Thursday December 7, 2017

Nature:  Nana’s Kids 2017 Annual Campaign Status Update

Location: Oak Orchard Road, Millsboro

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company in conjunction with Carol Taylor and the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard are pleased that the 2017 Nana’s Kids Campaign is progressing well with many donations for children’s gifts and clothing as well as monetary donations that have exceeded $8.900 for the current period.

Illustrated herewith are various photographs highlighting Carol Taylor’s recent delivery of toys and clothing for the annual donations thus far.

In 2018, members of the Dorothy Gudger family, together with representatives the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard-Riverdale, and many other corporate and community partners plan to continue with the Nana's Kids, Campaign, named in memory of Dorothy "Dottie" Gudger, affectionately known in the community as "Nana," who passed away in 2011.

The renamed campaign continues the tradition of the annual toy drive which the IRVFC conducts each year in the Oak Orchard, Riverdale and Long Neck communities.

Carol Taylor, daughter of Dorothy Gudger, addressed the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 and stated in part of her speech as she described the connection of community giving: "For as long as I can remember, my mother would purchase toys and clothes all year long in support of the needy kids drive. When the kids went back to school, my mother would purchase school supplies and take them to Long Neck Elementary School. It seems so fitting that so many organizations that my mom supported or lived near and cared about have come together to help honor her memory.”

"After my mother left us in 2011, my children and nieces brought all my mom's donations to County Bank for her. It was then that we dreamed of this day, officially changing the name of Nana's Kids Campaign. When I approached Indian River Volunteer Fire Company a year ago with the idea, I was so excited that he thought this was something we could bring in the local community to collaborate on. So I thank all the local organizations for coming together to support my family and the kids of this community," Taylor said. She and her sister Teresa Gudger thanked the company, County Bank, Long Neck Elementary School, Millie at the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard-Riverdale, the Community Church of Oak Orchard, the members of the Nanticoke Indian Association and other corporate and community partners.

Additional information regarding Nana's Kids can be viewed at the following websites: 

https://sites.google.com/site/nanaskidscampaign/home

Today’s activities were capped with the traditional Holiday Presentation Program at the Community Church of Oak Orchard followed by a dinner event for all families and children of the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard.  At the dinner approximately 216 people were served a full course meal.

A special thanks to the Gudger Family and Carol Taylor for all of her efforts.