
I’m sure that most of you know that Jeff Mckown (Hooktown Holidays president of the board) and I take our turns to ring the bell for the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign just like thousands of other volunteers throughout the country. When you’re ringing the bell you get to meet some wonderful people you might not otherwise ever see. You also have time to think.
You know that we started Hooktown Holidays began during this special time of year back in 2013. We never imagined, at that time, that this would develop into a charity that our entire community would embrace with wide open hearts and overwhelming generosity. It means that we are doing the right thing.
We’ve come a long way over these several years. Since the beginning, Hooktown Holidays only mission has been to provide nutritious food, warm clothing, and other necessities of life to children, families and other individuals in need in Warren County. It’s what we do. It’ all we do. That’s it.
What I was thinking about while ringing that bell and what I’d like you to know is this. Hooktown Holidays is not just a holiday event. We are a home grown charitable organization that is active and proactive all year round. While sometimes our fund raising efforts seem to be at the forefront, we are so much more than that. We seek out those we can help throughout the year. We don’t wait for them to come to us.
We ring the Salvation Army bells for a short time each year. The need in our community is real and it doesn’t end once those bells go silent. Hooktown Holidays also has several fund raising events each year as well as providing other opportunities to donate. Your generous (and I mean “generous”!) support is what gives us the opportunity to carry on with our mission.
We have experienced, first hand, the absolute gratitude that comes from the organizations and individuals that you support. it’xxx willingness to help has often come to them at a desperate moment or has made a significant impact on their ability to fulfill their commitments to their own missions.
Honestly, I don’t know how to put into words the deep gratitude that I, and the Hooktown Holidays board members, have for your amazing and enthusiastic acceptance of our place in this wonderful community!
We are doing the right thing and we are here to stay.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!
Terry