Houston Community News >>
The Geddes Family: With a son,
Gage, (in baseball cap) who has battled brain cancer twice and was
treated at Texas Children’s Hospital, Missy and Dan Geddes of Katy are
very supportive of the “Stuff the Sleigh” holiday toy drive benefiting
Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) pediatric cancer patients and their
siblings. They and their children (left to right) Dane, 11, Andie Grace,
4, Daelynn, 9 and Gage, 7, recently joined Santa Claus at the “Stuff the
Sleigh” display at the Firethorne Community Center, 28128 North
Firethorne Road. For individuals and companies that want to participate
in the “Stuff the Sleigh” drive, donations may be made to “Stuff the
Sleigh”-C/O Firethorne Community Association, and mailed to 4707
Ingersoll, Houston, TX 77027. One hundred percent of the toys and
monetary donations will go directly to benefit the Texas Children’s
Hospital patients and their families
“We welcome those interested in supporting ‘Stuff the Sleigh’ to stop by
the Firethorne Community Center to select a ‘sleigh’ gift card from the
life-size Firethorne sleigh. Each ‘sleigh’/card will have one wish list
item on it from a young cancer patient or their brother or sister for
donors to purchase,” explained Garrett Ashmore, “Stuff the Sleigh”
Co-Founder/Coordinator.
The Firethorne Community Center is located at 28128 North Firethorne
Road in Katy/Fulshear.
Ashmore and his wife, Kelli, Firethorne residents, had a brainwave six
months ago to do something to support young cancer patients and their
families to help ease their financial and emotional burdens during the
holidays. “As the parents of two healthy children, we wanted to do
something to help those who may be hospital-bound this holiday season
and provide them with as joy-filled, meaningful and worry-free a
Christmas holiday as possible,” Garrett said.
Since its inception, the “Stuff the Sleigh” toy drive and holiday party
have received a tremendous outpouring of community support, according to
Garrett Ashmore. The project is the official toy drive of Cinco
Charities this year, as well as the “Pay It Forward” project of the
first graders of Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary School in Katy I.S.D.
Corporate sponsors include Texas Children’s Hospital, Voice Runner,
Katy’s local phone and Internet company; Firethorne, Deloitte, H-E-B,
Country Park Portraits, Best Buy and Frost Bank. “A special thanks, too,
to ‘Santa’ Tom Gibbs,” added Ashmore.
The goal for “Stuff the Sleigh” is to continue and grow the project at
the new Texas Children’s Hospital-Katy that is opening next year.
After purchasing toys, “Stuff the Sleigh” organizers hope to have enough
additional funds to provide grocery gift cards or gas cards to the
children’s families. For individuals and companies that want to
participate in the “Stuff the Sleigh” drive, donations may be made to
“Stuff the Sleigh”-C/O Firethorne Community Association, and mailed to
4707 Ingersoll, Houston, TX 77027. One hundred percent of the toys and
monetary donations will go directly to benefit the Texas Children’s
Hospital patients and their families.
Firethorne, located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, blends
the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and
recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt,
hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, tennis courts, Fitness Center,
resort-style swimming pool, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and
a natural bird habitat.
Served by highly acclaimed schools, Firethorne combines the vibrancy of
West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. To tour
Firethorne, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, call
281-395-1440 or visit
www.firethorne.info.
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