The Poplar Standard

Retarded Children Week Concluding

Retarded Children's Week draws to a close Thanksgiving day for the nation and residents of northeastern Montana.

Eastern Montana Association for Retarded Children workers report results of a drive for funds to support work in the field have been good thus far, with contributions coming in from throughout the area.

The period, Nov. 12-23, in co-operation with a presidential proclamation, was declared Retarded Children's Week for Wolf Point by Mayor R. E. Coffey. Throughout the period workers sent letters to area residents requesting help in combating retardation and set a goal of $1,000.

Funds will be used to promote general welfare of mentally retarded everywhere, foster development of programs in their behalf, advise and aid parents in solution of problems and co-ordinate activities, develop better understanding of retardation problems, co-operate with public, private and religious agencies and professional groups in furtherance of work in the field and provide a clearing house for gathering and distributing information.

The Eastern Montana Association was organized in January 1960. Efforts have succeeded in establishing a special class for retarded children in the Poplar school. The class is sponsored and supported by the school system and was made possible through cooperation of school board members Supt. Duane Adams and members of the Association.

Mrs. Effie Penz is teacher for the class and 11 students are enrolled.

Mrs. Effie Penz, center, shows work of students in the special class for retarded children to Clifford Hansen, president of the Eastern Montana Association for Retarded Children, and Mrs. Willie P. Lockman, vice president.

Mrs. Penz, secretary-treasurer of the association, is teacher of the class. Eleven students are enrolled. The class is sponsored by the Poplar school system.

Shown examining results of the campaign for funds to aid retarded children are, l to r, Mrs. Effie Penz and Mrs. Willie P. Lockman of Poplar, and Clifford Hansen of Wolf Point.

Letters were sent residents of the Wolf Point, Poplar and Plentywood areas in an appeal for funds. A goal of $1,000 was set by the Northeastern Montana Association for Retarded Children in their quest for funds. Association officers report results to date have been good.

Hansen is president of the association, Mrs. Lockman is vice president and Mrs. Penz, secretary-treasurer. The fund drive ends Thanksgiving day.