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Couple helps out to spread cheer
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Harlow and Ila Duerst have been involved with the Monroe Womans Clubs Christmas Stocking program since they moved to Monroe 18 years ago. (Times photo: Marissa Weiher)
MONROE - For 18 years, Ila and Harlow Duerst have helped give elderly people in Monroe a merry Christmas through the Monroe Woman's Club's Christmas Stocking program. The couple, married for 61 years, help create and deliver the Christmas Stocking's "Cheer Boxes," packages of food treats delivered to senior citizens who don't have families of their own. Monda Hess, one of Christmas Stocking's Cheer Box coordinators, said the program will put together about 180 Cheer Boxes this year, containing items such as homemade cookies, banana bread and Swiss Colony mints and petit fours.