Gary Martin, left, and Howard Wente pick out boxes of wrapped toys at the Sertoma Christmas Miracle Headquarters at Shops at Seymour to deliver to homes on Christmas Eve morning.
Zach Spicer | The Tribune
The spirit of giving
Thumbs up to everyone who decided it was better to give than receive during the holidays. The list is endless but includes those who contributed in any way to the annual decades-old Brownstown Christmas Cheer program; the Jackson County Sertoma Club Christmas Miracle; the 35th annual Crothersville FFA Toy and Food Drive; and the Fraternal Order of Police Donald M. Winn Lodge 108’s Cops and Kids program. The Christmas Cheer program delivered food, toys, toiletries and more to 150 families and individuals; the Christmas Miracle program, established in 1971, delivered gifts to 680 kids in 293 households; the Crothersville FFA chapter served 110 families in Vernon Township; and the Cops and Kids program, established in 1994, saw 105 kids in 42 families receive $150 each for toys, clothing and more.
A related thumbs up to Stacy Conrad, owner of Youniquely You Tattoo in Seymour, and her customers who raised money for a Toys for Tats drive. The toys were given to Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour and The Serenity Closet in Brownstown. Conrad also sponsored an angel tree that was set up in her shop in December. She raised more than $3,000 from the tree, and that money went to the Jackson County Department of Child Services for kids.
High scoring
Thumbs up to Brownstown Central senior Jack Benter, who became the first Jackson County high school boy to score more than 2,000 points in a career during a game against Mitchell on Dec. 16. Scoring 2,000 points in a career is something just 71 high school boys have accomplished in the state’s rich high school basketball history.
Comfort and joy
Thumbs up to the newly created 180 RCO, which has a mission to mobilize resources within and outside the recovery community in Jackson and Jennings counties to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. As the group works to become a nonprofit organization, leaders decided to make giving back to the community a focus, too. To help with that part of the mission, nearly 10 adults and kids recently came together to make nearly 90 fleece-tied blankets and scarves to donate to the 74 residents at Seymour Crossing, a senior citizen living community. Jennifer Hopkins with 180 RCO said the effort was all about bringing comfort and joy to the residents.