VERSAILLES – Members of the Versailles FFA have been extremely busy during the month of December helping spread Christmas cheer in the Versailles community as well as Darke County.
Versailles FFA delivered one box of pears, one box of apples, and one box of oranges to each of the following: Versailles Kinder Korner, Versailles Health Care Center, and Brilliant Beginnings. FFA members Isaac Grilliot and Kaia Kruckeburg delivered fruit to the Brilliant Beginnings, and Kinder Korner. Versailles FFA members also donated fruit to the Versailles Health Care Center.
During the holiday season, some people are not given the chance to indulge in the joys of Christmas that many of us are lucky to receive. This year, due to the generosity of Versailles residents and surrounding communities, the Versailles FFA was able to donate toys to the Versailles Council of Churches Program, Rustic Hope, St. Denis Outreach Program in Southern Ohio and lin January toys will be delivered to St. Vincent DePaul, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House of Dayton.
All the used toys were delivered to Rustic Hope in Russia. The toys were delivered by members Hayley Smith, Phillip Grogean, Grifon Miller, Kaden Miller, Xavior Miller, Lucas Sperati and Kris Marchal. Versailles FFA thanks Versailles Savings and Loan, St. Denis Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Versailles Christian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Versailles Village Schools, Versailles United Methodist Church, Webster United Methodist Church, Second National Bank, US Bank, Dollar General, Versailles Ace Hardware, Versailles Marathon and John’s IGA for their assistance. They also thank the community for their generosity and area individuals for providing a place for drop-off.
Versailles FFA thanks Bill Coomer for shopping with the Versailles FFA to purchase additional toys and to Ken and Joyce Hemmelgarn for a generous donation that was made to the Council of Churches toy distribution along with Versailles Ladies Eagles and Versailles Savings and Loan.
On Dec. 18, the Versailles FFA presented the Versailles Council of Churches with gifts for a family. They also presented the Council of Churches with bags of apples and oranges to be presented to each family with a special thanks to Ken and Mary Hartke for proving the financial support for the fruit. Members of the Versailles FFA that presented the gifts and fruit to the families were Hayley Smith, Phillip Grogean, Grifon Miller, Kaden Miller, Xavior Miller, Lucas Sperati and Kris Marchal.
On Dec 19, Versailles FFA assisted the Council of Churches with the distribution program. A special thanks to the following FFA members for assisting with the distribution: Nick Monnier, Luke Billenstein, Noah Barga, Deanna Hesson, Kaia Kruckeburg, Austin Timmerman, Ian Gehret, Issac Grilliot, Evan Keller, Laura Wuebker, Mallory York, Caleb Kaiser, Taran Tyo, Taylor Tyo, Cayla Batten and Owen Gehret. A special thanks to Hayley Smith for assisting with picking up all the toys.
In addition of the toys, gifts, can goods and through generous sponsors each family that participated left with a box of fresh food items. A special thanks to Winner Meats and John’s IGA for selling the items at a wholesale price and to the generous donors.
The Versailles FFA also sponsored a Can Food Drive to benefit the Versailles Area Food Pantry sponsored through the Versailles Area Council of Churches. Over 6,000 cans were collected in the high and middle school.
Placing first in the high school was Mrs. Kremer first period class with an average of 88.7 cans per student and will win a pizza party in January. Placing second was Mrs. Treon’s class with an average of 19.28 cans per student and placing third was Mr. Jackson’s class 10.06 can average per student.
In the middle school, placing first was Bob Stammen’s homeroom with an average of 12.46 cans per student and will win a pizza party in January. Placing second was Mrs. Whitaker’s homeroom with an average of 11.57 cans per student and placing third was Mrs. Borcher’s homeroom with a 7.82 can average per student.
The Versailles FFA delivered over 45 large boxes of food and over $1000 to the council of churches.
A special thanks Tyler Dirksen, Carter Luthman, Joe Ruhenkamp, Cole Prenger, Alex Kunk, Gabe Marchal, Darren Billenstein, Isaisah Hess, Chad Shimp, Austin Spradlin, Payton Niekamp, Caleb Fraley, Kobe Petitjean, Lucas Sperati and Tori Wuebker for assisting in delivering the can goods.
