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Fundraiser
kicks “Empowering” off to great start
By Bob Robinson
“We started to tell her what we were doing when she stopped us,” said
Kendra Chalmers. “I know what you’re doing,” the woman said. “I have my
daughter in tutoring and it is helping her!”
Chalmers said she was excited about the day. Traffic was steady during
the five hours she and family members stood in front of Walmart on
March 5, offering baked treats ranging from cakes and cupcakes to
cookies, candy and fudge.
“We sold nearly everything,” she said. “The little we had left?
My husband (Michael) went to the gas station and they bought it for
$20.” By the end of the day, the family had raised $700 for the
Empowering Darke County Youth tutoring program.
“We’re not through, either,” she added. They were already talking about
their next fundraiser.
A major donation came from Alaska… Chalmers’ cousin and his wife, Tom
and Erin McConnell. “I'm happy to give to such a great cause,” he said
“I'm a firm believer that an individual can learn nearly anything when
they are taught in a way they can understand.”
Community members had begun support for tutoring kids who needed extra
help last September. Chalmers’ two children were among those who
benefitted. Initial donations came from the Rolling 50s Car Club, Al
& Barb Greiner, Dave Knapp Ford, Darryl Mehaffie, Al & Lyn
Bliss and Jim & Carla Surber. Chalmers said she wanted other
children to have the same opportunity hers did… and Empowering Darke
County Youth became a reality.
“Thank you everyone who donated their time and money for such a great
cause,” she said. She especially thanked her Alaska cousins, then her
mom, Tanya McConnell, husband Mike, son Kayden, Ron McConnell, Ladonna
Keown and Dustin Vonderhuevel for standing in “the freezing cold” to
sell the baked treats. Also Aunt Bev and Uncle Dan Rench, Julie Helman,
Jackie Peeples Jones, Abby Hopkins and more for supplying them… and
Kara McConnell “for watching Bentley and Nevaeh.” Also making donations
and purchases were several directors from the Senior Scribes
Scholarship Fund.
“A big thanks to all who came out and donated,” she said. “I can’t
thank you enough for wanting to help the kids of Darke County. You are
all simply amazing!!”
See additional photos at Empowering Darke County Youth
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