At 4:30 Thursday morning, Evelda Stearsman and other volunteers will begin baking hundreds (maybe thousands) of biscuits at Fellowship Church of Christ for the Bro. Joe’s Family Christmas Breakfast.
One of the biggest events of every year in the Land of Logan, the widely attended breakfast, which runs from 5:30-11 a.m. at the Logan County Extension Office, is a major fundraiser for what was known for about half a century Toys for Tots.
But after all the biscuits, country hams, sausage, bacon, grits and gravy (all health foods when they are consumed for a most-worthy cause, right?), and the Extension Office swept, mopped and wiped, Stearsman will return to her most special project of every year.
This is the 15th year that the Republican and Democratic women’s clubs have given the differences in their political philosophies a much needed break in order to work together for a worthy cause at Christmas.
They provide food, toys and gift cards to military families in what is known as Soldier Family Christmas.
Sunday, Stearsman summarized the project to her fellow members of Fellowship Church, which is a significant contributor to the cause, this way:
“The Women’s Democratic Club and the Women’s Republican Club have joined together for the past 15 years to support the neediest families of the 6th Battalion at Fort Campbell. The Democratic Women provide toys for approximately 250 children and $10 gift cards from Wal-Mart for approximately 50 teenagers and young unmarried soldiers to help them go home for the holidays. In addition, the two clubs provide meat and food boxes for 60-100 soldier families.”
People who would like to donate cash can contact Logan County Democratic Chair Evelda Stearsman (270-725-1408) or long-time Republican Women’s leader Bobbi Jean Burnett (270-726-2801). Contributors can also buy one or more $10 gift cards from Wal-Mart and donate them.
The ladies are also planning to raffle a “Gift Card Money Tree” full of gift cards donated by local merchants. If you have a business in Logan County and would be willing to donate gift cards or know someone who would be willing to contribute to the cause, let Stearsman know right away.
Tickets for the raffle are $5 for one, $10 for three or $20 for eight. Stearsman will accept donations for chances on the raffle at the country ham breakfast Thursday or at other times up until the Dec. 14 drawing. Tickets are also available on Sunday afternoon Nov. 24 at the Historic Old Courthouse during Russellville Open House.
Evelda Stearsman concludes, “The success of this program depends on your help. These families deserve our service to them just like this serve us everyday.”