Fast friends pool talents for bake sale

August 10, 2003|by CANDICE BOSELY

Lauren Taylor is the outgoing one, who can make anyone instantly feel at ease. Melanie Springer is somewhat shy, but with a quick wit and wry sense of humor.

Together and mostly on their own, the 12-year-olds have organized a fund-raiser for Hospice of the Panhandle. Next Friday and Saturday outside the Lowe's store in Martinsburg, the girls will hold a bake sale.

All proceeds will benefit Hospice's Special Needs Fund, which allows Hospice to pay for items needed by patients, such as a hospital bed, medications, fans, a baby monitor or special extras. For example, money from the fund is used to buy one Hospice patient candy bars, said Hospice marketing coordinator Kathie Campbell.

"It's to make the end of their life a little bit better," Lauren said.

Items for sale at the fund-raiser will include cookies, cakes, brownies and muffins.

Although the girls have known each other for only about six months, their camaraderie indicates they became friends quickly.

Sitting together in Lauren's home (the two are neighbors in the Stonebridge subdivision), Lauren leaned over and threw her arms around Melanie.

"I don't know what I'd do without Miss Melanie," Lauren said theatrically.

"I'm touched," Melanie dryly retorted.

Originally, the girls were going to participate in the Great American Bake Sale, in which proceeds go toward ending childhood hunger and the person who sells the most gets to appear on the TV show "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter."

|

|

|