House Resolution 16

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND THANKING THE MEMBERS OF THE "CARING SHIRTS" PROJECT WHOSE PHILANTHROPIC AND SELFLESS EFFORTS PROVIDE ALTERED SHIRTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS WHO ARE UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY.

WHEREAS, the "Caring Shirts" project has provided over sixty altered shirts for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and is in motion to produce volumes more; and

WHEREAS, the use of the word "project" is misleading because "Caring Shirts" is comprised of an actual group of caring women who are also members of Bovina Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, the idea of the altered shirts began when a member of Bovina Baptist Church had a broken hip, and fellow member, Katherine Oldenburg modified underwear to assist in the recovery process; and

WHEREAS, the idea of modification was transferred to shirts when Oldenburg's granddaughter, Dani, was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and aggressive chemotherapy was necessary to administer her medication via a pic line in her arm that could not be removed for fear of contamination; and

WHEREAS, the inability to remove the pic line limited her granddaughter's options as well as further dampened her granddaughter's spirit when choosing clothing to wear to chemotherapy; and

WHEREAS, Alicia Turner, a kind-hearted coworker of Oldenburg's granddaughter, raised money and began helping Katherine Oldenburg make shirts for Dani; and

WHEREAS, after realizing the positive impact that these shirts made for her granddaughter, Katherine galvanized more women from her church to assist in cutting, assembling, altering and attaching snaps for as many cancer patients as they could; and

WHEREAS, what began as an act of kindness for one, grew into an act of love for another, and has now become an act of love for many afflicted with a cancer diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend and honor the selfless acts of Mississippians who work tirelessly to improve the lives of others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the efforts of the women of the "Caring Shirts" project and thank them for their selfless acts of kindness for less fortunate Mississippians.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the pastor of Bovina Baptist Church, Katherine Oldenburg, Alicia Turner and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.