The gift of giving: Girls on the Run works Festival of Lights
Drew Butler
dbutler@gannett.com
The Festival of Lights is still ongoing at Regional Park in Ardmore, and every evening a different nonprofit organization volunteers to work the event. The volunteers direct cars as they enter the drive through display and are there at the end of the drive to collect donations. On Friday night Girls on the Run of Southern Oklahoma were there, volunteering for their third and final night.
Program and Office Coordinator Jodi Woydziak was volunteering at the end of the drive along with her husband Ardmore Fire Department Training Officer and GOTR Volunteer Coach Jason Woydziak.
Drew Butler
dbutler@gannett.com
Christmas is coming early for students at Charles Evans, Lincoln and Jefferson Elementary Schools. Later today every child will be receiving a goody bag with a hat, gloves, a candy cane and fruit snacks courtesy of the First Presbyterian Church Mission and Outreach Team.
Lori Hoke, a member of the Mission and Outreach Team, said 823 students in total will receive the hats and gloves. While they have done similar gift bags in years past, this year they are making more than ever before.
“We’ve been doing this for several years, but we decided to do all of the elementary schools in Ardmore School District this year because of COVID,” Hoke said. “I read in an article that Heroes with Hope had said the top three things they need for children in our area are socks, underwear and gloves.”