Marquette, MI – December 21, 2018 – Thanks to our loyal listeners, we had another success Christmas is For Veterans at Marquette’s D.J. Jacobett Home for Veterans. This afternoon we packed the slay to shuttle over hundreds of items and set up the recreation room for the annual holiday celebration. Listeners joined us in spreading the seasonal cheer by donating items off the Christmas Wish List like shampoo, deodorant, Croft and Barrow button ups, and Under Armour sweat pants! Marq-Tran even donated bus tickets to help our local vets get around Marquette County.
Around 1pm this afternoon the festivities began with a welcoming intro from Sunny’s very own Walt Lindala and Kelsey Reyes. Having participated in Christmas is For Veterans for many years, Walt reflected on what a great event the tradition has become, while Kelsey spoke about enjoying the event for the first time. After wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Walt handed the mic off to D.J. Jacobetti Activities Coordinator Sherri Smith who released tables one by one to let the shopping begin!
Great Lakes Radio and Jacobetti staff along with special guests, Mike and Pete from Super One Foods of Marquette helped veterans browse the tables and pick out items. While veterans took a lap around the five tables covered in donations, Lois Juchemich lead us in some traditional Christmas carols.
Each year Great Lakes Radio participates in the Christmas is for Veterans. We help raise awareness for the event and drive people to various local businesses to make donations for the big holiday party. While the donations are a big part, Christmas is for Veterans is about giving our local heroes the respect they deserve and remembering those who were lost. It’s about giving people a chance to reconnect during the holidays and maybe when it’s all said and done, leave a little better off than when they came, and certainly with a bit more holiday spirit.
Check out photos from the 2018 Christmas is for Veterans event below. If you’re interesting in seeing pictures from previous years, check out our photo archive.
Special thanks to Alpha Omega Dental Center, River Valley Bank, Great Lakes Radio, Super One Foods of Negaunee, Super One Foods of Marquette, Dead River Coffee, Snyder Drug in Ishpeming, Marquette County Transit Authority, D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, and Iron Bay Restaurant.
