The seventh annual “Lakewood Cares Christmas Project”, sponsored by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, is collecting food, clothing and toys for distribution to needy children and families in the East Dallas and Lakewood area, says Eloise Sherman, chamber director.
Deposit boxes for contributions are located at area banks, Minyard’s Lakewood store, Wyatt’s Cafeteria and El Chico/Lakewood. Canned food, news toys and new or used clothing in good condition may be left in the boxes, Sherman says. Pickup is available for those unable to bring items to the dropoff points; call 824-8110 or 827-8921 for information.
Other items needed are sweaters, coats, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shaving cream, combs and brushes, and books. Cash contributions will be used to purchase perishable food. Checks should be mailed to Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 140685, Dallas 75214, and made payable to the Chamber.
The Chamber’s annual Christmas party is scheduled Dec. 9 at Bank One/Texas, 6310A E. Mockingbird; admission for Chamber members and guests is one new toy.
Clements Realtors is once again serving as a drop-off sponsor for WFAA-TV’s 22nd annual Santa’s Helpers Program, says Clements associate Gay Blanton.
New and unwrapped toys can be dropped at Clements office, 6500 E. Mockingbird, Dec. 7-18 during business hours. Checks made payable to WFAA-TV, Santa’s Helpers also will be accepted, Blanton says.
Last year, 42,000 toys were collected as part of the program; this year’s goal is 65,000 toys, Blanton says.
Clements also will host a visit from Santa Claus Dec. 17 from 10:30 a.m.-noon and from 4-6 p.m. Photos of children with Santa will be available, Blanton says.
And Whiteside Realtors is making its annual effort to solicit collections of food, clothing and toys on behalf of the East Dallas Cooperative Parish for distribution to needy area residents, says Whiteside’s Toni Foster.
Whiteside will be collecting toys, clothing, canned goods and monetary donations through Christmas at its office, 6301 Gaston, Suite 400. If you are unable to deliver the items to the office, call 828-4300 to arrange for pickup.
Area Residents Organize Chi Omega Market Dec. 3-5
Numerous East Dallas and Lakewood residents are taking the lead in organizing the Dec. 3-5 Chi Omega Christmas Market, held at the Dallas Convention Center.
The market features 130 merchants selected by a Chi Omega committee based on quality, variety and uniqueness. Holiday music and children’s entertainment by Mr. Peppermint and Ronald McDonald also are scheduled. Last year, more than 8,000 people attended, says event co-chair Mary Tabor.
Among the other East Dallas and Lakewood committee members participating in this year’s Christmas Market are Karen Wilkerson, Suzanne Addison, Sylvia Hood, Connie Kitchens, Betsy Morton, Jane Anne King, Lori Strickland, Natalie Devero, Dana Tait, Kathy Clement, Benetta Rusk, Kathy Flaming, Joanne Guy, Michelle Johnson and Melanie Rogers.
Event tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door; children under 12 are free. For more information, call 341-0497.
Service League Members Complete Several Fall Projects
Members of the Lakewood Service League, a volunteer organization for neighborhood women, have participated in numerous projects during the fall, according to member Susie Baresh.
Among the activities have been providing weekly lunch for 25 senior citizens associated with the Central YWCA, assisting with programs at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, assembling table decorations for a Children’s Advocacy Center luncheon, working with the Visiting Nurses Association Meals on Wheels program for elderly and homebound area residents, and assisting with the Lakewood Pre-School PTA’s annual home tour last month.
Members are continuing to solicit underwriters and merchandise for the group’s annual fund-raiser, scheduled March 6 at the Southland Center Hotel, Baresh says. The event features silent and live auctions, with proceeds benefiting a variety of neighborhood service projects and agencies, Baresh says.
For more information, call 823-3708.
Rotary Seeks Applicants for Exchange Program
If you’d enjoy an all-expenses paid, five-week trip to British Columbia next spring, and you’re between the ages of 25 and 35, our neighborhood Rotary Clubs have a deal for you.
Applications are being accepted through Dec. 31 for five participants in the Group Study Exchange program of Rotary International, according to Rotary member and neighborhood resident Hugh B. McAfee Jr.
The May 15-June 20 trip is designed to provide vocational and cultural study in Canada, with U.S. Participants matched up with Canadians working in the same field, McAfee says. In March, the Canadians will visit the Dallas area as part of the same exchange program.
Applicants must have a minimum of two years’ experience in their field and must be residents of the Rotary District 5810 area (Texas countries of Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall). Employees and members of Rotary, or persons married to or descended from current Rotarians, aren’t eligible, McAfee says.
At press time, only 10 applications had been received for the five positions. If you are interested, send a letter requesting an application and further information to Rotary Group Study Exchange, P.O. Box 824091, Dallas 75382.
Area Residents Part of Boys Choir
The Texas Boys Choir, which includes several area residents, has scheduled a “Family Christmas Concert: Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in conjunction with WFAA-TV’s Santa’s Helpers program.
The concert will be held at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students; attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for distribution to area needy.
This performance is only one of many for the choir, which tours throughout the world, says executive director Jack Noble White.
The group has released several C.D.s and albums of its work, including its new release of “The Texas Boys Choir: Christmas In The Great Hall”.
Among area residents performing with the choir are Wyatt Akins, David Aughinbaugh, Ben Brooks, Joey Cherry, Patrick Daniel, Frank Edwards Jr., Davis Jackson, Doug Mayeux, Jon Neslony, Todd Tomlin and Michael Waddington.
SWANBERG ELECTED KIWANIS PRESIDENT: Kiwanis Club of White Rock member Arthur D. Swanberg is president-elect of the Kiwanis International, says Ruth E. Tisdale, Kiwanis Club administrative secretary. Swanberg will be installed as president at the group’s annual convention in Nice, France, in June 1993. Swanberg has been active with the local club since 1965 and is credited with numerous programs that have increased membership in the Texas-Oklahoma district.
REALTOR HONORED: Susan Howard, an associate with Ebby Halliday Realtors, recently received the GRI (Graduate, Realtors Institute) designation after completing Texas Realtors Institute courses. Howard joins approximately 4,500 active licenses who have earned their Texas GRI designation, out of approximately 124,000 licensees in Texas.
FUN FOR THE KIDS: The Dallas Symphony Association will present “Deck the Hall” Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The annual holiday program is targeted to children 12 years of age and younger; an “Enchanted Lobby” will be featured beginning at 1 p.m. and includes magicians, dancers, puppets and holiday characters. The 45-minute program will feature the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and the Elliot Handbell Ensemble from Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $7-$18 from Dillard’s box office. Call 692-0203 for information.
STUDENTS PITCH IN: Students in J.L. Long Middle School’s “Expectations” choir are trying to raise $10,000 to fund a choir trip to sing at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio April 29. The students are soliciting odd jobs such as leaf raking, baby-sitting and other tasks. Call 327-4037 if you can help.
BIKE MAP AVAILABLE: The non-profit Texas Bicycle Coalition and the City of Dallas Department of Transportation have prepared the “Greater Dallas Bike Plan Map”, a full-color map booklet highlighting more than 365 miles of marked Dallas Bike Plan routes with the City, more than 200 miles of planned and recommended bike routes, hike/bike trails and mountain bike paths. The booklet is printed on waterproof paper, says P.M. Summer, City bicycle coordinator. Price is $6.95. Call 670-4039 for information.
