Thanks given for food drive (11/24/2008)

To the editor:

We are pleased to report that the kindness and generosity of the Jay County Community was impressive during our recent "JRDS Reaches Out" food drive. With their assistance, JRDS clients and staff collected more than 700 food and household items and nearly $300 in cash donations to support the local Helping Hands Food Bank.

We appreciate all those who made donations, no matter how large or small, because every donation makes a difference. Special thanks to the anonymous Marsh customer who paid for and donated an entire shopping cart full of items and to the individual who made a $100 cash donation.

We also want to thank Jack Ronald and The Commercial Review staff for co-sponsoring the endeavor and their assistance in advertising the event. Thanks also to Marsh Hometown Market for allowing us to conduct the food drive on their property. These folks truly recognize that persons with special needs are valuable members of the community who, if given the opportunity, can help build brighter futures for others.

We applaud these partners and the many residents of Jay County who stepped forward to help others in need on Nov. 14.

Sincerely,

Teresa Bowen, director of development, and Ruth Ann Widman, executive director, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Inc.

Established

To the editor:

In behalf of Community Affairs & Spanish Assistance, C.A.S.A. de Portland, we would like to take the opportunity to thank The Portland Foundation for the recent contribution to help the establishment of C.A.S.A. de Portland status as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit.

The scholarship programs, giving opportunity to students in higher education and many generous donations are truly confirmation of The Portland Foundation's mission statement: Enhancing the quality of Life of Jay County Residents.

C.A.S.A. de Portland Board of Directors wants to express our most sincere gratitude to Portland Foundation and City Mayor Bruce Hosier, not only for the economic contribution to C.A.S.A. de Portland, but also for the amount of care for our Hispanic/Latino community building a better place in Jay County.

Adolfo Solis, president,

C.A.S.A. de Portland

Show thanks

To The Editor:

Xi Chapter, Delta Theta Tau, Portland, would like to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals that enabled the tremendous success of our 24th annual Delts' Holiday Arts and Crafts Show.

Without the patience, cooperation, tolerance and support of the faculty and staff at Jay County High School our show would not be possible. Thank you to each of you.

Very special thanks to: Vickie Reitz, Tom Ferguson, the students that helped mark booths, move tables and chairs and put up the stakes; Karmella VanSkyock, Shannon Kaufman, Rodney Bye, Debbie Brinkerhoff, Julie Morgan, Rotch Shope, Allen French, Steve Shawver, Russell Sloan, Teffeny Lowe, and Russell Hartman; the Swim Team and coach Barry Weaver; the wrestling team and coach James Myers and all other coaches, the foods classes and Kay LeMaster; students from the band that helped on Saturday; the Key Club and sponsor Dwain Michael; the students from Jay County High School that worked beyond their obligations to fulfill their Government requirements or the Work Ethic Program.

The hard work of all these individuals and groups is greatly appreciated and enables the success of the Craft Show.

We extend a sincere thank you to the Jay County Sheriff's Department and the Jay County Sheriff's Reserve for their help Friday evening and all day Saturday.

Thank you to Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit. Santa's presence puts smiles on our faces and the warmth of the holidays in our hearts.

We sincerely value all our participating dealers. The expertise of their chosen arts or crafts undoubtedly determines the elegance of our show. We also thank them for their generosity by donating items for our hourly drawings.

Our show would not be the success that it is without the patronage of our community and surrounding communities. We thank each of you, our enthusiastic customers, for your continued support. You not only support our craft show, you visit many businesses in the Jay County Area. Thank you.

We would like to take this time to acknowledge and praise each of our Delta Sisters. Without each of you and your commitment to Delta Theta Tau, the Holiday Arts and Crafts Show would not exist. The rewards that we receive are many.

Each time we are able to extend a helping hand to someone by using the earnings that we acquire from our show we realize how significant and satisfying all the hard work, tired muscles, and hours of planning are to our community.

It is our time to give back and this event helps make that possible.

We extend a very sincere thank you to each of our sisters that are associate members or members-at-large that are always willing to help in many ways - volunteering their time working at the craft show, providing baked goods, or a donation.

Thank you to our dear friends at the Youth Service Bureau staff and the residents for generously donating their valuable time helping us at the craft show. Thank you to each of you.

And to our families: We could not survive without your understanding, encouragement and assistance. You are always there to do anything that we ask of you. And we do ask so much of you, over and over again. The show would not be possible or be as successful without you.

If you helped in anyway and we forgot to mention you, we sincerely apologize.

But, please know that it takes every helping hand that touches this project in any way to help achieve the success and, in turn, enables Xi Chapter, Delta Theta Tau, to give back so much to our community.

Sincerely,

Linda Ashman, for the

Members of Xi Chapter,

Delta Theta Tau

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