|
Maddy's Meds and Lakes Region United Way Team Up
Maddy's Meds and the Lakes Region United Way have joined together to advance the common good by focusing on helping seniors in the  Lakes Region access affordable medicine and prescriptions. The Lakes Region United Way will act as fiscal agent and fundraising partner for the grassroots effort known as Maddy's Meds, allowing their volunteers to focus on carrying out its mission of "raising money to help elderly and sick people buy medication and afford health care so they can be healthy."
Madison Kirker is a 4th grader at Pleasant St. School in Laconia. Maddy decided she wanted to help the elderly buy medication back before kindergarten when she started collecting any loose change or bills she found around the house and stashing them in her bank. When asked what she was saving for she said "for old people, to help them buy medicine and stuff".
 Maddy's Meds has been guided by mom Wendy Kirker, teacher Ellen Ward and friend Lisa Bladecki. The support of her brother Camden and friend Lexys Bladecki, as well as other students, teachers and parents of the school community have helped her raise funds through Bake Sales each holiday season. In 2008 Rite Aid agreed to a $500 match and with the help of Altrusa, Maddys Meds reached their $500 goal, distributing $1,000 in Rite Aid gift cards to those in need in the Lakes Region through the help of the Laconia Senior Center. In 2010 Maddy's Meds raised $1449 with $649 coming from bake sales, and the remaining funds being donated by Walgreens and an individual donor. Maddy has been assisted in this venture by close friend Lexys Bladecki.
 According to Jack Terrill, president of Lakes Region United Way, they have been impressed with Maddy for sometime. "A couple of years ago Alan Robichaud went over to Pleasant St. School to hand deliver a certificate of appreciation to Maddy for her groundbreaking work, so it is great to reconnect with such an inspired girl and know that we can help her grow the program. When we met with Maddy and her advisors to discuss the possibility of helping them achieve their goals, it was very clear that we would have to earn Maddy's approval prior to any partnership so we were pleased when after careful consideration she gave us the thumbs up. This effort, coupled with our prescription drug discount card, is a great way to help our senior population make tight budgets go further."
 Founder Madison Kirker stated, "I am looking forward to working with United Way and raising as much money as we can to help the elderly".
Maddy's Meds is selling Angel ornaments and having bake sales around the area. Email Maddy to buy an ornament, or to find out where she is having her next bake sale.
The Lakes Region United Way's mission is to advance the common good through thoughtful and sustainable social investment. To learn more about Maddy's Meds or the prescription drug discount card, visit www.lruw.org or call 524-6864. | 
