For 45 years, the La Porte Jaycees have brought local children in need on their Deserving Children’s Shopping Tour. This year they united with their sister group in Michigan City to reach double the children. The first of their two-day tour was held at the La Porte Fairgrounds, where children and their escorts gathered to eat before shopping.
At the beginning of each school year a representative from the Jaycees gets in contact with the counselors at the local schools. The counselors give them names of students who would most benefit from the Shopping Tour program.
On the day of the tour the students are picked up by a volunteer from the community, who takes them to the gathering first. This year it was December 8th. The kids and their escorts made a line around the fairgrounds room so they could visit with each special guest. The 501st Legion Star Wars members were there, along with Ronald McDonald and Santa Claus.
The last stop in the line was dinner and a stocking full of small gifts. Each child is given a $100 voucher for either Walmart or Kmart, where they shopped when they were done eating. A project this big requires a lot of cooperation, and donations of both time and money. Sam Lubeznik, owner of several local McDonald’s locations in La Porte County, provided the burgers, fries, and drinks for the participants.
La Porte County Association of Realtors has an auction every year to raise money for their Michigan City version of the same project. They decided to join forces with La Porte Jaycees so that they could reach kids all over the county. Their monetary contribution this year was over $35,000.
Owner Bernie Conners said, “All around the world so many kids and families lack the money for essentials let alone the funds for a holiday season. This gives kids the opportunity to see the good in the world; to meet good people and experience the joy of the holiday.”
Another partner, the Deserving Children’s Roofsit Committee, came up with their own fundraiser for the Shopping Tour.
Committee Representative Jeff Wright said, “This time of year you want to make sure everyone has a good Christmas. With the economy the way it is, you want to make sure that doesn’t fall back on the kids. We keep the Christmas spirit.”
For the 300 students that came the first night, the Jaycees needed 300 volunteer escorts. Adults willing to pitch in came from every part of the community. Bob and Marie Wiltfong have been volunteering for 8 years. They expressed how important it is to do such a personal thing for the kids instead of handing them donated items. “They all need the personal one on one attention,” said Bob, “With someone who has time. They need those few minutes of being there for them.”
This year, the Deserving Kid’s Shopping Tour was chaired by three women: Erin Snyder, Joy Zigler, and President Carrie Campbell. Together with their partners they raised over $80,000.
“More important than the money,” said Carrie. “Is the time spent.”
Preparations for the Shopping Tour included several fundraisers held by volunteers. It meant stuffing over 600 stockings. The night of, volunteers spent several hours with the kids.
La Porte Jaycee projects focus on three major areas: Management Development (money making projects and membership communication), Individual Development (leadership skills and social functions), and Community Development (youth, senior citizens, environment, and recreation). The Deserving Kids Shopping Tour falls under the community section.
“This single event reaches every socioeconomic status in the county,” Carrie explained. “So you have them all mingling tonight, sharing food and sharing laughs. They end up making relationships. They get to know each other’s families and continue to visit.”
The La Porte Jaycees will continue, as they have in the past, to be a premier organization in the area, not only in the field of leadership training but in service to the community of La Porte.