Swim teams say thanks to supporters (05/02/07)

To the editor:

On behalf of the Jay County swim teams, we would like to thank everyone who helped us in our drive to raise money for pool equipment.

Your contributions and support helped us raise the funds so we could purchase the much-needed equipment. Your donations will go a long way.

All throughout our many years on the swim team, we have really appreciated our local support.

This past chicken dinner was once again a great display of how much our community's backing helps us continue on.

Without the money raised from the sale of our chicken dinner tickets, we may have never been able to replace our aging supplies.

Even more important than your contributions is your support. We thank you all so much for coming to meets. You may or may not understand how much your attendance at all of our meets really means to us.

When we step on those blocks and we see a full stand of cheering spectators out of the corners of our eyes, we get filled with a thrill that gives us that extra "umph" to race.

And when we slam that touchpad to look up to a wall of people clapping and cheering our names, we forget the pain of cramps and oxygen starvation because a wave of euphoria rushes over us. Without that give of support, many of us would not be able to carry on.

Also, for those of you who help out with setting up, selling concessions, timing, cleaning up after meets and everything else, thank you so much. Your involvement in our sport really means a lot to us and we are very grateful.

Finally, we would just like to thank everyone that helped our chicken dinner go smoothly. Thanks to all the parents that helped in the dinner assembly line. Thank you to Fisher Packing for the dinners and bringing this idea to us.

Thanks to Dr. Barwick, Mr. Ford and the rest of the Jay School Corporation for not only the pool, but for the use of the commons to have our dinner.

And of course, thank you to our coaches, Bev Arnold and Barry Weaver. Without them we would have never been able to put this dinner on and we owe them the majority of our swimming career in one way or another.

Once again, we would like to thank you and we hope that your support will continue for years to come.

Ashley Horn, Molly Sutton

and Scott Walker, for the

Jay County swim team

Red Cross thanks

To the editor:

The Hoosier Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude for the local support received during National Red Cross month in March.

We extend a special thank you to the many individuals, groups, organizations and businesses who provided much needed assistance and support for community awareness and fundraising activities in Jay County.

We also want to thank the many dedicated volunteers for their willingness and sacrifice of personal time to organize, plan and oversee the various activities.

In relation to schools, we thank East Elementary, General Shanks and the Jay County Christian Academy. Students and faculty from these schools assisted in both fundraising and promoting community preparedness and awareness for Red Cross programs.

We also thank the Redkey Volunteer Fire Department and the Dunkirk Fire Department for the fundraising efforts they provided during March.

The following businesses and organizations took part in "I'm working for my Red Cross" day. Funds raised from their support and participation will help provide first aid and safety training and provide much-needed assistance to those impacted by disaster in the Jay County community: Community and Family Services staff and volunteers; CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union; CrownPointe Communities; Portland Banking Center/First Bank of Berne; First Merchants Bank; Jay County Courthouse employees; Jay Community Center; Jay County Sheriff's Department; MainSource Bank; Porter-Takats Insurance; Portland Area Chamber of Commerce; Portland Insurance Agency; Portland True Value; Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service; and Raymond James & Associates.

Because of your community support, the Hoosier Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross will be able to further fulfill our mission and provide hope to the residents of Jay County in times of need.

Mark Slusher, Hoosier

Heartland Chapter of

the American Red Cross[[In-content Ad]]