WestChesterBuzz.com

Tri-County Heating and Cooling recently delivered items collected during its Spread the Warmth campaign to Reach Out Lakota. The company collected winter coats and accessories this past November and December.

Tri-County Heating and Cooling collected 74 jackets, 8 scarves, 15 hats, and 18 pairs of gloves for Reach Out Lakota. In addition, they are also donating $2,000 to the organization.

“We are extremely appreciative of Tri-County Heating and Cooling for their generous support of our organization,” said Reach Out Lakota executive director Lourdes A. Ward. “They organized this coat drive and even picked up donations from customers’ homes so that people in need in our area can have a warm coat this winter.”

Reach Out Lakota is a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist individuals and families in the Lakota school district through its food and clothing pantries.

Tri-County Heating & Cooling is located in West Chester and has been installing, repairing, and maintaining HVAC systems for over 40 years. They have installed over 25,000 Trane systems and are an Independent Trane Comfort Specialist Dealer.

For more information, visit www.tricountyheatingandcooling.com or call 513-777-8933.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Planes Moving and Storage is participating in its third annual “Fill the Truck” event to benefit Reach Out Lakota. They are hosting a semi-truck at their West Chester location, 9823 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, and are asking community members to donate food, clothing (new or gently-used) and personal care items to fill the truck.

Now through this Friday, people can bring items to the local business, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or, they can make a donation online and Planes will purchase the item and load it onto the truck for them.

Visit www.fillthetruck.org/reachoutlakota for more information and to make an online donation.

Furthermore, the MidPointe Library System, which includes the West Chester Library, is once again offering its “Food for Fines” promotion, which allows library goers a chance to eliminate their overdue fees when they donate food.

The program, which runs through Dec. 31, will eliminate one dollar of outstanding fines for each non-perishable food item a patron donates.

“This program is a wonderful way for our users to eliminate their fines, while contributing to a worthy cause,” library director Anita Carroll said.

The MidPointe Library System will be distributing the contributions throughout their service area to multiple food pantries and charitable organizations including Reach Out Lakota, the EMA Food Pantry in Trenton and the Salvation Army of Middletown.

Do you own or work for a business in West Chester and/or Liberty Township that is giving back to the community this holiday season? Please share it by emailing akiefaber@westchesterbuzz.com.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Fill the Truck, Food For Fines, Food For Fines West Chester Library, holiday drive West Chester, Planes Moving and Storage, Planes Moving and Storage Fill the Truck, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays, West Chester Christmas, West Chester library events

Planes Moving and Storage is participating in its third annual “Fill the Truck” event to benefit Reach Out Lakota. They are hosting a semi-truck at their West Chester location, 9823 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, and are asking community members to donate food, clothing (new or gently-used) and personal care items to fill the truck.

Now through Dec. 21, people can bring items to the local busines, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Or, they can make a donation online and Planes will purchase the item and load it onto the truck for them.

Visit www.fillthetruck.org/reachoutlakota for more information and to make an online donation.

There are also other ways to give back through Reach Out Lakota this holiday season.

West Chester’s Tri-County Heating and Cooling is sponsoring the Spread the Warmth campaign to benefit Reach Out Lakota. The company is collecting new and gently-used coats and winter accessories for Reach Out Lakota through Dec. 15.

Tri-County Heating & Cooling will pick up any coats and accessories from homes they service until Dec. 15. People can also drop off coats and accessories at the following locations:

• Tri-County Heating & Cooling, 7110 Office Park Drive, West Chester, until Dec. 15
• West Chester Community Foundation, 5641 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, until Dec. 15
• Walmart, 8288 Cincinnati Dayton Road, West Chester, on Dec. 15 from 
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, West Chester.

Community members are being asked to donate gently-used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes of children’s and adult coats will be accepted.

Tri-County Heating and Cooling will donate $20 for each coat collected and$10 for each hat, scarf and pair of gloves collected, up to a maximum of $2,000. For more information on this campaign, visit www.tricountyheatingandcooling.com.

Furthermore, the MidPointe Library System, which includes the West Chester Library, is once again offering its “Food for Fines” promotion, which allows library goers a chance to eliminate their overdue fees when they donate food.

The program, which runs through Dec. 31, will eliminate one dollar of outstanding fines for each non-perishable food item a patron donates.

“This program is a wonderful way for our users to eliminate their fines, while contributing to a worthy cause,” library director Anita Carroll said.

The MidPointe Library System will be distributing the contributions throughout their service area to multiple food pantries and charitable organizations including Reach Out Lakota, the EMA Food Pantry in Trenton and the Salvation Army of Middletown.

Do you own or work for a business in West Chester and/or Liberty Township that is giving back to the community this holiday season? Please share it by emailing akiefaber@westchesterbuzz.com.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Food For Fines, Food For Fines West Chester Library, holiday drive West Chester, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays, West Chester Christmas, West Chester library events

West Chester’s Tri-County Heating and Cooling is sponsoring the Spread the Warmth campaign to benefit Reach Out Lakota. The company is collecting new and gently-used coats and winter accessories for Reach Out Lakota from through Dec. 15.

