Woman leads drive to help schoolkids in Zimbabwe

Francie Markham’s heart lies somewhere in Zimbabwe, amid African schoolchildren whose hope for education is as fierce as Markham’s resolve to provide it. So Markham, a 55–year–old retired English teacher, has been sorting, stacking and labeling items bound for Hartzell High School, a mission of the United Methodist Church in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. Soon, Markham and her volunteer army of United Methodist friends, family and colleagues will begin packing a 40-foot-long cargo container with everything from blackboards to books and computers for October shipment. Closest to her heart are 1,200 washable sanitary pads she hopes will make the lives of African girls easier. Read Markham's story at TheState.com