Giving Back to Forney at Hometown Christmas

FHTC 2008 Charities Forney Lions Club Angel Tree Located next to Santa Clause Forney Santa Cops Toy Collection Boxes in Multiple Locations Forney Senior Citizens Charity Bingo – City Hall Forney Education Leadership Foundation Charity Paddle Game Kaufman County Child Advocacy Center Charity Dime Pitch

Denise Bell
FHTC Committee Co-Chair

December 1, 2008

“Giving back to Forney” has been a central theme and purpose of Forney’s Hometown Christmas since its conception five years ago.

Forney and Kaufman County businesses, churches, non-profit clubs, and organizations have assisted event organizers yearly and in turn the event has given back to the community and the various organizations it supports in a variety of ways.

FHTC event organizers are proud to claim the assistance of hundreds of Forney citizens and frequently uses the following groups as examples of the true community spirit that has evolved as FHTC has grown alongside Forney.

Currently, all of the Forney Girl and Boy Scout Troops assist by participating in paid vendor positions that allow each troop to earn much needed funds along with community service credits.

Fellowship Student Ministries of Forney also participates yearly, raising much needed funds for youth projects by operating the Giant Christmas Cake Walk that is located in the center of Bounce Land and is free to everyone.

The Mom’s Club of Forney, a large non-profit group of Forney mothers, earned $ 650.00 last year, all of which they used to purchase angel’s from the Lions Club Angel Tree to further support the needs of Forney families at Christmas.

This year, the Mom’s Club will operate the Charity Dime Pitch which benefits the newly opened Kaufman County Child Advocacy Center in Kaufman, and the Charity Paddle Game which will provide funds to the Forney Education Leadership Foundation.

Accepting paid vendor positions to operate these two charity games, the Mom’s have once again vowed to support the Forney Lions Club Angel Tree with their earnings in hope of assisting Forney families in need this Christmas.

Both charity games operated by the Mom’s are located next to the Main Stage and both have fun and creative prize lines, so please consider stopping by and supporting their efforts.

And last but not least, new this year will be the Forney Police Live Bike Auction.

Expected to be both fun and energizing, the live bike auction is scheduled to be held at 3:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

The hard working officers of the FPD will join event organizers in conducting the live auction and all proceeds will immediately be donated to the Forney Police Departments training budget.

Twenty bikes ranging in size and value, all of which have been recovered as lost or stolen, will be individually auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Each bike has been beautifully restored and etched with a theft identification number that matches a Forney PD Certificate of ownership.

The bikes will be on display next to the new Forney Christmas Tree at the intersection of Main Street throughout the day and interested bidders are encouraged to stop by for a bidder card. Bikes purchases must be paid by cash or personal check and delivery arrangements must be made prior to the close of the festival.

Several Forney and Kaufman County charitable causes will be available at FHTC 2008 on Saturday, December 6th, and each and every one of them could use the support of the citizens of this community.

Please consider giving back to Forney. Review the attached column of charities available at FHTC 2008 and assisting their efforts, if possible.