Thanks for angel efforts

To the editor:

February is the month of love, and what love this community shows for kids and the elderly. We knew this was going to be a tough year, but with your support we did it. This community helped more than 1,000 kids, not only with gifts, but with food, too. You also made it possible for 100 of our elderly to get food. A record-breaking year.

FCC came through again this year, along with Saint-Gobain, Dunkirk, IMA, Berne, and Accelerated Curing and the Coca-Cola plant in Portland. Not only the employer but also the employees of these factories took the time to help these families. Thank you. You should be proud of how your workplace supports the Angel Tree. We are all proud of you.

Thank you to Dollar General, First Merchants Bank and Wal-Mart for making space for an Angel Tree in your place of business.

And to all the people and organizations who helped get our Angels off the trees, you certainly a lot of families have a joyous Christmas.

We were blessed this year by American Legion Post 211. They helped two fish suppers and a poker run this last fall, plus a donation from the honor guard. Remember the saying, "thank a vet?" Well, this year we not only thank them for our freedom, but for doing a great job in keeping this project alive. We salute each and every one of you.

Thanks again to the CFS Advisory Council, Ohio Valley Gas, Dr. Banta, Gamma Alpha, Corle Insurance, First Bank of Berne, Bluff Point Friends Church, Dayton Progress, Fisher's Meats, Delts, Gamma Nu, Kappa Kappa Kappa, 4TC, Hickory Grove Women, Jay County Beverage, Cincinnatus League, Createc, Portland Friends Church, American Health Center, TJ's Concrete, Portland Lions, Dunn Dentistry, Clear Chiropractic, Jay County Landlords, The Andersons, Saint-Gobain Local, Wal-Mart, Meijer (Muncie), United Way, Walgreens and all private donors.

Thanks Community and Family Services for the use of your meeting room. Deb and Sue, a special thanks for taking applications for the elderly, and the families who missed our school applications.

I have said many times while doing this project that it takes a special community to pull something like this together and we should all be proud of where we live. This project is really based on people caring for strangers and showing love and compassion through the holiday season.

Tyson, Minnich Poultry and Priority Plastics, thank you for your donations to help the food boxes come together this year.

Bryant Lutheran Church's support of the Angel Tree is amazing. I am sure a lot of Angels above are smiling down and saying "bless all of you." You are very kind and loving people.

Susie Martin, thank you for all the hats. I am sure there are about 100 kids that would hug you if they could. You are an angel on Earth. Keep on knitting for our 2010 project; your hats are being asked for by many.

A certain church youth group has helped us out for the past few years. For a small group of kids they can make a Sunday evening go fast and do a lot of work, too. Our 4-H Junior Leaders have been helping for a number of years, too. I'm asking both groups, can we count on you again next year?

McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway and White Linen: Thanks for keeping our stomachs full. And thanks to the Koffee Kup Diner for the pies. And Tom and Rod's, your Friday lunch is a great reward.

Now comes the part thanking all those I work with to pull this all together and work long hours with in the last week of Angel Tree. I will not list all of you for fear of missing someone, but each and everyone of you are a valuable asset to this project. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Denise, another year done. Thank you again and again..

In the spirit of giving

Kay Strausburg

2009 Angel Tree

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