnips, peas or mushrooms for variety. For more recipes, visit invitationmag.com/food-blog.

turkey

POT PIE

1/3 cup butter 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped carrots 1 cup peeled and chopped potatoes ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup chicken broth 1½ cups milk Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups chopped leftover turkey 1 package refrigerated pie crusts Heat oven to 400°F. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

Saute celery, onion, carrot and potatoes in melted butter until tender. Add flour, stirring until smooth.

Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low, and gradually stir in chicken broth and milk; cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Add salt and pepper. Stir in turkey.

Fit 1 pie crust into a pie plate, and pour filling into it. Place second crust over the top and crimp edges together. Make several slits in the top.

Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN