Every year the Rotary Club of Edmonds provides gift-giving trees to support the Snohomish County CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and the Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Programs. These programs provide court-appointed special advocates for children who are victims or alleged victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect. This year, we had a herculean request of 391 requests to fulfill. Miraculously, we filled all requests!
A huge thanks goes to Jack Tawney, Jackie Tawney and the staff and members of Harbor Square Athletic Club who every year maintain the main tree with about 300-plus mittens. We also wish to thank Tom and Marci Kretzler and their crew and patrons of Gallaghers Where U-Brew; Dick Mergens and Shawn Dowling and their crew and patrons of Crucible Brewing in Everett; and our fellow Noon Club Rotarians. We are well aware that many individuals took more than three mittens to fulfill all these requests.
Special thanks to Sharalyn Ramm for allowing the elves to purchase over 30 mitten requests that allowed us to buy warm coats, warm clothes, toys, dollies, electronics and many more! Also, kudos to Secret Santa Lauren Rutherford for donating over 75 educational gifts and toys of varying age groups for Thanksgiving fun.
Everyone should feel special pride in being the angel guardians for these infants, children and teens. The generosity of everyone was overwhelming to those of us that work this program and we cannot express how much joy and love filled our hearts when we saw the gifts. Those 391 kids probably had glee on their faces and warmth in their hearts on Christmas Day. Everyone should feel delight in their hearts as once again, another successful year of giving.
Happy Holidays!
Santa Tom Kelly and Santa’s helpers Diane Buckshnis, Sharalyn Ramm, Elise Hegrat, Joelle Kelly and all the CASA elves
Edmonds
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