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Date: 12/13/2018
CHICOPEE – A Chicopee family has made helping patients and their families at the Shriners Hospital in Springfield one of their Christmas traditions.
The King family raises funds to buy cloth cinch bags filled with presents for the patients at Shriners. Richard King Jr. explained to Reminder Publishing that his daughter Jennifer Goonan came up with the idea.
Goonan wrote on Facebook, “Five years ago I had a bittersweet realization that it would be my sister's last Christmas at Shriner's Hospital for Children in Springfield, MA. They have been amazing to my sister and my family. I didn't have money to give as a donation to say thank you, instead I had a new direct sales business that encourages supporting your community. I decided to collect money from people, companies and raise money however I could, to buy cinch sacs and use my commission to fill them with toys to donate to the hospital in my sister's name. Since then, every drop-off day they have asked me if I will be doing it again the following year. The children love these bags! Every year I have the same goal of 100 bags. I haven't reached my goal yet. I am hoping this will be the year.”
King said so far the family has raised enough money for 50 bags. He added the hospital is very specific with the items it allows in the bags so cash donations are necessary to purchase those items.
He added that has a teen he used to mow the lawns of a Shriner, Edward Bradway. Bradway used to tell him that while a person may never think of the Shriners Hospital but “if you need them you’ll sure be glad they’re there.”
King said it was “shocking” to him years later that Bradway’s statement proved true with his daughter Katrina and her health challenges.
The family is still accepting donations for this year’s campaign. There are no standard amounts of donations, but one bag costs $22.85. People can contribute make checks payable to: Jennifer Goonan and send them to Rick's Sales & Services, PO Box 733, Chicopee, MA 01021.
Another option is to send money via PayPal. Select the Friends & Family option and send to JLKMath4@aol.com.
King credited the Springfield Thunderbirds and KLM Auto as being supportive of his family’s efforts.
King said, “The Shriners is a great organization. Sadly enough I needed them, I’m sure glad they were there.”