At 11 a.m. on a Friday, I’m late. As I pull into the circle driveway at a neighborhood church, there sits two lonely red and white Igloo coolers with a clip board on top. Usually the front curb is lined with coolers full of meals that need to be delivered to sick, disabled and elderly individuals in the Lakewood area. Today, there are only two coolers, filled with the food I was supposed to deliver at 10 a.m.
Did I really have to pick up voice mail messages before I left the office? Were those four messages really more important than the 23 people whose meals I’m now late delivering? As usual, I’m just doing what I can to get it all done!
As a member of one of the most “gettin’ it done” service organizations around, I’m proud to be able to offer assistance to needy individuals of all ages in our community. It’s not always easy to make time for the people and the things in life that really matter. We all have families to care for, careers to build. We all have shoes on our feet, food in our refrigerators, cars to drive and roofs over our heads – at least most of us do. But this is not true for many of the individuals who benefit from the help provided by the Lakewood Service League.
It has been the purpose of the league during the past 15 years to improve our community for everyone. The league has provided nonprofit organizations and schools with nearly $500,000 in monetary assistance and with more than 50,000 hours of service.
The women of this league – past, present and future – should be proud. And each member of our community should be equally as proud to have these tremendous women in their midst.
As you go about the act of living, remember: You get what you give. And if you happen to see some lady hoisting a cooler into the trunk of her car, don’t think for a minute that she’s out on a picnic in the middle of the day. She’s probably a league member delivering a meal to someone who would otherwise have no food to eat.
If you want to help out, now is the time to do so. The Lakewood Service League’s annual charity ball/fund-raiser is being held from 6:30 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce. This year’s theme is “Return to Casa Blanca.” The fund-raiser will include a live and silent auction, as well as a seated dinner and dance.
The money we raise will be the direct result of the support we receive from many businesses and individuals in the Dallas area. Some of the fabulous items available at this year’s event include a two-carat diamond tennis bracelet from Bachendorf’s, a family trip to Disneyland, beautiful handpainted children’s furniture, portraiture packages, tickets to all major sporting events, a Jack Daniel’s whiskey-tasting party, and hundreds of restaurant and retail gift certificates.
The service league also is conducting a raffle. Proceeds will fund improvements to Lakewood Park on Williamson Road. The park was the keystone upon which the league was founded nearly 15 years ago by Lakewood resident Lou Alpert.
Raffle tickets can be purchased by contacting me at 214-827-7929 or any league member. Donations can be made by calling Darlene Doxey Calvin at 214-324-3465.
Raffle items are an Emmitt Smith autographed helmet and a day of beauty at Neiman Marcus. Tickets cost $3 each or $25 for 10.
Charity ball tickets cost $50 per person for the seated dinner, auction and dance. Academy Award Winner tickets are also available for $125 per person, which includes the added benefits of preferred seating, two drinks, valet parking, no-wait checkout and free home delivery of all auction items purchased.
The success of this year’s event depends on people like you. Help us respond to the needs of our community. Help us get it all done.
