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‘Jingle in the City’ returns
  
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By ROY N. KENT
Many times, traditions are borne out of seemingly unconnected events.
Such is the case with the annual “Jingle in the City” shopping and dining tour.
This year’s sixth annual event is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $10 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Deer Park students through the Blue Santa Program and the Deer Park Food Bank. Four houses are on this year’s tour.
The annual tradition came about thanks to the generosity of Terry Smith’s son. When in the eighth grade, her son asked her for $100 with the stipulation she not ask why. She obliged, believing it had to be for a worthy cause.
Years later while visiting her then-high school-aged son at the Battleground Golf Course driving range, an unknown teen employee thanked her for the money. Confused, she later asked her son for the story.
The youth was living alone in Deer Park. But his friends at school rallied to aid him. They gave him whatever money they had. They gave him food, both at school and to take home to eat at night. The $100 was to pay for utilities that month since he was in danger of losing them.
“He did graduate from high school and joined the Marines,” Smith told members of the Deer Park Rotary Club on Wednesday. “He got a degree and is now an investment banker.”
From that experience, Smith helped start “Jingle in the City” with the goal of raising money for homeless students in Deer Park. The money is turned into gift cards to Walmart, something close enough to walk for students.
But the problem was how to identify students in need who otherwise are not receiving help. Enter Deer Park’s “Blue Santa” in Deer Park Police Department officer Doug Nettles.
The Deer Park High School-North resource officer said he and the other school-based officers “find out how many students are in need that aren’t getting help by other means.”
When a student receives the gift card, Nettles said, they often use the money for unlikely purposes.
“A lot of times, it’s not the kids using it exclusively for themselves,” he said.
Students will use the card to buy necessities for themselves or their families. They buy what is needed to live first. If anything is remaining, they might spend it on themselves.
The goal of “Jingle in the City” is to top the $50,000 mark this year. The first five events raised about $46,000.
“We’ve been blessed,” Smith said.
Sponsors include American Title Company, Antonio’s Italian Grill, Ed’s Flower Cottage, Norma’s Country Dreams, Frank & Sons Jewelry, Gray Properties, Magnolia Café & Bakery, Re/Max Bay Area, Stockstill & Associates and Summit Realtors. Ticket holders may present their tickets at these establishments and receive a free gift or discounted service.
Tickets may be purchased at these businesses or by calling Terry Smith at 281-467-5930 or Jill Hill at 281-507-0525.
The Rotary Club of Deer Park meets at noon Wednesdays at Battleground Golf Course. For more information, go to www.deerparkrotary.org.
Such is the case with the annual “Jingle in the City” shopping and dining tour.
This year’s sixth annual event is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $10 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Deer Park students through the Blue Santa Program and the Deer Park Food Bank. Four houses are on this year’s tour.
The annual tradition came about thanks to the generosity of Terry Smith’s son. When in the eighth grade, her son asked her for $100 with the stipulation she not ask why. She obliged, believing it had to be for a worthy cause.
Years later while visiting her then-high school-aged son at the Battleground Golf Course driving range, an unknown teen employee thanked her for the money. Confused, she later asked her son for the story.
The youth was living alone in Deer Park. But his friends at school rallied to aid him. They gave him whatever money they had. They gave him food, both at school and to take home to eat at night. The $100 was to pay for utilities that month since he was in danger of losing them.
“He did graduate from high school and joined the Marines,” Smith told members of the Deer Park Rotary Club on Wednesday. “He got a degree and is now an investment banker.”
From that experience, Smith helped start “Jingle in the City” with the goal of raising money for homeless students in Deer Park. The money is turned into gift cards to Walmart, something close enough to walk for students.
But the problem was how to identify students in need who otherwise are not receiving help. Enter Deer Park’s “Blue Santa” in Deer Park Police Department officer Doug Nettles.
The Deer Park High School-North resource officer said he and the other school-based officers “find out how many students are in need that aren’t getting help by other means.”
When a student receives the gift card, Nettles said, they often use the money for unlikely purposes.
“A lot of times, it’s not the kids using it exclusively for themselves,” he said.
Students will use the card to buy necessities for themselves or their families. They buy what is needed to live first. If anything is remaining, they might spend it on themselves.
The goal of “Jingle in the City” is to top the $50,000 mark this year. The first five events raised about $46,000.
“We’ve been blessed,” Smith said.
Sponsors include American Title Company, Antonio’s Italian Grill, Ed’s Flower Cottage, Norma’s Country Dreams, Frank & Sons Jewelry, Gray Properties, Magnolia Café & Bakery, Re/Max Bay Area, Stockstill & Associates and Summit Realtors. Ticket holders may present their tickets at these establishments and receive a free gift or discounted service.
Tickets may be purchased at these businesses or by calling Terry Smith at 281-467-5930 or Jill Hill at 281-507-0525.
The Rotary Club of Deer Park meets at noon Wednesdays at Battleground Golf Course. For more information, go to www.deerparkrotary.org.
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