H.O.O.P. helping children to have a happy holiday
By Rick Charmoli
LAKE CITY - This year, many Missaukee County children are going to benefit from an annual event.
Helping Our Own People (or H.O.O.P.) Chairperson Ella Coleman said the event has grown since it started back in the 1960s, and this year 160 children ranging from infancy to 14 years old will be sure to have a Merry Christmas.
"My husband and myself and a number of volunteers have been doing this for 20 years," Coleman said. "We have wonderful volunteers, and all of them are very loyal and generous people. We couldn’t do this party without them."
Coleman said all the toys were donated or she would shop for them with donations gathered. In addition, the children who are receiving the gifts also receive Meijer certificates, which can be used to purchase winter clothes or anything else needed.
In the past, Coleman said the children were served a hot lunch, too, but this year, H.O.O.P. decided against doing that.
"They (the children) are always so excited and they didn’t eat. Now, they just get ice cream and cookies and a choice of milk, and then they get a McDonald’s meal ticket," she said.
Coleman said H.O.O.P. was started by a few women in Lake City, and at the time, the organization was called something different. First it was called "One Cap" and then the "Mitten Tree" a few years later.
Back then, Coleman said, a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and all the trimmings was served, and the group made mittens and hung them on a tree.
Coleman said eventually the Department of Human Services, then social services, took over the party until the group of volunteers broke off from social services to form H.O.O.P. This year’s event is scheduled for Dec. 5, but work on the event was started back in June.
While the money and gifts have been donated and everything is ready to go, Coleman said they are always taking donations. Anyone interested in making a donation is asked to call Friends Ministry at 839-8816.
rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)
