More friendship benches dedicated.

More friendship benches dedicated. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — The Friendship Bench Project dedicatd three friendship benches last week during a ceremony at Oriole Field. One of the benches, which will stay at Oriole Field, was dedicated to Christa Carrier, a 15-year-old teenager who died last June following a single vehicle rollover crash on East Washington Road in Riverton Township. Christa lived in Scottville and was a student at Ludington High School. A second bench was dedicated to a deceased Gateway to Success Academy student and will be displayed there. The third bench will be placed at Small Wonders Early Childhood Center in Pere Marquette Township.

We’ve been blessed with a lot of community support,” said Marie Shuey Fay, co-founder of the Friendship Bench Project, along with Yvonne Bess Jones. 

“The hope is that this represents a small piece of Christa herself,” Jones said. 

““What people remember her for and that was her stand against bullying she’d walk down the halls and see someone getting bullied and stop right there and then that was the end of that,” said Melissa’s father, Matthew Carrier, who attended the ceremony, along with Christa’s mother, Melissa Carrier. 

“If you see someone having a rough day or sitting on one of these benches take the time, take the initiative to see what’s going on in their life,” Matthew said. 

Christa’s bench was paid for by funds donated by the Friends of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, a non-profit, non-tax-supported organization. 

“The hope is that no child has to be left alone,” Jones said. 

There are now 11 friendship benches located throughout Mason, Oceana, and Lake counties. 

This story is copyrighted © 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.