Voting for Hope's Way begins

Voting for the Oscar Mayer "Good Mood" contest is under way through Sept. 25.

The contest, which promotes doing good deeds each day, has been narrowed down to five contestants from across the country. The winner will receive $100,000, donated to the contestant's charity of choice.

Hope's Way is a free center that provides recreation and social stimuli for special needs children as well as children from low income, military and incarcerated parents. The children enjoy such activities as pony rides, petting zoos and hayrides. They are even able to enjoy and learn the value of spending and saving money through activates such as panning for gold and spending it in a variety of shops located in an their very own western town, Glory Town.

Sharon Smith of Plainfield entered the "Good Mood" contest after realizing that with having three kids with autism, she does good deeds each day. After quickly rising from No. 30 to No. 5, Smith is now in the final step of the contest, which is community support.

When deciding what charity she wanted to donate the money to, the choice was easy. Smith believes they deserve it because it helps all children, not just a select few.

"I wanted something that would help everybody," said Smith. "This would be the best place for it."

Hope's Way along with Smith are hoping that this competition will not only get the word out, about what good things they are doing but, to bring in more volunteers and donors.

The community is now able to vote online, once a day, on the Oscar Mayer Facebook page for Smith and Hope's Way. If Smith wins, Hope's Way plans on using the money to create wheelchair sidewalks, build a family hotel and a shelter house in Glory Town.

For more information persons may contact Elizabeth Shafer at 522-5566 or Sharon Smith at 317-459-1551.