Well, it’s that time of the year again when Christmas trees are going up and the panic filled search for gifts has arrived. It’s also a great time to get a picture taken with Santa Claus! This will be the fourth year of Claus for a Cause and the founder and photographer, Julie Dodd, will be coordinating this exciting and successful event.
Claus for a Cause is a charity event that donates all its earnings to the selected charities. This year’s charities happen to be the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the 18 Fore Life Foundation. Not only are these major charities getting a gift for the holidays, but so are you! You can get your picture with Santa Claus taken by Julie Dodd and Amy Ellinghouse on Sunday, November 18th at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield. Santa Claus is only sticking around from 3:00 to 5:00pm but there are no appointments needed. The photo packets run from $10 to $25 but all the money will go towards the charities that Claus for a Cause donates to. This is also the third year that you are able to order a Claus for a Cause t-shirt along with your photo packets.
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The founder of this fantastic organization was inspired in 2008 when her and her friend, Amy Ellinghouse, went to Memphis to be a part of a photography workshop. The duo was immediately inspired by photographer Sandy Puc, who started her own charity called “Lay Me Down To Sleep” that provides free hospital portraits to families that had recently lost a baby. Puc encouraged the attendees at the workshop to use their photography skills to do something similar to what she was doing.
Months after the workshop, she talked about the idea of taking pictures with Santa and giving the profit to charity with her good friend, Amy Stubenrauch. Both of her friends’ daughters were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which made the choice of choosing one of the charities a little less difficult. Her mother-in-law, Effit Dodd, and her aunt, Debbie Triplett, both fought against breast cancer and are both 18 Fore Life recipients. Dodd was certain that the two charities to donate to during their first annual Claus for a Cause in 2009 were the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
“I have a passion for helping people and a love for children, as I am in my fifteenth year of teaching Kindergarten,” Dodd explains. “I can’t think of a better way to raise money for charity than doing two of the most favorite things I love to do!”
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In the past three years, the Claus for a Cause organization has donated a tremendous amount of money for charity: nearly $10,000! In 2009, they raised $500 for the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2010, they nearly earned seven times the amount of money as the year before, earning $3,500 for the same charities. In 2011, they decided to donate $6,800 to both the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the 18 Fore Life Foundation.
Dodd and a couple of her close friends are excited to be a part of running this event for the fourth year and they thank everyone for coming out and participating and for the support of this year’s sponsors. Both Dodd and Ellinghouse are thrilled to be offering their talents to take the memorable pictures at this year’s event. They are expecting a great turn out and hoping to raise even more money than they have in the previous years. Be sure to stop on by and support this great cause that offers tremendous donations and hope to many of these large and worthwhile charities.
Wreaths Across America began almost twenty years ago and for the past four years, Bloomfield’s very own Missouri State Veterans Cemetery has participated. This year’s event will officially take place on the third Saturday of December (December 15th) and will begin at 11:00am. The Patriot Riders take great pride in hosting this event for the fifth year in a row. The wreaths placed around the cemetery is much more than a decoration, but it is a symbol of honorable and memorable soldiers that have served in the Marines, Air Force, Army, Prisoners of War (MIA), and the Coast Guard.
Wreaths Across America has a motto of “Remember, Honor, Teach” and has been placing wreaths in honor of lost loved ones and patriots in numerous cemeteries in all fifty states and 24 offshore locations such as Normandy Beach. Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, started this tradition over twenty years ago when the business owner, Morrill Worcester, decided to place excess wreaths from his factory on the graves of the men and women in the Arlington National Cemetery. This trend eventually caught on as more and more cemeteries and areas began to participate. As of now, the Wreaths Across America foundation has placed over 670,000 wreaths.
Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield is proud to be a part of this meaningful occasion. Throughout the previous years, the community has played an important part of this event. It is estimated that the cemetery is in need of 1,800 wreaths to be bought so that they will be able to place one wreath on each and every grave. To support this cause, you can purchase a single wreath for $15, order the family bundle and get 4 wreaths for $60, or use the small business bundle and get 10 wreaths for $150. For every 2 wreaths that are ordered, the company sends a third one for free, making the goal of 1,800 easier to reach.
You can order your wreath by picking up an order form at the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, Bloomfield City Hall, the Veterans Cemetery office, or the Train Depot/Museum in Dexter. The deadline to purchase a wreath for this event is November 26th. When ordering, be sure to add a Group ID Number (MOPGTW01) so that the Veterans Cemetery will get an extra wreath from your order! For more information on the upcoming event, you can contact the Fundraising Leader, Theresa Wright, at 573-421-1142 or visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
In hopes of a big crowd that day, it is appropriate that our young people are taught the honor that surrounds Veterans Day. This is a valuable lesson for our children to understand the virtues and sacrifice that has been given to obtain our freedoms in our country. Organizers hope as many active duty and retired armed forces personnel will attend as possible.
Guests are encouraged to enter the gymnasium through the pass-gate doors, located between the main high school building and the gymnasium (south end). There will be special VIP seating available on the gym floor. You are encouraged to arrive between 9:00 and 9:20 a.m. For more information, call 573-568-2146.
Please help spread the word and support these efforts by the Bloomfield School District.
If you're a registered voter, we encourage you to get out to the polls sometime before 7:00 and make your voice heard!
Not only will you be voting for the President of the United States, but your vote will also affect a lot of people running for Stoddard County elected positions.
Results of the election will begin being broadcasted on YHC Channel 21 at 7:15 P.M. Results can also be viewed at www.yhctv.com
SMT Readers
Dexter, Missouri - Mock Elections were held at the T. S. Hill Middle School this morning. Students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes were all given the opportunity to participate during their Social Studies class time.
Students were required to show their own identification via sample voter registration cards and were given a ballot to participate in the mock election process. Complete with voters booth and all, students were given an opportunity to better understand the election process and were encouraged to get involved.
This projected was organized by the classrooms of Mrs. Sweeney, Mrs. Foster, and Mrs. Thurmon. During "Election Day," these teachers were assisted by some parent volunteers to actually give the look and feel of a real live voting experience.
"This is a great lesson for the kids and the school is very excited to be able to participate in the voting process," noted Scott Kruse of T. S. Hill Middle School. "It's pretty neat for them to be exposed to this important civic duty."
Remember, tomorrow is the day for each citizen to exercise their right to vote. Be sure to make it a priority on your daily list.
