Tucson LGBT generously sponsored a Holiday Dash for supplies December 7, 2009, donating over $500.00 to Eon and $500.00 to Wingspan.
Courtney Jones, Program Director, and Khara Ellasante, Youth and Families Director, gathered the troops in the wee hours at the Family Tree Dollar store on First Ave and Grant Rd. Tucson LGBT's representative at the event, Daniel, energized the group with trivia questions and a plea for singing holiday songs.
Dani Stinger, Eon member, and Zami Callahan, Wingspan's newest Youth Specialist, ran the carts for Eon, while Helen Anderson, Wingspan Volunteer, Daniel Perez, Wingspan Volunteer, and Oscar Jiminez, Wingspan Anti-Violence Programs Coordinator, dashed on behalf of Wingspan. Tucson LGBT ensured the dashers were donned with holiday head gear and bells on their toes.
The dashers had 30 minutes to load carts with 500 items and deliver them to the cashiers. Team Eon focused on nonperishable food items, toiletries, socks, and crafts. Team Wingspan went for office supplies, first aid items, cleaning supplies, and paper goods. Daniel quickly learned one could pack over 20 packs of toilet paper into a cart, and Courtney was thrilled to take home nearly a year's supply of the visitor, volunteer and staff pleaser.
Wingspan gives a hefty thanks to Tucson LGBT for their generous gift. And an additional thanks goes to Dollar Tree for opening their doors early and letting our dashers deplete their shelves.
