Help/Supplies Needed – Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home Fishing Derby

[font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]Folks, As part of our church outreach, we support the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home (www.veralloyd.org). [/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]The facility, originally founded in 1923 as the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home for Children, provides long-term residential care for boys and girls ages 8 to 18. Vera Lloyd provides an emergency shelter program for both girls and boys and has a specialty transition program to keep children from re-entering youth detention facilities. Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. [/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]Vera Lloyd has the capacity to serve a maximum of 48 young people at any one time. In 2012, 228 young people were served by the home. Commonly needed items are sheets and pillow cases, towels, soap and personal care products. I learned last year, just before Christmas that the children there have few recreational opportunities. We discussed it as a family, my wife, Carolyn, and three girls, Elizabeth – 10, Anneliese – 8, and Madeleine – 4, and the girls decided that we needed to fulfill some of the Angel Tree wishes for the boys and girls. We were able to provide basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, and a volleyball set – two big sports bags of gear. When we delivered the stuff I found that the facility has a pond. It is a great pond, but they don’t have any fishing materials. I have contacted the Arkansas Game and Fish to get the pond stocked for a fishing derby – and thanks to AGFC we are all set for a derby on September 21st. Kind folks like Doug (dbasketman) and his family have agreed to attend the fishing derby and suggested that we have a cookout too, so plans are being made to have hamburgers and hotdogs afterward.[/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]I think it is important to support programs that give young people the chance to improve themselves. Fishing has provided many opportunities to me and my family and I want to share that experience with these young people. [/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]WHAT WE NEED[/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]Any assistance you may be able to provide would be most appreciated. I’m really looking for Zebco combos that can be used during the derby and then left for the kids to continue to use. I also need some catfish bait/supplies to leave with them as well. Finally, I need a few folks that can attend and show these kids what to do.[/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]If I may answer any questions regarding Vera Lloyd or the planned event, please contact me at your convenience. You can send me a message, respond to this or give me a call (five zero one – 454 – five eight three six). [/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]Thank you,[/font][font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF][/font] [font=BOOKMAN OLD STYLE, SERIF]John[/font]