Tri-County Heating & Cooling will pick up any coats and accessories from homes they service until Dec. 15. People can also drop off coats and accessories at the following locations:

• Tri-County Heating & Cooling, 7110 Office Park Drive, West Chester, until Dec. 15
• West Chester Community Foundation, 5641 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, until Dec. 15
• Walmart, 8288 Cincinnati Dayton Road, West Chester, on Dec. 15 from 
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, West Chester.

Community members are being asked to donate gently-used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes of children’s and adult coats will be accepted.

Tri-County Heating and Cooling will donate $20 for each coat collected and $10 for each hat, scarf and pair of gloves collected, up to a maximum of $2,000. For more information on this campaign, visit www.tricountyheatingandcooling.com.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Lakota West High School and its principal G. Elgin Card were honored during the Lakota East at Lakota West football game Oct. 26, 2012 for winning the annual food drive between the two rivals. It was estimated by the principals of each high school that the food drive brought in roughly 74,000 cans of food for Reach Out Lakota. Photo provided.

Lakota East may have won the football game last Friday, but the winner of the annual food drive was Lakota West High School.

According to the principals of both high schools, the entire Lakota school district donated roughly 74,000 cans to Reach Out Lakota in just one week.

The most coming from Lakota West High School, which gathered around 19,000 cans. The West feeder schools also donated around 19,000 cans, according Lakota West High School principal G. Elgin Card.

“The students and staff of Lakota West are very pleased that our efforts will help many people in need. I always talk to our young people about paying forward and they did in a big way,” Card said. “It makes me so proud to be a part of the Lakota West family.”

The East side was close in its donations, gathering around 36,000 cans between the high school and its feeder schools.

Reach Out Lakota food inventory coordinator Tim Harmon told The Cincinnati Enquirer prior to the estimate that the organization hopes to collect more than 19,000 pounds of food for low-income families living in West Chester and Liberty townships during this one-week food drive.

Harmon also told The Enquirer that the local charity receives about 80 percent of its annual food donations from Lakota school drives.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Reach Out Lakota is seeking volunteers for its adopt-a-child program and donations for its winter coat drive to help families in need this holiday season.

The adopt-a-child program will provide approximately 1,000 local children with gifts during the holidays. Reach Out Lakota officials hope to provide each registered child with two $25 gifts.

Sponsors can help the program by donating a new toy or gift card valued at $25; hosting a giving tree or toy drive; or by making a monetary donation to Reach Out Lakota.

To become a sponsor, contact Sue at scheney@reachoutlakota.org or Rachel at rkuntz@reachoutlakota.org by Dec. 1. All items will be collected on Dec. 3. To make a monetary donation, go to www.reachoutlakota.org or mail a check to Christmas Program, P.O. Box 362, West Chester, OH 45071.

Community members can also support the program by purchasing a soft toy from IKEA and dropping it in the donation bin at the store’s exit. Toys collected through Dec. 5 will be donated to the adopt-a-child program.

Reach Out Lakota is also accepting donations for its coat drive.

Community members are being asked to donate gently-used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes of children’s and adult coats will be accepted.

Items for the coat drive can be dropped off at Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, at any time. If the office is not open, items can be left in the shed behind the building. Coats can also be dropped off at lobby of the West Chester Police Station, 9577 Beckett Road; at the Liberty Township Fire Department, 6682 Princeton-Glendale Road; and at Hutsenpiller Contractors, 7404 Liberty One Drive, during normal business hours Monday-Friday.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Lakota students from the East side will be pitted against those on the West side – but this competition won’t be on the gridiron.

Board members Ben Dibble (far left) and Joan Powell (far right), as well as former school board member Jeff Rubenstein, Reach Out Lakota executive director Lourdes Ward and former Lakota Assistant Superintendent Ron Spurlock at last year’s food drive. Photo provided.

Leading up to this Friday night’s football game between the two schools, students will be challenged to take part in the Reach In for Reach Out Lakota food drive to benefit families throughout the district.

Students will be asked to bring non-perishable items to school this week, where they will be collected for the community food and clothing pantry.

The barrels and boxes filled with food from the schools will be taken to Lakota West High School the last day of the drive. That’s where Planes Moving and Storage has donated two metal portable storage units for the drive – each measuring 16-feet long, 8-feet wide and 8.5 feet high, said Jeff Lobaugh, director of business development.

One unit will be used to put foodstuffs for the early childhood, elementary, middle and freshman schools that feed to Lakota East; the other for the schools that feed to Lakota West.

“More than 19,000 pounds of food was collected last year,’’ Lobaugh said. “We never have that much weight when those containers are filled with household goods.”

The stakes are high for the high school principal of the losing side.

“This year the East and West principal have agreed to wear the other team’s spirit wear the next school day,’’ said Randy Oppenheimer, district spokesman. “That’s a tough one for them to swallow.”

The pods will also be set up at the football game for last minute community donations to either the East side or West side effort, Oppenheimer said.

A team of judges will eyeball the collection to determine the winning side.

