Many of you know that I am involved in the LaPorte Jaycees. The Jaycees put on a shopping tour every year for children grades K-5 in LaPorte County. This is the projects 40th year!!!!!!! This project first began taking only 12 children shopping and this year we took over 400 children!!!!! For those of you who don't know the money for this even is raised by a committee called the roofsit committee. The roofsit committee is headed up by Dennis Siddal who works for the local radio station. He sits on top of the radio stations roof for three days and broadcasts live all weekend long trying to raise money for the children. We stand in the street in front of the station and collect money. ALL the money for the event comes from people who live in our community...this year we raised over $40,000!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!
This year myself and my friend Courtney who is also in the Jaycees chaired the project. We knew going in that it was not going to be easy and boy it sure had it's challenges. Courtney and I spent months working on this huge project. We spent hours together every night the last month working on this after my boys went to bed. I think the boys thought Courtney was living here!!! It took a lot of time and patience to make this project work. Oh and an occasional bottle of wine!!! This last week was probably the most challenging. I honestly think I had around 200 phone calls in the last week...not even and exaggeration. It was very difficult for me to juggle my daycare, my family, and the project. Luckily I have a very understanding and helpful husband who took over with the boys and occasionally helped with the daycare kiddos while I worked on the DCST project. I was also very lucky to have such an amazing person working with me on this project. Courtney and I worked very well together and it wouldn't have come together they way that it did had we not been able to count on each other!!!
Tuesday December 7th 2010 was the big day. All the hard work paid off!! Every minute, every hour, and every month spent on this project was worth it to see the smiling faces of over 400 children on Tuesday. It was absolutely the most rewarding thing I have ever done!!! We couldn't have done it without the help of the countless volunteers, escorts, the community of LaPorte for there generous donations!!! I've copied the press release that will be in the newspaper so you all can see that as well....and of course some pictures!!
Community Rallies Together for 40th Annual LaPorte Jaycees Deserving Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour
LAPORTE, IN —The Greater LaPorte Community rallied together this past Tuesday to warm the hearts of over 400 deserving children for the 40th Annual LaPorte Jaycees Deserving Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour.
The snowy weather didn’t stop the Dec. 7 event – which was a culmination of many months of planning, scheduling and organizing.
Over 400 children students (grades K-5) selected by La Porte Community School Corporation, Rolling Prairie Elementary School, Prairie View Elementary School, South Central Community School Corporation, LaCrosse Elementary School and Wanatah Elementary School participated in the magical evening of fun, food, laughter and shopping.
The special evening for the children started with dinner graciously donated by McDonald's. Next was a visit with Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald who were passing out stockings filled with hats, gloves and fun toys and finally ended after lots and lots of shopping!
The La Porte Jaycees and the many families that were helped from this year’s Deserving Children’s Shopping Tour would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of those who donated their time, efforts, and gifts to this event. We know it was a cold and snowy evening and we want to extend a huge “thank you” to the hundreds of volunteers from the community, schools, and local businesses who donated their time to take kids shopping.
The Jaycees would also like to extend their sincere gratitude to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, McDonald’s Restaurants, Dennis Siddall & Cathy Reese, WLOI/WCOE, The Roof Sit Committee & Roof Sit Committee Elves, Deserving Kids Christmas Fund Go-Kart Race, La Porte County Fairgrounds, Western Inn, Best Western Hotel & Conference Centers, General Insurance Services, 1st Source Bank, La Porte High School Girls Reserves, La Porte High School League , Boy Scout Troop #321 and Mike Seitz for their commitment to help the deserving children of La Porte County.
This event is only made possible through the generosity of our community members and volunteers. The goal of the La Porte Jaycees is to continue to make a difference in this community and spread the Christmas spirit to make a memorable Holiday for the deserving children of La Porte County. The La Porte Jaycees would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. You can find out more about LaPorte Jaycees events that benefit the community by following them on Facebook or by visiting their website at www.laportejaycees.org.
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