Published: November 18, 2009 11:39 pm      

Mark Maynard: Gollihue's passion shows in her work: 11/19/09

There are a lot of people in this area who make a difference in the community.

One of those is Lea Ann Gollihue, the co-founder of For Jamie’s Sake, which offers many services to children in foster care from providing clothing to facilitating visits between birth and foster families, and so much more that there’s not enough space in this column to mention it all.

Her determination and passion for the work has not gone unnoticed. She was recently named the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2009 Angel in Adoption for outstanding advocacy of adoption issues.

Last week, she was given an Award of Excellence winner at the statewide national adoption conference in Louisville.

Gollihue thought she was going there to pass out applications for the adoption license plate but later learned there was an award and she was the winner.

Let me say this: Gollihue does not do the work for her own glory. Quite the contrary, she gets quite embarrassed whenever somebody recognizes her work with an award.

“It goes to show you if you let him, God can do anything with anybody,” she said. “I’m living proof.”

But her diligence and desire has made a difference in the community and the many who have found themselves in a foster care situation.

Her children, Cody and Ellie, participate in events and was the impetus for starting a campaign called 452 churches for 452 children. They found it difficult to enjoy birthday parties knowing so many children were without that luxury.

Since the drive began, the number of children available for adoption without identified adoptive families has fallen to 378.

Lea Ann’s husband, Elliott, is another standup person in the community and somebody who works hard to raise awareness about foster care. He’s serving another tour overseas and is expected home next month.

I know he’s equally proud of his wife’s accomplishments and recent awards. They are the kind of people who make Ashland a better place to be.

If the Gollihues come knocking on your door asking for help, answer it. You’ll get the blessing from it.

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During Ashland’s annual Christmas Parade on Tuesday, there’s a way observers can spread good cheer with peanut butter donations.

Santa’s helpers from Magic 97.9-FM radio will be walking alongside the Magic van in the parade collecting jars of peanut butter from the crowd.

The peanut butter will be taken to River Cities Harvest, a local charity that helps feed those in need through the collection and distribution of perishable and nonperishable food items.

River Cities Harvest will donate the peanut butter to area food pantries.

In additon to the collection at the parade, donations of peanut butter can be dropped off in Huntington at the Magic office at 919 Fifth Ave., Suite 210, or at the River Cities Harvest suite in The Neighborhood, 2516 Carter Ave. in Ashland.

For more information about the parade for peanut butter, call the River Cities office at (606) 324-3663 or e-mail rivercitiesharvest@gmail.com.

The theme for this year’s parade is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” with the 201st Engineer Battalion serving as grand marshals.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.