Yes, Port Orchard really does care

Published 9:15 am Thursday, January 13, 2011

Members of Soroptimist International of Port Orchard and the Port Orchard Rotary Club recently finished up their 15th annual Port Orchard Cares Christmas event at the Tremont Fire Station by distributing gifts and food to 10 local military families and 40 families adopted from South Kitsap Helpline.

Activities for the project began on Nov. 20 and continued on Dec. 4 at local grocery stores where members held their food collection drive to provide the food needed for hurting families during the holidays.

Members of the organizations then purchased gifts for the children of the families and for senior citizens whose names were also received from Helpline.

The food was stored on shelving in the fire station, and SBAB CPA’s provided space for gifts to be securely held until the “wrapping party” on Dec. 18 at the fire station.

We wish to thank all members of the community who shared so generously to help others.

It was touching and inspiring to see how quickly people responded to the needs of those less fortunate in these shaky economic times.

A special thank you goes to Safeway, QFC and Saars’s Market Place.

The managers of these stores have never hesitated to grant permission for the food collection effort and we appreciate their support and cheerful desire to contribute to the mission.

We also extend special thanks to Scott McClendon, who is a longtime supporter, and who provides the shelving for the food storage; to Southard, Beckham, Atwater and Berry CPAs for gift security; to South Kitsap Fire and Rescue District Chief Wayne Senter and all of the wonderful crew who allowed us to use the basement for storage and the conference room to wrap gifts; and last but not least, to our friends and family members who helped with all of the work.

Thank you so much.

SEAN & COLLEEN SMITH

DAVID SELBIG

Port Orchard Rotary Club

SONNIE SELBIG & BOBBIE WEATHERILL

Soroptimist International of Port Orchard