The Garden City Telegram
Email this story | Add Your Comment
| Read (0) Comments
Christmas events starting to gear up
Published 12/4/2008 in News
By STEPHANIE FARLEY
This weekend will give area residents plenty of opportunity to get in the holiday spirit -- or at least, get ahead on some holiday shopping while donating money to local charities and causes.
Those ready for a warm breakfast buffet before a day of shopping can seek out the Red Stocking Breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon to benefit Kansas Children's Service League. All proceeds from the fifth annual breakfast go to KCSL's southwest Kansas Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which serve more than 500 low-income children and their families each year.
The event includes a breakfast buffet served by local celebrities, including Santa Claus, who'll be stopping by for a visit and photos with children and those "young at heart." Lone Star and Ben E. Keith Foods donate the food, labor and service for the breakfast.
Advance tickets are $8; $10 at the door. Children 10 and younger eat free.
According to KCSL Spokeswoman Jessica Mahler, the breakfast is part of a tradition of holiday giving to KCSL that started more than 80 years ago -- the community was invited in the 1920s to make holiday gifts to children living at KCSL's receiving home, which was a temporary residence for children awaiting a foster or adoptive home. The kids would hang their "little red stockings" in anticipation of the community's generosity.
KCSL also holds Red Stocking breakfasts in Liberal, Overland Park and Topeka.
"For many people, the Red Stocking Breakfast is a fun event to attend with family and friends during the holidays," said Lisa Knoll, development manager for KCSL. "What many don't realize is the impact sponsorships, ticket sales and other contributions have on KCSL's ability to meet the needs of children and families throughout the year."
The federal funding KCSL Head Start receives is about 75 percent of funding required for the program -- KCSL is required, Knoll said, to raise a 25 percent local match that can be cash or services illustrating community support for the program.
For more information or advance tickets, visit www.kcsl.org, or go to Commerce Bank, 215 N. Main St., or contact Knoll at 276-3232, ext. 1106 or lknoll@kcsl.org.
Other events this weekend include:
Friday
- The "Art for a Cure" silent auction is 6 to 8 p.m. in the Garden City High School Courtyard, 1412 N. Main St. The auction is to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event is Rosie Nguyen's senior Buff Project. The public is welcome to attend. Artwork, baskets, jewelry, etc. are up for bid.
Saturday
- The First United Methodist Church, 1106 N. Main St., is holding its "Labor of Love" Craft Festival 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with proceeds from booth fees and a silent auction going to local charities, according to Susie O'Brate, with the church. The event includes about 30 booths of crafts, such as Christmas items, scarves, jewelry and paper crafts and baked goods. The silent auction ends at 3 p.m. A soup lunch for a freewill donation runs 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 710 N. Main St., holds its 40th annual Yum Yum Shoppe from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a soup luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes cakes, pies, cookies, homemade pretzels, canned goods, frozen casseroles, bierocks, relishes, pickles, etc. Admission is free, and soup is $3.50 a bowl or to-go cup. The church also has a homemade quilt for sale during the event. All proceeds go to the church to help with building maintenance and operations, as well as sending children to camp in the summer and other activities involving youth at the church.
The public should enter through the church's red doors on Walnut Street. Door prizes are available, with tickets $1 each.
- The Garden City Recreation Commission's 24th annual Santa's Christmas Carnival runs 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Exhibition Building at the Finney County Fairgrounds. A ride wristband is $5. Photos with Santa are $5 and $10, and rides, games, food and Santa visits are available. The GCRC also is looking for volunteers for the event. Contact the GCRC at 276-1200 to help.
- Graduates of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce's Every Voice class from fall 2008 are hosting a Drive-Thru for the Needy. The group aims to help serve the Emmaus House and Benin Casa during winter and is asking for donations of nonperishable food or toiletries. Donations can be dropped off at the El Chaparro building, 1110 N. Fleming St., between Commerce Bank and Sequoyah 9 Theater from 9 a.m. to noon. Hot chocolate will be available.
Sunday
- The 2008-09 Garden City Community College Art Faculty Exhibition, combining the artistic perspectives of three generations, opens with a public reception from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Mercer Gallery in GCCC's Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building. The show, "Influences," includes work by GCCC art instructors David Kinder and Brian McCallum, and creations from professors who helped guide both instructors. The gallery is located in the west wing of the fine arts building, and admission is free. After the opening, the show will remain on display Monday through Dec. 11 and Jan. 14 through 28, with viewing available noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays.
- GCCC's annual Vespers Concert is at 3 p.m. in the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts auditorium. The program includes the talents of the College Concert Choir, College Singers Ensemble, GCCC String Ensemble, keyboard accompanist Carolyn Klassen and the Garden City Civic Choral Union.
Found 0 comment(s)!
Twitter Updates
