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Last Friday night, more than 250 people found their
way to the Springfield Jaycees Activity Center, tucked away down a dead-end
road near Bunn Park, to support Doris Chambers and the seven children she
took into her home a year ago, after their father died and their mother was
sent to prison. The fundraiser brought in more than $3,000,
satisfying the goal organizer Janet Barkmeier had set and inspiring
Chambers to deliver an a cappella rendition of “Amazing Grace”
at the end of the evening. “It was the raise-the-roof version,”
Barkmeier says. “There were goosebumps all over the place.”
Chambers and the seven children — Morissa,
Marquetta, Morris, twins Lakesha and Tamesha, Myra, and Mariya Dickerson
— were featured in an Illinois Times cover story [see “Lucky number seven,”
Oct. 19] that described how Chambers became legal guardian to this group of
siblings, who range in age from 6 to 18. Readers responded by offering
gifts and cash donations amounting to more than $2,000 by Christmas. Chambers’ co-workers at Douglas Alternative
School, where she works with special-education students as a classroom
assistant, also wanted to help, and they organized Friday’s
fundraiser. They served chili, chips, and a variety of homemade cakes to
anyone who bought a $10 ticket. They also held a raffle and a silent
auction. Entertainment was provided by the Slovene Strollers, the Dickerson
kids, and members of the audience. The event attracted teachers from the
kids’ schools, friends from Douglas, and a handful of politicians. “It was a real huge success,” Chambers
says.
“I was just amazed at how many people came. The
children were just elated.”
Douglas says her only complaint was that she was so
busy enjoying the event, she never got to eat a bowl of chili. “I
took some home with me, but I still didn’t get a bite of it, because
the next morning it was gone. I didn’t even have a taste!” she
says. “But I did have some cake.”
Chambers plans to use the proceeds from the event to
pay utility bills at the north-end duplex she rents. “With seven
kids, you use a lot of water,” she says.
Contact Dusty Rhodes at drhodes@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2007.
