We Did It!

 

Before – plastic timbers made it impossible for children with walkers or wheelchairs to access all areas of the playground.

THIS is what made all the work worth it!

 

Many, many thanks to everyone who helped to make our playground project a reality!  Our playground shade structures, surfacing, and equipment have all been installed.  Phase 2 of our project will be to replace our fence and our storage shed.   

Shade structures and the tire swings were purchased from Grounds for Play.   Surfacing and the rock wall tunnel were purchased from Playworld Carolinas.   FunHoop was purchased from PlaygroundPackages.com. The equipment and surfacing installation was completed by  Reese Construction out of Apex.  Many thanks to John Payne, the Lee County Kiwanis Club, and the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department (to whom we donated the plastic timbers and the arch climber) for saving us money by completing the demolition work!

Toddler Town "before" shot

Infant area “before” shot

Future location of tire swings

Future location of Fun Hoop

Future location of Rock Wall Tunnel

Demo begins!

Demo

What a mess!

Sub-base before being crushed flat

 

The CRUSHER!

Starting to install the bonded rubber

"FunHoop" with the big mixer in the background

A dream fulfilled

Close-Up of the surfacing - rubber mulch and glue bonded together and smoothed out to form a solid surface

This was a LONG process

Watching them get the holes level in order to install this tire swing post was fascinating

This guys worked hard...and it was HOT!

Beautiful! There can only be so many inches between the exit of the slide and the top of the surfacing so this was the most challenging area...it wasn't like we could change the height of the slide!

Safe place for infants to crawl? CHECK!

Somewhere for the kids to throw balls other than over the fence? CHECK!

Swings that are safe and fun for all? CHECK!

Awesome climbing structure? CHECK!

Ready for the kids!

Carnival Wrap-Up

Many thanks to everyone who supported our Family Carnival…whether you bought a raffle ticket, donated an item, sponsored a ride, brought your family out for the day, bid on a silent auction item, or just stopped by for a hot dog, your efforts have brought us $4,080 closer to our goal of having a playground that is safe and accessible for ALL of our children!  Thank you for your support!

Here are some pictures from our event:

RAFFLE WINNERS!!!

1. Tea Time Toy Set Donated by JT Davenport – Lisa Clark

2. Tea Time Toy Set Donated by JT Davenport – Memie Wiliiams

3. Japanese Toy Set Donated by JT Davenport- Meta Brooks

4. Bead Set Donated by JT Davenport – Rosetta Paiten

5. Tool Set Donated by JT Davenport – Stepping Stones (thanks to raffle tickets purchased for us by the Dan Mansell for Congress campaign).

6. Phone Donated By Wombles – Laura Beck

7. Silver Coin Donated By Kendale Pawn – Meta Brooks

8. Free Oil Change Donated By Jonesboro Super Service on East Main – Wanda Nelson

9. Free Oil Change and Filter Donated By C&J Auto Sales & Service Center, Inc. – Meta Brooks

10. Free Oil Change Donated By Perry Brothers – Meta Brooks

11. Free Oil Change Donated By S&S Automotive – Joyce Harding

12. $10 Gift Certificate to Cafe 121 – Sandy Bryant

13. $10 Gift Certificate to Cafe 121 – Linda McNeill

14. $10 Gift Certificate to Cafe 121 – Travis Poe

15. $10 Gift Certificate to Cafe 121 – Stepping Stones (thanks to raffle tickets purchased for us by the Dan Mansell for Congress campaign).

16. Lunch for two at Rick’s on South Steele Street – Meta Brooks

17. $25 Gift certificate to Car Pros Tire and Auto – Paula Boehm

18. $20 Gift certificate and candle from Country Memories – Tim Barber

19. Shampoo, Haircut and Style – Lindsey Yow at Head to Toe – Karla Pomilio-Hancock

20. Shampoo, Haircut – Great Clips – Jamie

21. Shampoo, Haircut, and Style – Jessica Sykes at Southern Styles – Lara Tipton

22. Sterling Silver CZ Circleof Life Pendant – Kelly’s Diamonds – Brian Sullaz

23. Free Eye Exam at Modern Optical – Jamie Wompler

24. Car Stereo Donated By TV Clinic – W.H. Bayer

25. 72 Degrees Gift Certificate – Tony Baker

26. AvonPedicure Set – Tom Cassevah

27. Three Months of Martial Arts Instruction Donated By Black Belt Leaderhip Academy – Mitch Carter

28. Three Months of Martial Arts Instruction Donated By Black Belt Leaderhip Academy – Linda Birk

29. Three Months of Martial Arts Instruction Donated By Black Belt Leaderhip Academy – Sue Williams

30. Three Months of Martial Arts Instruction Donated By Black Belt Leaderhip Academy – Amber Ellis

31. HDTV and warranty Donated by Chris and Garrett Morris – Memie Wiliiams

Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets – whether you purchased 1 or 100, your contribution helps us towards our goal of a playground that is safe and accessible for ALL of our children!!  If your name is on this list and we have not contacted you yet, please feel free to call us at 708-5599 or stop by 1550 Kelly Drive.  THANK YOU!!

Carnival Prizes

Several people have written and called about silent auction and raffle prizes from Saturday’s carnival.  We are in the process of organizing all of the information and will have the winners posted on this website shortly.

 

Thank you so much for all of your support!

Dunking Booth Schedule

Don’t forget to come out to our carnival THIS SATURDAY from 9-2 at 3000 S. Horner (former Wal-Mart).

Dunking Booth Schedule:

9:00 – Tracy Carter, Lee County Sheriff

10:00 – Neil Morris, Local Attorney and Movie Critic

10:30 – Ed Page, Local Attorney

11:00 – Billy Liggett, Sanford Herald Editor

11:30 – Jonathan Owens, Sanford Herald Reporter

12:00 – Brian Lee, WWGP Radio Personality

12:30 – Chris Brewer, Lemon Springs Fire Department

Family Carnival is THIS SATURDAY, JULY 19!

Come visit us this Saturday, July 19th from 9-2 at 3000 S. Horner (next to Sanford Honda Select and in front of the location of the former Wal-Mart).

We will have rides, three inflatables, nachos, cotton candy, a dunking booth, games, face painting, a silent auction, a raffle, and hat making!  We hope to see you there!

BIDDING IS OPEN!!

Go to our Silent Auction Page to begin bidding on our incredible variety of items!  Please make sure to read the rules!  More detailed descriptions and pictures will be added as soon as possible.  If you would prefer to bid in person, we will have the items on display at our Family Carnival THIS SATURDAY, July 19th beginning at 9:00.  Hope to see you there!

ALL proceeds go towards our playground project.

HAPPY BIDDING!

New Sponsor, New Dunking Booth Participants

A wonderful thing happened today. Lindsay and I went to All Digital to order signs for our event.  As I was pulling out of the parking lot, I realized that we were next door to Modern Optical where Chris Morris works.  Chris is the parent of two of the children at our center and the driving force behind this fundraiser.  She got us kicked off by donating a 32 inch HDTV for our raffle.  We wanted to update her on the donated items we had picked up and the items we rented so we stopped in to talk to her.  She introduced us to one of her clients and told us we should tell him about our event.

His name is Wendell Haynes and he is the President of Carolina Specialty Cutting Tools, Inc. at 1410 Hawkins Avenue.  It turns out his late wife, Carol, used to work at the Easter Seals UCP Group Home on Lee Avenue.  He quickly agreed to write us a check for $300.   The whole experience gave me goose bumps. This has truly been an emotional week.  We are so thankful to everyone who is helping to make this event possible.

We have added two new dunking booth participants – local attorney and movie critic Neil Morris, and radio personality Brian Lee.

We can’t wait to see you on the 19th!

We still need: sponsors, volunteers, tables, easy up tents, generators, chairs, balloons, helium, hot dogs, and condiments.  If you would like to help, please call Emily Page at (919) 708-5599.

Lots of Updates!

Today was a great day for donations!

Chef Gregg Hamm has agreed to donate gift certificates to his restaurant, Cafe 121 as well as a whole cake, pie, or cheesecake EVERY month for a YEAR!! This is a great idea for office birthday parties or a monthly treat for your family!  The dessert of the month will be one of our silent auction items.

Unfinished Furniture Outlet in Tramway not only donated a gorgeous pie safe, but they also gave us a generous donation which we will use to sponsor one of our rides at the carnival.

Wilson and Reives also generously agreed to be one of our ride sponsors.

Cole’s Pottery donated a beautiful blue pitcher with six matching glasses and a utensil holder. 

Spring Lane Cinemas has given us 4 movie passes.  We will use two of these in the “Movie Night” basket and two in the “Date Night” basket.

Better Business Forms & Products is donating napkins for our event as well as over $100 in back to school supplies for a theme basket. 

S&S Automotive has donated a free oil change.

Car Pros Tire and Auto has donated a $25 gift certificate.

TV Clinic has promised to donate a car stereo.

Modern Optical will be donating a free eye exam.

Lowes Foods donated a $25 gift card which we will use to purchase food for the carnival.

Like I said, a wonderful day for donations!  If you would like to make a donation, please call Emily at (919) 708-5599!

Exciting New Donations!

Make sure you bring your checkbook to the Family Carnival on the 19th as we have two new items for the silent auction that are sure to be a hit!

Amy Burns, owner of Amy’s Confection Company will be donating a gift basket.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of tasting one of Amy’s confections, you are truly missing a treat!  You can find Amy’s Confections at The Shops of Steele Street, 102 South Steele Street in Sanford.

Lisa Mathis, artist, photographer and art teacher extraordinaire will be donating a painting for the silent auction.  You can view some of her artwork and learn about her art classes by visiting her web site.

We are so thankful to everyone who has been so supportive of this event and our fund-raising efforts!  Thanks to everyone who stopped by our tent at the Old Fashioned Fourth at Depot Park.  We raised over $300!

We still need several sponsors for our event.  If you would like to know how you can help, please call us at (919) 708-5599.