A ROHO CHRISTMAS

A shopping spree, sponsored by The RoHo Fishing Club, was held for 177 children from the tri-state area on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at Wal-Mart in Middlesboro, KY.

Various businesses, schools and other volunteers helped with RoHo’s  endeavor to help make Christmas a little brighter for these children.

The first  shopping spree involved five children in 1970.  This year, however, the RoHos will sponsor 177 youngsters. 

In order to raise funds for this event, the Club sponsors a fishing tournament the first weekend in May each year.  The proceeds from this tournament are used in December for the children’s shopping spree.

This year each child will be given $130 to spend--$30 for toys and $100 for clothing. 

The children are chosen from 15 schools in the tri-state area as to need and are then paired with an adult volunteer to help with the choice of  items for their very special Christmas shopping trip.

Wal-Mart and its associates began preparation for the event in September and according to Store Manager, Mike Owens, and Community Involvement Coordinator, Brenda Southern, they all look forward to this event.  The store provides a special  lunch, treat bags, and brings Santa Claus to the store to visit with the children.

The Middlesboro elementary-age shoppers will be transported from area schools by church vans from the First Baptist  Church of Middlesboro, with several employees from First State Bank, Home Federal Bank,  Britthaven  of  Pineville, Bell-Whitley, East End Pawn Shop,  Community  Trust, Kiwanis of Middlesboro  and Middlesboro ARH assisting them once they arrive at Wal-Mart.  A group of approximately 50 Middlesboro High School Key Club members also participated in the shopping event.

Ike Cadle, President of  RoHo, said that the children chosen to participate in the shopping spree often think of giving before receiving, some of them buying Christmas presents for siblings or parents rather than for themselves.  “These kids are not selfish at all-- they try to get things for brothers or sisters or their mom or dad”, Cadle  said.

RoHo was first organized some 40 years ago by a group of former  Jaycees who wanted to continue serving their community.

There are approximately 60 RoHo members from the tri-state area.

PHOTOS FROM THE 2007 SHOPPING SPREE