“The food is very much needed because after 20 years, we’re still community-based,’’ said Lourdes Ward, chief executive officer and executive director of the non-profit group. “We don’t get any food or help from Shared Harvest (Foodbank) or United Way – it all comes in from the community.”

Ward said the pantry gives out about 18,000 pounds of food each month. Last year’s efforts provided about a month’s worth of food to hand out, she added.

“That doesn’t even include the personal care or other items we also give the families,” Ward said. “In an average month we give out about 1,000 tops and bottoms when we have them.”

The winning side will be announced at halftime at the varsity football game which will be played at Lakota West High School this year. A trophy will be given out and housed at the winning side’s high school.

“In the end Reach Out Lakota clients were the winners of district’s generosity and we look forward to it again this time,’’ Ward said.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Lourdes A. Ward, executive director of Reach Out Lakota, Gary Brown, branch manager of W.W. Grainger’s Blue Ash location, and Ian Murray, board president of Reach Out Lakota. Photo provided.

The Grainger Foundation has donated $15,000 to Reach Out Lakota, Inc., in support of its on-going efforts to support the basic needs of the West Chester and Liberty Township communities.

“This grant will be used to purchase food and shoes for our food pantry and clothing department, and to update our software,” said Lourdes A. Ward Reach Out Lakota’s executive director.

“We provide food and clothing assistance to those who need a helping hand, especially during a financial hardship. We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for its generosity.”

The donation was recommended by Gary Brown and Darren Lackman, Branch Managers of W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s, Cincinnati area locations.

“We are proud to support the various programs offered by Reach Out Lakota,” said Brown. “We understand the need within the community for these very basic yet critical items.”

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Lakota students from the East side will be pitted against those on the West side – but this competition won’t be on the gridiron.

Board members Ben Dibble (far left) and Joan Powell (far right), as well as former school board member Jeff Rubenstein, Reach Out Lakota executive director Lourdes Ward and former Lakota Assistant Superintendent Ron Spurlock at last year’s food drive. Photo provided.

Beginning Oct. 22 students will be challenged to take part in the Reach In for Reach Out Lakota food drive to benefit families throughout the district.

Students will be asked to bring non-perishable items to school through Oct. 26, where they will be collected for the community food and clothing pantry.

The barrels and boxes filled with food from the schools will be taken to Lakota West High School the last day of the drive. That’s where Planes Moving and Storage has donated two metal portable storage units for the drive – each measuring 16-feet long, 8-feet wide and 8.5 feet high, said Jeff Lobaugh, director of business development.

One unit will be used to put foodstuffs for the early childhood, elementary, middle and freshman schools that feed to Lakota East; the other for the schools that feed to Lakota West.

“More than 19,000 pounds of food was collected last year,’’ Lobaugh said. “We never have that much weight when those containers are filled with household goods.”

The stakes are high for the high school principal of the losing side.

“This year the East and West principal have agreed to wear the other team’s spirit wear the next school day,’’ said Randy Oppenheimer, district spokesman. “That’s a tough one for them to swallow.”

The pods will also be set up at the Oct. 26 Lakota East versus Lakota West game for last minute community donations to either the East side or West side effort, Oppenheimer said.

A team of judges will eyeball the collection to determine the winning side.

“The food is very much needed because after 20 years, we’re still community-based,’’ said Lourdes Ward, chief executive officer and executive director of the non-profit group. “We don’t get any food or help from Shared Harvest (Foodbank) or United Way – it all comes in from the community.”

Ward said the pantry gives out about 18,000 pounds of food each month. Last year’s efforts provided about a month’s worth of food to hand out, she added.

“That doesn’t even include the personal care or other items we also give the families,” Ward said. “In an average month we give out about 1,000 tops and bottoms when we have them.”

The winning side will be announced at halftime at the varsity football game which will be played at Lakota West High School this year. A trophy will be given out and housed at the winning side’s high school.

“In the end Reach Out Lakota clients were the winners of district’s generosity and we look forward to it again this time,’’ Ward said.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Reach Out Lakota is seeking volunteers for its adopt-a-child program and donations for its winter coat drive to help families in need this holiday season.

The adopt-a-child program will provide approximately 1,000 local children with gifts during the holidays.

Sponsors can help the program by donating a new toy or gift card valued at $25, donating new items for stocking stuffers or by making a monetary donation to Reach Out Lakota.

To become a sponsor, contact Sue at scheney@reachoutlakota.org or Rachel at rkuntz@reachoutlakota.org by Dec. 1. All items will be collected on Dec. 5. To make a monetary donation, go to www.reachoutlakota.org or mail a check to Christmas Program, P.O. Box 362, West Chester, OH 45071.

Community members can also support the program by purchasing a soft toy from IKEA and dropping it in the donation bin at the store’s exit. Toys collected through Dec. 5 will be donated to the adopt-a-child program.

Reach Out Lakota is also accepting donations for its coat drive.

Community members are being asked to donate gently-used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes of children’s and adult coats will be accepted.

Items for the coat drive can be dropped off at Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, at any time. If the office is not open, items can be left in the shed behind the building.

(Picture of recent Lakota East vs. Lakota West Reach Out Lakota food drive)

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays