The Mom and Pop Shop made Christmas brighter for families in the Bethel School Dstrict with its annual day of giving. The eighth annual event at Bethel Family Center gave families in need the chance to do some holiday shopping free of charge. Donations of toys and gifts this year came from the Stuff the Bus fund-raisers hosted by the district's transportation department and from members of the 194th Wing of the Washington Air National Guard. The day before the event, the Guard members delivered truckfuls of toys that Senior Master Sgt. Denis Avery said were donated through the 194th Wing at Camp Murray and the Western Air Defense Sector, which is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "The best part about this is just giving back to our community and supporting the Bethel Family Center.,GÇ¥ Avery said. "They serve the greater Bethel district area, and that butts right up on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, so we also know that this resource is helping out our younger airmen and soldiers that are in need.GÇ¥ Senior Master Sgt. Don Barney, one of the volunteers who greeted families at the Family Center, said that Guard members appreciated the opportunity to be part of "the happiness and joy that we see in their faces when they walk out of here, helping them and hearing wonderful comments on the way out the door.GÇ¥ In addition to toys for their children, families could go next door to a food distribution site for supplies "for their Christmas dinner, said Donna Saling, coordinator of the Mom and Pop Shop. About 150 meals were given out by Open Door Ministries. Meanwhile, Greater Lakes Mental Health offered seasonal refreshments for families, while student groups from the district's high schools wrapped presents and sang Christmas carols. The Wear It Out Clothing Bank was open for business, as well. Saling said the project overall was a big success. "It's very rewarding. It's just great to know that families that can't afford to buy for their children have something they can take home to their kids,GÇ¥ she said. For the 194th Wing, the December event capped a year of involvement with the Bethel Family Center. Last summer, they gave their time and resources to help renovate a portable building that housed the Mom and Pop Shop. "We spent the summer cleaning it all up," said Barney. "All the walls were sanded, washed, sealed and repainted. Everything's done. We're just waiting for one more grant for the carpet.GÇ¥ Jay Brower, the school district's director of community connections, said the carpeting will be installed in 2015 by volunteers. "It's turning into an Eagle Scout project (by a Graham-Kapowsin High School student) for the carpet and the floor and the wallboard. He will be working with the Air National Guard, as well as Donna Saling,GÇ¥ Brower said.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment