SPONSOR

Friday, 30 April, 2010 11:15 PM

A Taste of Home: St. Clair Shores Active Adult Center Supports the Active Military

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Country star Josh Gracin will perform at "A Taste of Home" on May 15 at 5:00 p.m.

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. -- Bring out your red, white and blue and show your true colors to support our active duty military. Mark your calendar, the St. Clair Shores Active Adult Center is hosting “A Taste of Home” on Saturday, May 15, 2010, Armed Forces Day. This inaugural event will raise money support the local military men and women currently serving abroad with care packages. The goal of the event is to send 100 “Taste of Home” boxes filled with personal-use items, snacks and other comfort products to remind the soldiers of the folks thinking of them back home.

The initiative for this “pay it forward” charity event grew from a desire to honor two members of the United States Army, St. Clair Shores residents, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom:

The entre community is invited to participate! The day’s events will start with a Monument Dedication Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clair Shores Veterans Memorial Park, located at Masonic and Jefferson. Bruce Post 1146, Am Vets 121, Viet Nam Veterans Association 154, the Blue Star Mothers and the St. Clair Shores Kiwanis will be just a few of the community and military organizations participating in and supporting this event.

Following the ceremony, family and community entertainment will begin at 12 noon. Entertainment will include performances by the St. Clair Shores high school bands, and other live, local entertainers. DJ entertainment will provide lively background in the interim. The highlight of the afternoon is a stage appearance by national recording artist and American Idol finalist Josh Gracin at 5 p.m!

Family fun will include a balloon village with a ‘rock climb’ wall, obstacle course and bounce around area. Therapy horses will be on hand for rides, and an air brush tattoo artist will add to the festivities. Best Buy has also generously stepped up to assist us with an “Appreciation Station” (a booth for people to step in and say some encouraging words to our Armed Forces serving overseas). The collection of comments will then be made into a St. Clair Shores Salutes our Armed Forces DVD placed in each care package.

The suggested entrance donation to the event is $5.00. Taste Fest tickets will be sold separately for $5.00, allowing participants to choose a plate of delicious food from any one of a variety of restaurants on-hand including El Charro, Dockside Jack’s, That’s Amore, Outback Steakhouse, Chicken Shack, Texas Roadhouse, Quizno’s and more. Adult beverages including beer and wine will be available after 3 p.m.

A bake sale, T-shirt sale and raffle of sports and music memorabilia, along with entrance fees and Taste Fest proceeds will be used to prepare and ship comfort packages to the active military serving overseas. Participants young and old are encouraged to stop by the communication station to write a personal letter or note our active military.

Sue Fickau, St. Clair Shores Senior Coordinator said, “From the inception of planning this event with the Okray and Munn Families to where we are now with launching this event we have completely been inspired by Metro Detroiters and their commitment to our Armed Forces. So many headlines in the papers and 5 O’clock news are filled with “gloom and doom” stories. Planning this event, focusing on the good in people, and showcasing how a community can come together for the greater good has been beyond inspiring. The involvement from a variety of individuals and corporations to be a part of supporting our Armed Forces is not only encouraging but overwhelming. We encourage everyone to stop by Veteran’s Memorial Park on May 15th to support our Armed Forces.”

Come on out to join in this patriotic, fun filled, charitable event!

The St. Clair Shores Active Adult Center is located at 20000 Stephens Drive, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, 48080. Membership in the Active Adult Center is open to persons 50 years young or beyond. Resident membership is $15.00 per year, and $25.00 per year for non residents. The Active Adult Center and the City of St. Clair Shores actively seek and support participation by all people with a variety of interests and abilities in its recreational programs and services.

Click here for more information on the Taste of Home Fundraiser (PDF).

Source: City of St. Clair Shores