By Shannon K. Jones
Staff Reporter
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BAY MILLS — Donations to this year's Community Giving Program has exceeded the expectations of Bay Mills Social Workers.
“It was a huge success,” said General Assistance Director Shelly LeBlanc.
Each Bay Mills Indian Community enterprise and governmental department adopted a family — helping out those who would otherwise be without. Additionally, a tree was placed in the Bay Mills Resort, decorated with tags with each child's age, size and gender, along with gift suggestions. In the end, 29 families were recipients of the packages, which took four days to deliver.
To add even more interest, as part of the this year's program, tribal departments were asked to decorate a box for their gifts to be delivered in. Departments competed against one another for a pizza party prize from Bay Mills Resort and Casino's Back Bay Grille and Games.
Social Worker Cheryl Baragwanth is an instrumental part of the program's success according to LeBlanc.
Baragwanth hurriedly rounded up all the entries on the morning of Dec. 17. Sandy Sawyer's 5th grade class at the Ojibwe Charter School judged the boxes. The winning department was Kings Club Casino with their “Christmas Castle.”
“I can't believe how people went all out,” said Baragwanth. “I don't know how I am going to carry all of these.”
The box creations were the talk of the town as they remained in the resort lobby through the weekend of Dec. 17. Structures ranged from a chimney to a wooden train created by the employees of housing. Passers-by complimented the boxes for their creativity and detail.
The program hopes to continue the pattern of success next year.
“For the upcoming year, we would like to strengthen program policies to ensure that any weaknesses are addressed. We would like to invite even more departments to participate as there were some who felt omitted this year,” said LeBlanc.
