Holiday Helpers
The Dance Shoppe dancers have been rehearsing a unique routine for this weekend’s Christmas Extravaganza.
By Wade Daffron
TJ Editor
There’s a reason it’s called the “giving season.”
With Christmas just around the corner, local businesses and entities are giving back to the community and beyond through charitable efforts.
This weekend, The Dance Shoppe of Russell Springs will present a “Christmas Extravaganza” to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
With the theme “Children Dancing for Children,” the event with be held Saturday, December 13, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, 2 p.m. at the Russell County Auditorium Complex at 2167 U.S. 127.
“Our healthy children are dancing to cure other children with cancer,” ‘Miss Marti’ Sallee, of The Dance Shoppe, said, “and to help find cures for so many children.”
Sallee said The Dance Shoppe “first started performing Christmas-themed shows in 1982 at parades, entertaining the community, friends, nursing homes” and various venues.
“Then we decided to raise money for national and state community charities,” she said.
To date, The Dance Shoppe has helped to raise over $200,000 for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, The Home of the Innocents, The Star Theater Renovation Fund, and the aforementioned St. Jude’s.
A small number of tickets for this weekend’s shows remain available at $10 each at The Dance Shoppe.
All proceeds will benefit the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
Using a unique approach, Pretty Creekside Boutique (PCB) is hosting its third annual “Anchored at Home Christmas Drive.”
“Anchored at Home is part of our Laker theme and it’s like Shop with a Cop and Toys for Tots for the older girls who have aged out of those programs,” Jennifer Hoskins Cerrato, of Pretty Creekside Boutique, said. “We ask for a $50 donation, and we put that together with a contribution from PCB to get each girl a new coat, puffer vest, graphic tee shirt, top, jeans and accessories. We want to give these girls not only a Christmas they might not otherwise have, but hopefully a boost of confidence and a little reminder that there are people out there rooting for them and supporting them that they do not even know about.”
A Toys for Tots collection box is located just inside Three Daughters. Russell County NJROTC Chief Petty Officer Emmalynn Boblett and Cadet Lieutenant Commander Louanna Boblett encourage people to donate this holiday season.
Cerrato said in this third year of giving, 33 youth are already scheduled to be recipients.
“Middle school and high school is a tough time anyways, and to think about one child, let alone 33 not having a new outfit to go back to school in is heartbreaking,” she said.
The benefits of giving are many, she said.
Along with helping local youth, donations are tax deductible.
“We will take any amount,” Cerrato said. “Everything 100 percent goes back to the girls, and this is big PCB ‘giveback,’ so we make a large contribution to this as well. We also work directly with Sherry Coffey at the high school, and she works with the middle school and composed the list (of recipients). These are girls who fall in the category of needing assistance and it is not a lottery and just random girls getting gifts. These are going to girls in need.”
“Our goal is always to exceed our numbers so that we can double some items-especially jeans and tops,” Cerrato explained.
To donate or learn more, visit Pretty Creekside Boutique at 212 Steve Dr. in Russell Springs, or visit their Facebook page.
The Russell County High School NJROTC is holding a Toys for Tots drive for families in need.
Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Java Springs or Three Daughters in Russell Springs through next Monday, December 15th.
Families in need, or those seeking information can email MA1 Rex Boblett at [email protected].
Russell County NJROTC Chief Petty Officer Emmalynn Boblett and Cadet Lieutenant Commander Louanna Boblett at the Toys for Tots collection box inside Java Springs.
Toys will be distributed at the NJROTIC Classroom on Thursday, December 18.
Java Springs is feeling the Christmas spirit by hosting a full-day Christmas Extravaganza this Saturday, December 13.
Along with Christmas Karaoke and Pictures with Santa, toy collections will be held for the Russell Springs Volunteer Fire Department (RSVFD).
The RSVFD will have a fire truck on display, and personnel on hand for a meet and greet.
