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Learn about the Grove Community
Sweet Stories from
Summer of Love
Summer-long
Home Repair Project from
J.H. Fisher Construction
Home
... a very special event to benefit our neighbors at the Grove Christian Outreach Center.
Let's just start by saying we've written, read, and re-written this letter countless times. We've gone through dozens of tissues as we've recalled the amazing kindnesses that have been attached to this project. We tried, but quickly found it impossible, to name everybody who helped. There was simply too much love to list. We can only hope that as you read this, you will feel our sincerest and most humble gratitude for wrapping your arms around this project in such a big, big way. We could never have done this without you. So, here we go...
Dear Williamsburg,
We believe in the power of a family portrait. We know that children who see their family portraits in their home feel safer and more secure; they have a greater sense of self-worth. The Grove Summer of Love all began with a little idea to provide free family portraits to a community who might not otherwise be able to afford them. In fact, many of the families in Grove can't even afford school pictures. We organized a portrait project: family portraits to any Grove family who wanted them. Each family is receiving an 8x10, and each member of the family will receive their own 5x7.
Before we knew it, this singular idea turned into a diverse, summer-long project including clothing, food, and school supply drives, and a construction project headed up by Jeff Fisher to repair homes throughout the Grove community at no cost to their residents.
Almost immediately we decided that a portrait project wasn't enough. We wanted to have a Celebration for the Grove community, and an opportunity for Williamsburg to meet these neighbors and learn about the incredible work that the Grove Christian Outreach Center is doing.
We know we are extremely lucky to have built some amazing relationships over the years. The first thing we did was call a few friends and ask for their help. These companies jumped on board immediately to sponsor this one-of-a-kind initiative: TowneBank, J.H. Fisher Construction, Williamsburg Event Rentals, The Carousel, Custom Culinary Connections, and Silk Salon.
We sent out some press releases, put the word out via email and facebook, and pretty soon you all started buzzing. Churches spread the word in their bulletins, companies shared the information with their email lists. WYDaily/The Tide/Bach got the word out and our phones started ringing off the hook. Ronnye Graves from Paws and Claws Pet Sitting Service was the first to call and told us she was collecting 8x10 frames so that each family could have one for their new portrait. Godspeed Animal Care offered 25 canine wellness examinations, including core vaccinations, nail trims and topical flea product application for Grove pets. Dr. Stacey S. Hall from the Norge Dental Center offered a variety of dental services including complete dentures to seven Grove residents to "get smiles together" for picture day...all at no cost. Parks Orthodontics offered complete orthodontic treatment for two lucky Grove teenagers. BedCrafters by Michelle set up an ongoing partnership with the Outreach Center to provide mattresses to residents in need on a monthly basis. Heritage Humane Society donated 30 free spay/neuters for Grove family dogs. Dan Worstell of Pyramid Roofing offered a team to cook the hot dogs on Celebration Day and then bought T-shirts for all of our event volunteers.
And it didnt stop there.
Williamsburg, you donated almost 3000 pieces of clothing! In fact, there were so many clothes we needed a storage unit to house it all (enter Airtight Self Storage who donated one for the cause). Children came with bags of clothes and toys from their own closets to share with the children of Grove. Marty Wilson and her amazing crew from The Carousel inventoried, organized, sized and prepared it all for Grove families. The clothes were set out for Grove families to come pick out an outfit so they'd look and feel great on Picture Day!
Even more special gifts came in from all over, including: Fiscella Family Dentistry, Blink, Buggy Bathe Auto Wash, friends from the Williamsburg Community Chapel, Shayna Walker, RBC Bank, Yatra, Inc., Tracey McMurtrie Luck, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Williamsburg Christian Church, Grace Covenant Church, Childrens Consignment Sale at The King of Glory, Williamsburg Graphics, Fine Signs, James City County Fire Department, Kings Rentals, Chapman Magic, Bob Marshall, and Craig & Laura Reeves.
Last Saturday, August 6th, was one of the most amazing days we have ever experienced. We photographed families in the morning. Silk Salon was on hand for hair and makeup. Afterwards we had an amazing afternoon, orchestrated by Steve Rose of Williamsburg Event Rentals. The beautiful Celebration was complete with hot dogs, barbecue, ice cream, bouncy rides, face painting...even a reptile show! Thanks to these amazing people, the entire event was free to the public:
WY Daily/ The Tide 92.3 fm/ Bach fm 107.9, Fat Canary & The Cheese Shop, The Skahill Family & Smithfield Foods, Baskin Robbins, Hudgins Holiday Chevrolet Cadillac, Godspeed Animal Care and St. Francis Pet Resort & Rehabilitation Center, Tidewater DJs, Walsingham Academy Students, Handy Ice & Hometown Bottled Water and Suburban Disposal.
This letter would not be complete without a most heartfelt thank you to the amazing girls at our studio, Carolyn Miller and Andrea Weiser, who took this project on as if it were their own. To Pat McCormick and Deena Walls from the Grove Christian Outreach Center, thank you for allowing us the privilege to serve your families.
While summer is a season, the needs of the Grove community last all year long. They still need money, food, clothing, and school supplies. Additionally, the Outreach Center is closing in on their goal to build a new center and still desperately needs our help. To learn more, visit the How You Can Help page on this website.
Williamsburg, we are so very grateful for all of your support. We knew we could count on you, and you didn't let us down. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Monica and Michael
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