Annapolis woman starts club for seniors

Annapolis woman starts club for seniors, disabled

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Anna Burkett makes no bones about what she wants to accomplish in life - she wants to make the world a better place.

To accomplish her goal, she has enlisted the help of residents at Claiborne Place, a high-rise apartment building in Parole for seniors and people with disabilities.

They formed a club called MADE - Make a Difference Everywhere. And in less than a year, they've already made a difference in their own community.

"This is a great, worthy cause," MADE member Gordon K. Wood, 55, said. "Together we can really make a difference."

So far, MADE members solicited donations to build a garden behind their building and launched letter-writing campaigns to get nearby shopping centers to improve access for people using wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.

Ms. Burkett and the group show off the garden with pride. They call it the "habitat," as it attracts birds, rabbits and other critters.

"We had a whole big gang working on it," said Ms. Burkett, 52, who spent time in foster care and a state institution before moving to Claiborne Place 24 years ago. "We have all kinds of animals come up from the woods."

The garden is dotted with geraniums, peonies and herbs, broken up by colorful stepping stones and decorative animal statues. Birdhouses and hummingbird feeders hang from the trees.

MADE participants said the habitat is a popular relaxation spot for Claiborne Place residents.

"I like wildlife and I'm really happy we did it," said MADE member Peggy Tapp, 66.

MADE's other mission - improving access at shopping centers - still is a work in progress.

They sent a batch of letters to managers of the nearby Festival at Riva pointing out the problems they encounter while shopping.

Ms. Burkett has a cognitive disability and uses a scooter for long trips. Navigating her scooter along cracked sidewalks and through regular doors is a challenge for her.

Others told similar tales in their letters.

Natalia Zubchonok, 81, wrote, "I have found, while shopping at your plaza, it is very difficult to get around due to the lack of crosswalks and cracked sidewalks."

Gerard K. Lonergan, 62, agrees with Ms. Zubchonock.

"The sidewalks are cracked and very uneven," he wrote in his letter. "It is difficult to get around whether walking or in a wheelchair. The ramps are also uneven and cracked in many areas."

They said they believe recent improvements - filled in cracks, new automatic doors at T.J. Maxx - were a result of their efforts. Officials at Trammell Crow Co., which manages the Festival at Riva, couldn't be reached for comment.

But MADE members aren't ending there. They plan to focus their letter-writing efforts on other shopping centers in the area.

Donna Shavatt, manager of Claiborne Place, said she's impressed with Ms. Burkett's enthusiasm and leadership skills.

"She will go after something and make it happen," she said. "She just wants to make the world better and she's starting with Annapolis."