Each year Valley Bowling Lanes in Childs hosts a fundraiser to help children in their local community who are in need for Christmas as a way to “give back”. Valley Bowling Lanes is a family owned and operated business that has been giving back with toy drives for the past sixteen Christmas’s.
Cindy Grabowski, manager of Valley Bowling Lanes and Champions Lounge, started with only 4 children and has grown this fundraiser to help 88 children in Peckville, Archbald, Jermyn, Mayfield and Carbondale areas. Every year she plans on helping more with their goal for next Christmas season being 90 children. “It has been such an important part of most of my adult life to be thankful for what I have and strive to use our family business as a mode in which to help others around us have a magical Christmas morning. Every child should believe in the magic of Christmas. It is my dream to one day pass this toy drive on to my children to run as a sort of legacy that they in turn can get their children involved in”, Grabowski remarked.
Gifts generated through this fundraiser provide the recipients with winter coats, hats, gloves, full stockings, pajamas, two outfits and 6 – 8 toys that match the children’s Christmas wishes. “All of this could simply not be possible without the support of my community. There is a lot to be said about the giving nature of people from a small town and I am a firm believer if we all just take care of those in need in our own communities NO ONE would go without.” said Grabowski.
Some generous contributors to this event include: Valley Bowling Lanes, Champions Lounge, NEP Telephone, G.I.R.T., The Golden Karat, The Big Chief Market, Carbondale Presbyterian Church and participating bowlers in all leagues at Valley Bowling Lanes as well as patrons of Champions Lounge.
A toy drive of this magnitude is not possible without your support. Thank you to all who have contributed to making a magical Christmas morning for 88 children in our area who need it most! Happy Holidays from our bowling family to yours!
