Editor:

This season of Thanksgiving has proved to be a season of generosity! We have so much to be thankful for at the Vineyard.

Due to the economic downturn, it has been a challenge to make ends meet with more clients and less funding in 2009. God has truly blessed us to be in a caring community.

First, I would like to thank all the donors to the Coastal Bend Day of Giving. We exceeded our goal for the $6,000 match from Coastal Bend Community Foundation. These funds are for the year 2010.

Thanks to Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville and Exclusive Nursing for sponsoring the Western Week Golf Tournament which brought in a record $2,500 this year. Congratulations to all the winners and participants.

Thanks to the Woodforest National Bank Charitable Foundation for their donation of $750 to purchase holiday food - especially from the Food Bank. We have nearly 1,600 families in our active files now that qualify for food assistance under TEXCAP guidelines.

Thanks to Weight Watchers for a truckload of food representing lost pounds! Also to First Christian Church of Pettus, Faith Lutheran Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Philip’s Church and School and for the monthly collections for food funds by First United Methodist and First Presbyterian churches. The FCCLA collected food for us on World Hunger Day. Today (Friday) thanks to generous students and staff at R.A. Hall Elementary, we picked up a truckload of canned and dry foods.

Thanks to the Junior Service League for recent donations of smoke detectors for the elderly and coats for children.

Thanks to all who cooked, served or brought food for the Nov. 14 Gospel Brunch. Poesta Creek Band brought us inspirational toe-tapping music and all attending enjoyed a fine fellowship. Thanks to New Hope Christian Church for hosting and to Kay Past for publicity and arrangements.

And thanks, always, to the Bee-Pic for publicizing our events!

Sincerely,

Bettye Hale

Executive Director

Beeville Vineyard