Every year at this time the Black Diamond Community Center gets hundreds of applications from parents and grandparents who need help providing Christmas gifts for their kids and/or grandchildren. This year the need was huge.

Coming to our rescue were patrons of The Loft, Columbia Bank, Black Diamond Library, Betty from Cenex, Black Diamond Antique Store, Maple Valley Black Diamond Kiwanis and the Lake Sawyer Store. Our center was full of toys for all those who requested help. Thank you to all the local elves who dropped off toys, cash, and gift cards. The families picked up their items Monday, Dec. 21.

Local Union No. 3186 and volunteers from Fire District 44 adopted families and provided food and toys. The ASA, led by Bryan and Melissa Kelley, Kevin and Mona Marks, delivered 28 bikes and over a hundred toys, books, dolls, and Legos. Trevi Eichelberger and Ted Strand, representing the Lake Sawyer Store and those generous folks around the store, donated several car-loads of gifts and brought in cash for our kids.

The Black Diamond Police Department, and our board of directors from the community center, President Keith Watson, Vice President Jude Irish, Treasurer Elsie Parkin, Secretary Rebecca Olness, Directors Dave Ambur, Joe Androsko, Tamie Deady, Kari Hammett-Caster, Tina McGann, Marsha Tetzlaff, and Judy Watson, filled in last-minute requests for gifts, so no child in our area would go without if we could help them.

The Black Diamond Elementary School children, led by Derek Tulluck, helped decorate place mats for the senior holiday lunch that was held Dec. 17.

The Black Diamond Community Center has the best holiday elves… ho ho ho… and happy New Year to all you wonderful and giving people.

Cheryl Hanson

Executive Director

Black Diamond Community Center