Puppets making a difference

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Every month NewsChannel 18 teams up with Frontier Communications to salute people making a difference in our area.

For September we honor "Kids First Puppeteers," whose main focus is to educate children about bullying and disabilities.

Ryan Walter is part of "Kids First Puppeteers"

"In eighth grade I was bullied to a very bad extent. It was to the point where I didn't want to go to school any more. I really didn't want that for other kids and for them to have to go through that," said Walters, a student at Oakland High School.

With about 100 shows a year, students and community volunteers are the actors behind the puppets.

They cover a variety of issues affecting youngsters, from bullying to understanding disabilities.

Gail McCormick oversees the group, and says she notices a big difference in the confidence of the student puppeteers.

"I have often said that they teach me. You know I've been working with them but they teach me... they teach me a lot about teenagers and what's going on in the schools as they get into high school so. It's been great," said McCormick.

"It just amazes me how when the children are watching a performance, the people running the puppets just kind of disappear for them. And they really have an interaction directly with the puppets and they'll ask those puppets questions they won't ask an adult," added Milissa Lake O'Hern, who nominated the group.