January 16, 2014
Washington-Morgan Community Action completed yet another successful year of the Secret Santa Program. The program served 505 children of disadvantaged Washington County families in 2013. We could not accomplish this task without the community support we receive year after year from individuals, business, churches, clubs and organizations.
A special thanks to Kris-Mar, Inc. for the donation of the distribution center, the Beverly American Legion Riders for organizing a toy run, and the First Unitarian Universalist Church for sponsoring a pasta dinner, Original Pizza Place for sponsoring a fundraiser and McDonald’s stores for their participation in toy drives. Also, a big thanks to Big Lots and Kmart for their support.
Par Mar stores were our biggest contributor donating a check for $5400 as well as a $2,000 worth of toys. Thank you so much for sharing our excitement. You support means so much to the Secret Santa staff. Also appreciated are the many departments at Marietta Memorial Hospital that participate in the program year after year.
I would like to thank the Marietta Welfare League and Peoples Bancorp for their financial contributions. I would also like to thank the Marietta Community Foundation for their generous grant through the following funds; Dorothy A. Oyster Memorial Fund (Mrs. Jerrie Berentz, Mrs. Bonnie Miller), J. Francis and Lillian Strecker Smith Fund, Karl D. and Anna Schultheis Marsch Funds, Broughton-Sugden Fund (Mary Vituccio, Ruth Broughton, George Broughton), F. Buchanon, J. H. McCoy, H. Switzer and Mildren Fund (William Mildren, Jr. and Jane Mildren), Betty Markell Hallock Memorial Fund, Barb and Jack Moberg Charitable Fund (Barb and Jack Moberg), Juhola Family Charitable Fund, Tony Popp Memorial Fund (Tony Popp), Charles Hobbs Rhodes and Beulah Lee Rhodes Memorial Fund, Harold and Janet Cranston Charitable Fund, and the Norman J. Murray Family Charitable Fund.
And last but not least I would like to thank the following volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the program; Janet Chase, Theresa Fitzgerald, Miriam Keith, Susan Fox, Al Blasko, Bobby Perry, Delmer Doan, Denyse Fordham, Debbie Closs, Frederick Hartman, Abby Ketelsen, Jamie Doan, Christine McVicar, Sharon Karcher, Jamie Doan and the Sandhill United Methodist Church youth group.
The generosity of so many speaks volumes about the commitment to our community and to the children of Washington County.
Catherine Rees, coordinator
Secret Santa Program
Washington-Morgan Community Action
