JANUARY 10, 2024 www.wintertexantimes.com 24 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Call today to schedule a free consultation and let us show you how professionally designed marketing materials with clear and consistent messaging can elevate your brand. You Only Get One Chance To Make A First Impression Make It Count With Promos & Prints On Your Side Sales@promosandprints.com (956) 580-7800 1217 N Conway Ave, Mission, TX A Division of Nexus Publishing LLC “Much of it was being with the children … because as a teacher, I’ve been used to being around kids a lot. I miss that contact when we’re here in Alamo and our family is not. We’re not involved with kids in the community very much. Yes, we helped with gifts for the middle school children, but we didn’t go to the school to hand them out.” Diane said that it was just wonderful that these little kids were so thrilled to be up there. She explained that she was warned before the event that due to a time factor, she couldn’t let the children reach into the giant boxes to choose their own gifts. When the children would come up on stage, we were limited to giving them one toy, she explained. “I could tell by looking at their face if the toy I was holding up was something they cared about at all,” Diane said. “And then I’m talking to them …. ‘Are you interested in crafts or artwork or painting or do you like dolls or …?’ Then I would show them two or three other things. And as soon as I saw the thing that was right, their eyes just opened up wide and their smile was right there. And I’m saying …. ‘This must be just what is right for you!’” “…. It was so much fun to be around those kids!” she said. The Landmark owner, too, was happy with the event, and he has plans to make sure it’s even bigger next year. “At the end of the day, kids got toys; kids had a great time,” he said. “The adults were part of it as well having a good time. That makes it worth it… all the time and effort we put into it. I loved that kids were super happy!” And he recognized that he’s grown very fond of his Christmas volunteers. “The last two years with Winter Texans participating in this event really has been so fulfilling for me,” Roy said. “I love watching them enjoying one another and enjoying the project they’re working on. They bring a sense of community that reminds me of my childhood… Many of them are strangers working together like [instant] friends. They remind me of The Landmark’s motto … “Where friends become family.” The extra toys purchased from The Landmark’s Community Fund* filled the bed of an Alamo Police Department pickup truck to be distributed to needy Alamo children. The rest were donated to the Children’s Cancer Center, which makes sure that all year long children going through chemo sessions receive gifts. *The Community Fund is money The Landmark on Tower collects from vendors renting tables to sell their crafts. Winter Texans are welcome to contact The Landmark office if they’d like to rent tables. Local Winter Texan parks may also make arrangements to use their facility for special events (especially charity ones) for free. BENEFITS From pg. 15 Pumping up giant balloons was one of the tasks many Winter Texans worked on. These were placed high overhead, requiring the use of tall ladders. Working on this project were (L-R) Mark Norman, Leo Mork and Janet Lundquist. Photo by Dennis Zanetti
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