Gardenettes Garden ClubLGCF, Inc. |
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Gardenettes spread cheer at the Ponchatoula Library where they decorated the tree. Participating are Sixth District Director, Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. Diane Dufour, club secretary Joan Morse, chief elf in charge Robin Austin, state cleanest city chairman Dale Rieth, horticulture chairman Patty Mullins and former state Vice President Kathy Bedenbaugh. This is the first of several trees the club is doing around the community. | |
| Gardenettes gather items to send to overseas soldiers at Christmas time. Pictured
are Dale Rieth, Patty Mullins, speaker Deputy Stacy Newsom,
Janice Hickey, Cheryl Kuhn, Kathy Bruce, Cricket Ayala, Karen Moran,
Adrienne Dunn, Kathy Bedenbaugh, Mona Middlebrook, Sandra Haro,
Margaret Bailey, Lynda Byrd, Vicky Fannaly, Pat Sweeney. Seated are
Tanya Ferguson, Joan Morse, Louise Steadman. Gardenettes participated in Operation “We Care” as part of their Christmas commitment. Members collected items to send to soldiers overseas. Items were given to Beth Welford, local program coordinator. According to Janice Hickey, club president, “Beth commented on the amount we donated, as well as how nice the things were that we gave. We donated games, razors, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, shower gel, hand cleaner, pens, tablets, envelopes, Christmas decorations, food items, hand written cards, sewing kits, hair items, etc.” Operation "We Care" was started by Sheri Stephens. This is a year round program. Her phone number is (985)969-2343. Beth Welford can be reached at (985)386-4571 or (985)320-5678-cell. Volunteers will meet on December 7, 2011 at Fort Knox Storage, 4649 N. Causeway Blvd., in Mandeville. They meet at 8:30AM to start filling the boxes for the military. They average 15 men, women, and children who help fill the boxes. Operation "We Care" have sent about 17,000 boxes. Volunteers are welcome. They usually meet the second Wednesday of every month. Tangipahoa schools help with shipping expenses by allowing the children to wear jeans on Friday and donate $1.00 | |
“What is the true meaning of Christmas?, asks Janice Hickey, Gardenette president. “Joseph and Mary were told, "there is no room at the inn." Jesus, Our Savior, was born in a stable. He was not forgotten. Shepherds and the Wise Men came to see Him bearing Gifts.” The Gardenettes of Ponchatoula, members of The Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., donated to "Operation Christmas Child" as part of their Christmas commitment. Pictured are Gardenettes Hickey, Patty Mullins, Mona Middlebrook, Sandra Haro, Cricket Ayala, Diane Dufour, Kathy Bedenbaugh, Lynda Byrd, Adrienne Dunn, Cheryl Kuhn and Karen Moran. Seated are Dale Rieth, Robin Austin, Margaret Bailey and Diane MIlton, owner of Strawberry Castle. The Gardenettes brought their boxes to Milton, owner of Strawberry Castle in Ponchatoula, who also collects hundreds of boxes. Christmas is a time of giving to those in need. According to Hickey, this project reaches the children around the world for whom this is their only gifts and demonstrates God's love in a tangible way. |
Photo Above: An annual tradition, the Gardenettes decorated a large Christmas tree at North Oaks Health System, the Hammond hospital. Gardenettes are members of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. The tree decorating crew - Joan Morse, Karen Moran, Tonya Ferguson, Kathy Bedenbaugh, Diane Dufour, Patty Mullins, Debbie Henagan, Kathy Bruce and Sandra Haro - kneeling are Robin Austin, Janice Hickey. Photo Right Up to the task are climbers Patty Mullins and Robin Austin, while grounded Gardenettes Sandra Haro and Kathy Bruce do the lower levels. The club decorated a tree at North Oaks Health System, the Hammond hospital as part of their Christmas commitment to service. Photo Above Right At home on the lower levels as well as on the ladder, Robin Austin, makes herself at home while she trims the lower branches. This tree was decorated by the Gardenettes at North Oaks Health System, the Hammond hospital. Gardenettes are members of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. |