When we received word that the Phil Long Expo Center in Colorado Springs was available for the 9^th annual Feed the Children event we were ecstatic. To be indoors with 92,000 sq. ft. at our disposal is as good as it gets. Our challenges were just beginning as we moved forward, in faith, to raise the more than $54,000 needed to sponsor seven trucks and take care of additional expenses.

With the funds and gifts you have given, the lives of more than 1,500 families were filled with the Christmas spirit and lots of love. Photos were taken as the children visited Santa and Mrs. Claus, and their arms were filled with more than 2,400 candy canes and 9,500 stuffed animals. Drawings took place for bikes and parents were thrilled to enter the secret toy area to choose gifts for under the tree. More than 9,000 toys were collected by volunteers with a large part of them arriving on the Feed the Children trucks. The trucks also carried approximately 3,000 children’s books with American Charities delivering over 2,000.

The hair stylists from Cost Cutters and Paul Mitchell pleased many with their 206 hair cuts with an in kind value of $3,090. MEF was diligent to oversee the Coat and Clothing distribution with innumerable new and gently used clothing items and more than $1,800 new and gently used coats and sweaters. Of the 850 hats, gloves, scarves, baby blankets, slippers and purses shared, 250 were “hand did” (crocheted or knitted).

Volunteers came from everywhere and Whole Foods delighted them with healthy snacks to help keep their energy level high. Guests were welcomed with more than 5,000 donuts and pastries donated by Wal-mart. Village Inn encouraged us with 480 slices of fruit pie and the there was no shortage of coffee from Starbucks.

The 2,800 cases of Avon products included this year greatly increased the value of the seven trucks to $1,079,787. Total cases hit a high of 9,373.

Our more than 600 volunteers were working from early morning until late afternoon and some even longer. Below we have shared only a partial list of those who gave to make this the best Christmas ever.

AAA Rental, Academy Kids Dental Clinic, Larry and Kathy Akers, Dana Alexander, Kimberly Allen, American Charities, Ray and Deborah Anders, Jenny Anderson and Deluxe Checks, Jimell Badry and First Baptist Church of Black Forest, Selma Badry, Michael Baker and Alpine Technology Corp., Alice Barber, Mark and Teresa Barker, Pat and Beverly Barringer, Julie Becker, Wally and Maxine Berntson, Steve Bigari and Mr. Biggs, Reese and Linda Bohannon, Brady Boyd and New Life Church, Zola Breed, Briargate YMCA, Diana Brooks, Jennifer Brown, Art and Lavenia Bullard, Doris Burns, Roy and Louise Burns, Becky Callahan, LaRosa Carrington, Matthew Caywood, Connie Christian, Sherry Chumbley, Ben Clark, David and Sandy Clark, Jeannette Clift George, C O G, Leon and Millie Cohorn, Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind, Copper Creek Coffee Shop, Cost Cutters, Michael and Barbara Crider, Allison Cushell, Anthony and Linda D’Amico, DDR Construction Inc., Deanna Gomes Photography, Sherin DeTrou, Rebecca Jacobs and El Paso County DHS Employees, Karen Dingus, Cynthia Dixon, Bill and Patty Dodder and Cheyenne Mountain Chapel, Doll Doctors, Gerry and Lynnetta Doty, David Duke and The Church of Jesus Christ LDS, Rick Dunagan, R.G. and Vernice Dunbar, Tammy Farris, Lane Farris, Clarence and Alene Feister, Ron and Anne Fenske, Paul and Marjorie Ferrin, John and Ruth Fletcher, Lydia Freiberger, Front Range Community Services, Alex Funke and Forestgate Presbyterian Church, Jack and Ellen Gage, Rosalie Gallegos, Betty Gardner, Christopher Garvin, James and Judy Gill, Alan Hodges and Gobins Inc., Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Goodwill Industries of  Colorado Springs, Damian and Angie Gradisar, Roger and Carol Graver, Roy and Phyllis Gregory, Lars and Elisabeth Gren, Paul Griffiths, Alva Grimsley, David Grothe and New Life Church, Johnny Hall, Gary and Diane Hamacher, Wayne and Valerie Harding, Wayne and Peggy Hayes, Deb Hemmann, James and Rebecca Henderson, Toni and Alexi Herman, Herb and Ramal Hill, Ruth Hill, Home Depot, Nancy Horne, C.W. and Christine Huffstetler, Jr., Wynter Hulsker, Loretta Jacobs, Nona James, Robert and Estelle James, Sharon Jassmann, Martha Johnson, Robert Johnston, Carl and Susan Judd, Deanna Kirkham, Jessica Kliemer, Jessica Knapp, Carrie Knoles, Perry Koonce, Donna Koop, Donna Kopp, Shannon Larson, Marlene Leck, Alan and Eva Lind, Delores Lindgren, Nancy Lingbloom, Brandi Lowe, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Jeri and Brian Lucien, Donald and Carol Manion, Wally and Tami Mark, Phil and Luetta Marsh, Laura Mastrolia, Robert and Jackie Matejka, Ryan and Rebecca Mayes, Maria Mead, Don and Sue Meyer, Doris Milano, Mike Miles and Harrison School District 2, Elsie Miller, Gil and Mary Miller, Mimi’s Café, Mom’s Club of Monument, Marvin Morrison, April Myers, Lorie Neppl and Neppl Liability Company, Al and Joan Neugebauer, Jerry and Dolores Nostrand, Ken and Barbie Noyes, Nun Construction, David and Jacque Olson, Linda Olson, Bob and Judy Oyer, Don and Eula Pantle, Arthene Paskvan, James and Betty Lou Paterson, Mary Patterson, Paul Mitchell Hair Salon, Penrose Elementary School, Marian Percey, Jay Cimino and Phil Long Ford Expo Center, Mary Ann Phillips, Peter and Darlene Poirson, B.J. and F.E. Porter, Rose Proper, Bea Ramos, Rose Marie Redmon, Regional Development Center, Brad Rhodes and Allegra Printing & Imaging, Will J. and Marie Roberts, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, Michael Routt and Circle Drive Baptist Church, Peter Sahhar and Whole Foods, Ken Sanders, Peter Schmidt, Howard and Elizabeth Seiferd, Loren and Nancy Shannon, Bekka Simmering, Dorothy Snow, Frank and Beverly St. Louis, Dana Stanley, Helene Staton, Stratton Elementary School, Patsy Stubblefield, Taco Bell, Target, Carol Taylor, Eric and Robin Todd, Bill and Janet Tuttle, Jim Urish and Forestgate Presbyterian Church, Village Inn, Terry Vincent, Mike Wagner, Wal-Mart, Gloria Warner, Raymond and Lois Weikart, Ronald and Marvel Wellborn, Carol Wersich, Mandi West, Curtis and Roxane Wilson, Woodman Valley Chapel, Vienna Worthington, Beverly Wright, John Wyns and Costco Wholesale Foods, Sandra Zabukovic

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