“Blue Santa” Toy Drive

ABC Public Relations Committee members delivered toys to “Blue Santa” at the Lake Jackson Police Department on December 16th.  Each year, Blue Santa asks for help from the local community so that hopefully all children will have gifts to open for Christmas.  The police departments accept new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations. Officer Wright, Community Relations – Lake Jackson Police Dept., said that children who receive gifts are referred by nurses and counselors at area schools, Head Start programs and churches. Wright also said children from infants to teenagers receive gifts. “Children look forward to this time of the year and the police department looks forward to making sure they aren’t disappointed,” said Lake Jackson Police Chief, Paul Hromadka. “Families assisted will be from Lake Jackson and surrounding cities in Brazoria County.” Laurie Groth, ABC Cares Chairperson noted that toy donations to the Toy Drive in 2009 doubled since last year. 

ABC Cares/Public Relations Committee members are pictured left to right:  Lisa Bundick Cobler, ABC Chapter Chairperson/Tri-Construction Co.; Laurie Groth, ABC Cares Chairperson/Performance Contractors, Inc.; Kimber James, Perstorp Coatings, Inc.; Mike Mathis, P/R Chairman-elect/Delta Rigging & Tools, Inc.; Terry McAlister, ABC Chapter President; Ruby Pratt, ABC Staff Liaison; and Officer Rick Wright, Community Relations/Lake Jackson Police Department.

Food Drive

On December 16^th, committee members gathered all items from the food drive and made a delivery to the Brazosport Cares Food Pantry in Freeport.  Brazosport Cares Food Pantry, an all volunteer, non-profit organization, screens and interviews each person that receives assistance with food.  Clients are below the national poverty level.  Brazosport Cares serves the eight cities in the Brazosport Independent School District: Oyster Creek, Jones Creek, Quintana, Freeport, Surfside, Richwood, Clute and Lake Jackson.  The Food Pantry is supported by church congregations, businesses, service clubs, school organizations and caring individuals in the community.  As reported from Lisa Doyle, Food Pantry Executive Director, in the year 2008, Brazosport Cares Food Pantry served 4,891 families. So far this year, the number of families requesting assistance has doubled since last year.

Pictured left to right: Lisa Doyle, Executive Director, Brazosport Cares Food Pantry; Terry McAlister, ABC Chapter President; Laurie Groth, ABC Cares Chairperson/Performance Contractors, Inc.;, Lisa Bundick Cobler, ABC Chapter Chairperson/Tri-Construction Co.; Ruby Pratt, ABC; and Kimber James, Perstorp Coatings, Inc.