HOLIDAY GIVING PROJECT TIME
LET NOT RAIN, SNOW OR ICE
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Lions are strong hearted, determined and focused ‘til a project is completed! Yep, let not rain, snow and ice keep them from finding a way to make it happen
When an obstacle presents itself, Lions are flexible and find the strength, the drive and the will to make it happen. And that is exactly how the Holiday Basket Project 2016 went!
While the Lion Elves were working to get everything ready for the sleigh ride, some were monitoring the weather seriously. A storm was on its way and the Lions were in no humor to let it be a stumbling block for making their annual Christmas Delivery to 30 families. Teams, all 28 of the team members, emerged upon Santa’s Shop on Friday afternoon, loaded and delivered to the 30 families before the storm hit. One team elected to deliver on Saturday afternoon. WE were finished by 8:30 PM. All happened without the hitch to the sleigh failing and not having to call Rudolph to the rescue! And WE, all the Lion elves, were safely home when the nasty ice and snow arrived Saturday morning!
Santa’s Shop this year took on a new look…
All the work was done in Gladhill Brothers Showroom while Gladhill’s continued to be open for business. One customer came in and asked what was going on? Gary Hilton told them that business had gotten so bad that Gladhill’s decided to go into the grocery business!!!! The new venue worked very well. Gladhill employees got involved, stayed after hours and helped with the whole project. They pulled out all kinds of equipment to help make the project easier and comfortable. A BIG SHOUT of THANK YOU to an outstanding staff at Gladhilll Brothers!
Lion Bob Newlin had food drives from NRC Employees, Damascus High School, Baker Middle School, Clarksburg High School and Rocky Hill Middle School. We estimated about 5000 – 6000 items. Eagle Components donated the boxes, Damascus Dental donated toothbrushes for each family member and Butlers Orchard donated apples, turnips, acorn squash and cider. Goldstein Family again donated their beautifully decorated packages of 4 dozen cookies for each family, Safeway donated a $50 Gift Certificate towards groceries and an employee of Safeway donated the candy canes. The Tradesmen Motorcycle Club donated several hundred quality toys for the children. The Lions donated hats, gloves, mittens, scarfs and socks for the families. The Lions purchased towels for each family as well as an outfit for each child and a $30 Kohls Gift Card for the teenagers. The Lions purchased $30 Safeway Gift Cards for each family for their perishables and meats. There were several Lions and Partners-in-Service that worked with the project from beginning to end.
You know who you are.
Thank You for being an integral and dependable elf in the HolidayBasket Project! WE put the project together and delivered in record time. WE served 30 families consisting of 67 children and teenagers and 61 adults in the Damascus and Clarksburg area. The WE I have been using consisted of 32 Lions, 5 partners-in-service and family members, 19 friends ofLions and the members and friends of the Tradesmen Motorcycle Club plus the 17 employees of Gladhill Brothers. WE clocked approximately 300 hours. The actual expense to the Lions was $3350. Looking at the whole project, thevalue is over $10,000.
Well Done Lions, Lion families and friends! WE have served our community again this holiday season. THANKS to all of the WE’S for your time, energies, resources and willingness in helping to make the Holiday Season for our community members a bit more tolerable!
As one little child said to Lion Barbara upon the family receiving their delivery – MERRY, MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Lion Mary Frances Gosnell