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This month begins my fourth year of writing “Making a Difference,” and I want to extend my sincere appreciation to you, my readers, for enriching my life by sharing your inspirational stories through this column.

Special thanks to contributors who have recommended people and organizations for me to write about. There have been many good reports about the response from readers to organizations that needed more volunteers and financial help.

Let’s look back at some of the 2009 stories with updates on what’s happened since they were published.

I wish I could include every 2009 story, but space will not allow me to do so.

Hospital volunteers
“Hospitals’ volunteers indispensable” was about volunteer director Robert Bessey and the 200 volunteers at Moses Cone and Wesley Long hospitals. Bessey will speak to community groups. Send e-mail to robert.bessey@mosescone.com.

Update: Bessey reports that the year finished with an incredible bang. Combined, Moses Cone and Wesley Long volunteer organizations will contribute $40,000 to special hospital needs, such as durable medical equipment for indigent patients and orthotics for special-needs individuals. Between the two groups, more than 225 volunteers contributed through holiday events to raise more than $2,300.

New youth facility
“Youth facility on the table” was about Christ United Methodist Church’s efforts to fund and build a new youth facility.

Update: Betsy Sweetman, chairwoman of the church’s administrative council, reports that the church’s dream will soon become a reality. CUMC members have made a full funding pledge/commitment for the new building of $1.6 million, approximately the project cost. This month, members will vote on proceeding with the new structure, and construction should begin soon.

Groceries on wheels
“A few affect the lives of many” was about Jane Carlson, chairwoman and executive director of Food Assistance Inc. of Greensboro and how the organization serves about 420 low-income seniors with groceries each month. Carlson will speak to groups.

Send e-mail to foodassistance@bellsouth.net or call 988-8899.
Update: Food Assistance was selected as one of the 10 Leadership Greensboro projects of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. It received a new grant of $25,000 from the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, a new grant from the Lincoln Foundation of $5,000 and a grant from St. Francis Episcopal Church of $5,000. Other community help came from groups such as The Red Hat Ladies, Junior League, Mary Martha Circle and volunteer Jenny Stilley, who organized Cans for a Cause.

Freedom House
“House helps women beat hardship, transform lives” was about two recent Freedom House graduates and how their lives were transformed by this residential home where single mothers, at risk of losing their children, experience support in their recovery from addictions.

Update: Through the fourth annual fundraising banquet of Freedom House, $25,000 was pledged.

Dana Armani collected books and DVDs from across the community to build a children’s library for Freedom House. Her family also helped by building a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf for the new library. A new resident, Heather, has recently arrived at Freedom House and hopes to bring her two baby girls into the program soon.

Hunter Byers Classic

“Teen player’s spirit lives on in event” was about honoring the memory of former Page High School student Hunter Byers, who played varsity soccer and died in 2003. In his memory, two Page students established the Hunter Byers Classic.

Update: In spite of pouring rain, this fifth annual event was well-attended, and the current Page varsity soccer team beat the alumni players. More than $1,200 was made for the Athletic Boosters’ Club for improvements to the Page athletic complex.

The Page boys varsity soccer team went on undefeated and won the NCHSAA 4-A state championship and was ranked third in the nation.

Summit House
“Breaking cycle of prison” was about Summit House of the Piedmont, a program created to address the ever-increasing crisis of women going to prison for nonviolent crimes and leaving their children behind.

For more information on Summit House, visit www.summithouse.org. To request a speaker, call 375-9344

Update: Rick Redmon, development director of Summit House, and O’Shelia Williams, site director, made more than 20 presentations at Greensboro-area companies and organizations from August through December. The organization received thousands in in-kind donations during that period from church and community organizations.

“We have also had people from companies and organizations come by for personal tours of our facility, and (we) welcome these kinds of visits so that they can see our program and its effectiveness firsthand,” Redmon said.

YWCA teen mentors
“Program helps teen moms” was about Greensboro YWCA’s Teen Parent Mentor Program, which empowers teen mothers to overcome adversity and establish a future for themselves and their children.
Update: Susan Cupito, program director, reports this successful program for young mothers will continue at the YWCA’s new location on Spring Garden Street. Childbirth classes for teen and young moms begin again in mid-January.

The Teen Families Reading Together and Rock ’n Stroll (mom/baby fitness) programs will also begin new sessions in January.
To register, call 273-3461, Ext. 117.

My brother

“A sporting life — Remembering a brother and the best gift of all,” was the last story I wrote for 2009, which was about my beloved brother, Gene Warren, who died Dec. 1.

He was a 1951 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill in English, and an award winning sports writer for this paper 1955-1968.

Update: To my readers and friends, thank you for sharing your memories with me and showing loving compassion on the loss of my brother.

To suggest a person or organization who has or is making a difference, contact Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com.