Yukon Sharing Ministries is preparing to distribute about 200 Christmas baskets this Saturday, Dec. 14 for less fortunate people in this community.
The efforts of Yukon Sharing and other local helping agencies like Compassionate Hands and Manna Pantry demonstrate the generosity of people in our community.
As I’ve mentioned previously, Yukon has a growing homeless population and that’s something none of us should ignore. People are living in shacks and cardboard boxes in the woods here in Yukon.
So, I was thrilled to hear this fall that Missy King would become the new director at Yukon Sharing Ministries. I first met Missy back in the early ‘90s when she worked in the Canadian County District Attorney’s Office.
Missy later went to Redlands Community College where she served the county’s senior citizens for 25 years with food and transportation in the Aging Services’ program.
Well, she’s back working in Yukon as she’s leading Yukon Sharing. The board made an excellence choice.
Missy has a heart for people and helping others who deserve a hand-up – not a hand-out. Yukon Sharing provides clothing, food, household goods, and other necessary services to people in Yukon who meet income guidelines.
Missy wants to increase Yukon Sharing’s availability to its clients.
To that end, Yukon Sharing is opening an extra day each week to better serve those who really need help. The Yukon Sharing office, 4 N 6th, is open from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Hopefully, if Missy can recruit more volunteers, Yukon Sharing could eventually be opening one evening a week.
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ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET: The Yukon Chamber of Commerce Gala Committee met recently to start fine-tuning plans for the chamber’s annual celebratory banquet.
Having attended the meeting, I can attest the chamber really is going to “roll out the red carpet”.
Make your calendars folks because the 2020 Yukon Chamber Gala is just around the corner. With an increase in membership (the chamber now has around 535 members), gala attendance also is projected to grow – perhaps surpassing 400!
“A Night Among the Stars” is the theme of the gala, west Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 at Tracy and Dale Bogle’s Palace Event Center, 2310 N Banner Road.
Dinner will be provided by Spanish Cove Catering, which happened to be the Yukon Chamber’s 500th member. Spanish Cove Catering also catered the recent 10th anniversary Gateway Gala.
Of course, highlight of the Yukon’s annual banquet is presentation of the H.B. Frank Citizen of the Year award, along with the announcement of the Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, T.J. Lowery Humanitarian of the Year, and Ambassador of the Year winners.
Cherie Logan heads the chamber gala awards committee. Nominations are due soon so if you’re a chamber member (or know someone who is) get your nomination suggestions ready!
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AUDIOLOGIST OF THE YEAR: Jim Schmaezle often mentions to me how he misses my column in The Yukon Progress on those weeks I don’t write one (usually every other Saturday).
Jim is an audiologist and frequent attendee of the Friday morning Yukon Community Coffee. He always has a big smile on his face and is a joy to be around.
I first met Jim about 20 years ago when I first danced in Central Oklahoma Ballet’s Nutcracker in Yukon. Jim and his partner Glenda Ochsner danced the roles of the host family in the opening “party” scene for the Yukon Nutcracker production.
Jim’s “host father” role was one I would later have for several years (dancing alongside Stephanie Currey). For the past several years, Kirk and Jean-Marie Otto have been the host parents in a scene I am privileged to still be part of.
Among fellow performers are Patrick and Ashleigh McClung of SprayCan Creative. I didn’t realize what a talent Patrick is! Not only can he dance, but he is a great voice-over artist. Just ask Yukon Fine Arts Auditorium manager Wes McAtee …
The crowds were the largest ever for the 25th Annual Yukon Nutcracker staged Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7-8 at the Yukon Fine Arts Center, 850 Yukon Ave. It was an unforgettable weekend for the performers and the audiences!
