Wal-Mart Energy Department gives back with event volunteers and then some

July 28th, 2009 . by Administrator

Wal-Mart stores and employees continue to give generously to area charitable organizations, and without their help events would not run as smoothly. June 13th, 2009 brought the 2nd Annual Youth Bridge Breakfast Boogie and this year’s first Ozark Vintage Motorcycle Association Poker Run benefitting Youth Bridge. One event is a handful for a department of three, two events on the same is overwhelming. Step in the Wal-Mart Energy Department volunteers. Thanks to Kim Cannon and her leadership with this group, Youth Bridge was able to utilize volunteers for registration, sales of raffle tickets, beverage tickets, balloon pops, organization, decorations, set up, tear down, and the last minute snafus. The volunteers were split up and some handled the Breakfast Boogie, while others drove up to Bella Vista’s Spanker Creek to help with the Poker Run.

At the Breakfast Boogie the volunteers were instrumental with the execution of the event. Karen Kavanaugh even drove up to Missouri to return a mixed-up donation. While the Youth Bridge and Wal-Mart staff met for the first time of the event, all worked together as a team to make the Breakfast Boogie a great success.

The Ozark Vintage Motorcycle Association Poker Run was a completely different event, with a completely different demographic. Youth Bridge Development staff has never worked on a poker run, so this was unfamiliar territory. We relied on Bill Fergus, President of the OVMA for guidance. His association set up the route, printed maps and took care of many of the details. Wal-Mart employees served as volunteers on the route. Again without their help, the event would not have been possible and Youth Bridge would not have been introduced to a new crowd and a new set of people who may not have ever heard of the charitable organization before.

In addition to their hard work, the Wal-Mart Energy Department also made a $1000 sponsorship contribution for the Breakfast Boogie event. And to top off their generosity, they will also be contributing $500 for their volunteer hours. We can truly not thank them enough!!

For all their hard work the morning of June 13, 2009 Youth Bridge would like to recognize the following: