Abbi Richcreek, Engineering/Technology teacher/Project Lead the Way (PLTW) instructor at Edgewood Middle School, recently kicked off another GoBabyGo! Launching in 2019, three vehicles were gifted. In 2020, it was four. In 2021, GoBabyGo! grew to five donations. This year, another five toddlers will receive a customized vehicle.
For 2022, Richcreek welcomed back nine returning mentors from Depuy, Zimmer-Biomet, Paragon Medical, Dalton Foundries. Richcreek also recruited four new mentors to help students understand the design process for modifying vehicles to meet the needs of their client - five children who will benefit from this program to gain more independence.
With 16 middle school students, four returning and twelve new, Richcreek is excited to offer five vehicles to five toddlers who were nominated by Joe's Kids, Joanne Dean, a local early intervention occupational therapist with First Steps, and Stacey Ousley, Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School and Presby Preschool.
- EMS 7th & 8th Grade Students who are giving their time (Five After School Meetings + First Friday) and talents are:
Hunter Fitterling
Adria Jordan
Gianna Stouder
Jacob Stofer
Ezra Gast
Ethan Cook
Kaine Lowry
Lillian Dunbar
Mason Fitterling
Adella-Mae Huffer
Maya Bodiker
Mateo Perez
Lilliana Rak
Jack Langhorn
Gwen Bowman
Jett Bender Lange
- Community Volunteers who are mentoring students and assisting with communication and physical adaptations are:
Matt Miller, Project Manager - Dalton
Monica Rozelle - Depuy
Russ Lowry, Manager Manufacturing Engineering-DePuy
Larrie Davis - Depuy
Nate Callithen - ZimmerBiomet
Elizabeth Manes - ZimmerBiomet
Kyra Edmondson - Paragon Medical
Matt Smith - Paragon Medical
Tiffany Temple - Paragon Medical
Neil Sindelar - Paragon Medical
Dante Zumbo - Paragon Medical
Karl Mast, Engineering Team Leader - Depuy
Chris Lord - Depuy
Dr. Aaron Turner, Physical Therapist - KCH
Lisa LeMasters, Translator
Sam Cook, Co-Leader, Maintenance & Grounds Director, Warsaw Community Schools \
Abbi Richcreek, Co-Leader, Edgewood Middle School
- Recipients:
Owen Siebeneck
Nicholas Ramirez Brito
Charlotte Timmons
Taylor Cox
Junior (Austin) Holloway
The toddlers and their families first met the students and mentors on Thursday, February 24. At that time, Edgewood students and their mentors learned what the physical needs were and what the toddlers loved. The jeeps will not only provide increased mobility for toddlers, but will be customized with stickers, fabrics, and accessories to delight and individualize each vehicle. The goal is independence, but parents will have remote controls while the toddlers learn to maneuver the new 12-Volt vehicles. Families will return again on Thursday, March 24th at 4:30 pm for a final fitting and test drive. Further modifications will be made and then they'll receive their vehicle during FIRST FRIDAYS on Friday, May 6th 2022 (5-7 pm).
Warsaw Community Schools would like to thank all who supported this project with generous donations. For 2022, thanks go to the VFW and to Nick Stouder, a community member and a member of the Rotary Club, who sponsored a Jeep.
Individuals and corporations interested in making a donation or sponsoring a Jeep ($600), please contact Abbi Richcreek at arichcreek@warsawschools.org
#wcsmission #togetherwearewarsaw