MONROE - More than $42,000 was raised through the Monroe Woman's Club Christmas Stocking 2008 envelope drive. This year's donations cover expenses of food, clothes, toys, boots and shoes for 296 needy families in the Monroe School District.
Approximately 275 elderly and shut-ins were also given a "Cheer" box which includes fruit and holiday cookies. More than 200 volunteer shoppers helped distribute clothes and toys, while boot and shoe coupons went to over 700 local children.
Monroe Woman's Club members and community volunteers wrapped boxes donated by Pick 'n Save. Area Girl Scout troops and Monroe Middle School's "Project World" students helped decorate them with donated Christmas cards and wrote special holiday messages on each one. Monroe school district staff and students, under Barb McArdle's leadership, helped bake, decorate and pack cookies for each of the food and cheer boxes to be delivered. The food boxes are packed and delivered each year by local businesses, service groups, school organizations and sports teams the last morning school is in session before the holiday break.
Christmas Stocking treasurer Kathy Reffue said, "We have seen many changes in the past year. Our economy has taken a big hit and the number of families that we help has grown. But one thing that has stayed constant .... is the generosity and kindness of Monroe residents and those of the surrounding community. We cannot thank them enough for their participation in helping to make the Christmas Stocking project such a success. From decorating, packing and delivering food boxes, baking cookies, shopping for the children, donating to a coat drive, having a toy drive, donating sewn and knitted items for the children, and giving so freely to the envelope drive, the commitment from this community has been truly amazing. Thank you again."
The Christmas Stocking committee consists of: Katheryn Etter, Cheer Box coordinator; Mary Deininger, Family coordinator; Jennifer Spielman, Food Box coordinator; Kathy Reffue, Treasurer and Fundraising coordinator and Sue Barrett, Publicity coordinator. Questions or information can be directed to the committee members. Donations are accepted year-round and can be mailed to: Christmas Stocking Fund, 901 16th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566.
Approximately 275 elderly and shut-ins were also given a "Cheer" box which includes fruit and holiday cookies. More than 200 volunteer shoppers helped distribute clothes and toys, while boot and shoe coupons went to over 700 local children.
Monroe Woman's Club members and community volunteers wrapped boxes donated by Pick 'n Save. Area Girl Scout troops and Monroe Middle School's "Project World" students helped decorate them with donated Christmas cards and wrote special holiday messages on each one. Monroe school district staff and students, under Barb McArdle's leadership, helped bake, decorate and pack cookies for each of the food and cheer boxes to be delivered. The food boxes are packed and delivered each year by local businesses, service groups, school organizations and sports teams the last morning school is in session before the holiday break.
Christmas Stocking treasurer Kathy Reffue said, "We have seen many changes in the past year. Our economy has taken a big hit and the number of families that we help has grown. But one thing that has stayed constant .... is the generosity and kindness of Monroe residents and those of the surrounding community. We cannot thank them enough for their participation in helping to make the Christmas Stocking project such a success. From decorating, packing and delivering food boxes, baking cookies, shopping for the children, donating to a coat drive, having a toy drive, donating sewn and knitted items for the children, and giving so freely to the envelope drive, the commitment from this community has been truly amazing. Thank you again."
The Christmas Stocking committee consists of: Katheryn Etter, Cheer Box coordinator; Mary Deininger, Family coordinator; Jennifer Spielman, Food Box coordinator; Kathy Reffue, Treasurer and Fundraising coordinator and Sue Barrett, Publicity coordinator. Questions or information can be directed to the committee members. Donations are accepted year-round and can be mailed to: Christmas Stocking Fund, 901 16th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566.