T’is the Season to be Thankful…

This time of year I get kind of “jerkey,”
Because I’m afraid I’ll run out of turkey.

Then turkeys arrive just before five,
And our Center is buzzing like a bee hive.

We received lots of spuds,
And not one bag had a dud.

Also in the bags were lots of yams,
There even were cans of clams.

The giving citizens of Black Diamond came through like the “gems” they are.

Thank you to all who gave this Thanksgiving Holiday. The biggest donations were from the Enumclaw Lions Club, the Lake Sawyer Community Club, and a special gift from Enumclaw School District Superintendent Mike Nelson who gave boxes and boxes of canned food to our Center.

The Black Diamond Police Department and Commander Goral and his wife Angel shopped for ten of the best birds. With the direction from Father Dave at the St. Barbara Parrish, weekly donations came in. Pastor Lee from Lake Sawyer Christian Church delivered some turkey dinners himself, while his crew brought in donations daily.

Cub Scout Troop 461 rounded up 100’s of pounds of canned goods, as did Gena Laws who collected food for us at her Haunted House. The Circle of Joy group from St. Barbara Parrish gave cash donations, and many other local Black Diamond citizens gave so generously to our food bank clients, including the Lake Sawyer Bunco Club and the Green Valley Neighbors Club.

Food Bank manager Doug Ernst, a full-time volunteer, is so tired from giving out food boxes, he asked for a few days off. He will get his request, but will be back soon to start the Christmas holiday rush.

The volunteers who help us every Tuesday and Thursday serve our seniors, veterans and disabled, are wonderful and kind: Sherri Potts, Vern Gibson, Janie Edelman, Carol Benson, Gary Farmer, Richard Osterman, Ron Brentson, Mary Ann Knarreborg, Barbara Besagno, Tamie Deady, Marie Freeman, and Roberta Paramore.

We are also so lucky to have Dave Ambur, our own snow removal man, who plows snow from our parking lots every time a snowflake blows in!

A special ‘thank you’ to the Pythians, headed by Gwen Rhodes and Janice Ranton, the Eagles supported by Steve and Christine Kinney, and the Lake Sawyer Christian Church led by Sandi and Bill Hooper, who made complete special family dinners for our Black Diamond families in need.

WOW – what a crew I have…  I am blessed to have all of you in my life… and the citizens of Black Diamond. Thank you.

Cheryl Hanson
Black Diamond Community Center