For their third year in a row, Precious Possessions Learning Center showed support for the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County by hosting fundraisers to raise funds for the organization. The daycare center presented a check with over $36,000 in proceeds during the group’s annual Christmas tree lighting event this Tuesday night.
Precious Possessions’ owner Julie Matthews addressed members of the group by thanking them for all they do. According to Matthews, the center helped raise funds for the first two years by selling shrimp and grits plates and holding a penny war, in which the children brought in their loose change. This year, a manual cake auction was added to the fundraiser.
“Y’all, I sat down in my office that day and saw some of the craziest amounts of money being pledged. I had people just come to the daycare center and bring me money. We are so honored to stand here and be at the feet and hands of Jesus for this little bit of time we get to do this,” Matthews tearfully stated.
Matthews then presented a check for $36,705.38. She followed, “Thank all of y’all for helping us do this. We are honored, and thank you to my staff up here who helped with everything. We can’t wait for next year, and we’re already planning!”
During the lighting ceremony, families placed butterflies on the Christmas tree, with each color representing children who are currently in treatment, survivors, children who have succumbed to the disease, and one that represents hope.
“The gold hope butterfly represents the hope that one day we will not have to do this tree lighting with any butterflies, but with gold. This is such a beautiful way to look at our families; they are wonderful. These children and their tenacity and their parents’ tenacity is something I’ve never seen before,” member Tammy Morris stated.
Families then walked over to the tree to hang their butterfly ornaments, each representing a local child who has battled or died from cancer. The ceremony also featured live music from Greta and Anna Grace Grantham and remarks from several of the board members. Members also thanked the community and all of those who donated funds and items for their annual auction in September.
Barbara Dockery stated, “What a blessing for CCAGCC and its families to be the beneficiaries of so much love and to be a passion of the people of this community! Much love and gratitude to all of you. At the time of year when we have been taught to give and be thankful, you are the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior.”
Morris closed the ceremony by commenting, “We hope and pray through this season that Jesus is all about us and take the time to search our hearts and ask what we can do. It doesn’t have to be childhood cancer; it can be Called to Care, or it can be adoption. I can tell you that everyone who is a volunteer and a member of CCAGCC will never be more blessed than you are at the end of September whenever you know that you can go home and know that no family needs a new tire on their car, food at the hospital, or help to pay for an MRI. We never have to turn them down and say no, we can’t do it. We’ve got a board of good stewards, and we have a community that reaches out just like Precious Possessions does. You don’t have to do it yourself. We can’t thank you enough.”