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Pickleball fun at Casa Del Valle

pickleball IMG 4841 webDawn Hardy is a self-described fierce competitor.

Watching her play confirms that unless you're watching the non-stop smile on her face when she's playing.

A former college athlete who has played volleyball, softball, and numerous other sports, it only took her a couple pickleball games back home in Topeka, Kansas to fire up those competitive engines.

“I love it,” said Hardy during the weekly pickleball mixer at Casa Del Valle in Alamo. “I especially love the friendships.”

Read more: Pickleball fun at Casa Del Valle

Fun had at Golf Cart Rodeo

golf cart rodeo 3 amigos webOn December 4, 2021, Mission Bell -Tradewinds RV Resort held their very first Golf Cart Rodeo. Several people from the park volunteered to be a team driving their golf carts through a pre-determined course on the parking lot. The part that made it so much fun was that the driver would be blindfolded, and the passenger would give the instructions on how to get through the course. Completion of the course was timed and those with the best times won prizes. Pylons were run over; judges were chased by the blind folded and a great time was had by all. They all agreed they'd like to do it again next year.

Taking the Tabs to Texas

La Florest Taking tabs to Texas webCollecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House has been ongoing at La Floresta Park in Mercedes for many years. This year, Rodger and Jean Vanderville from Manistique, Michigan, arrived at La Floresta Park with over 50 pounds of tabs collected from family and friends in their hometown. These were combined with some collected at La Floresta Park, and a total of about 68,740 individual tabs were taken to the Ronald McDonald House in Corpus Christi. The money from can tabs adds up and becomes a valuable donation to the Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald Houses are located near children’s hospitals. Their mission is to provide a place for families to stay, who are far from home, so they can focus on the health of their child. They also assist families with travel and other expenses.

Time to Care and Share

rgv foodbank logo webNow is a time to care and to share our time and our talents. Last month my interest was really aroused when I was lucky enough to participate in a trade show where a representative from our Rio Grande Valley Food Bank had a booth directly across from mine. I had often wondered exactly how our RGV Food Bank operates and here was my chance to learn more. Have my eyes been opened? I learned a lot. Now it is time to share some of that information. There is not room to share all that I learned so I will just hit the high points.

Read more: Time to Care and Share

Seeking help

There are some Winter Texans at Casa del Sol that need your help. They are collecting donations to help the people affected by the tornadoes in KY. They are seeking monetary donations, although items are welcome as well. They have a semi-trailer that is loading stuff in NE to take to KY with the donated items.

There were communities that were completely destroyed - they need everything - said Lynn Clasen who is spearheading the effort. A big concern is that temperatures are dropping and these people need warm clothes and blankets - amongst other regular items.

Read more: Seeking help

December 22, 2021 - Rina's Ramblings

It has been a blessing and pleasure to see what the Winter Texan community does for the communities they live in. Each year, especially during the holiday, the communities you live in are blessed with your charity. It always amazes me at how you come together to serve one purpose and bring so many happy faces to the families that live around you.

In this issue we have Tripp Wright and his group of elves that have worked this year to bring joy to children in their community. He, and his elves, have great hope that this first event grows to something bigger each year. I look forward to seeing what it becomes.

I love seeing how you love your community, no matter how long, or how little, you visit with us each year. It is a wonderful thing to see the hope, joy, laughter, and love that comes from the giving you do.

Read more: December 22, 2021 - Rina's Ramblings

Partnering ministries geared to see joyful faces

backpack mission DSC 0718 webBy Herb Moering

Three Christian ministries have partnered to bring holiday cheer to hundreds of children in Mexico through a backpack and shoebox project.

A truckload of a couple thousand backpacks and shoe boxes each containing school supplies, articles of clothing, a game, hygiene items and a booklet arrived in San Juan Dec. 4. Most of the supplies will be distributed Dec. 28 in various Christmas celebrations at churches and orphanages in many Mexican communities, according to Bruce Hepburn, whose Mexico Missions ministry in San Juan acts as the distribution hub in Reynosa, Mexico.

Read more: Partnering ministries geared to see joyful faces

Santa's Legacy: Local children treated to 1st annual Santa’s Posada

Mrs Claus dressing Santa webBy Barb Zanetti

Tripp Wright of Alamo Rec-Veh Park said he missed being Santa to over 2,000 children after Progeso’s Amigo group disbanded last year. So, he came up with a plan to entertain hundreds of children, but he knew he couldn’t do it alone.

To help local needy children and their families enjoy the Christmas season, Tripp persuaded three groups to pool their resources and their volunteers. In less than a month they planned, collected contributions, and shopped for a Dec. 11 party, which they called “Santa’s Posada”.

Read more: Santa's Legacy: Local children treated to 1st annual Santa’s Posada

Students project supports foster kids

Emma Jaelin at CAC webThe idea came to the duo of Emma Zamora and Jaelin Lopez last spring during their junior year at Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS). With the return of in-person instruction and the start of their senior year this year, the team has worked their idea into a community service project for their DECA organization.

Read more: Students project supports foster kids

December 15, 2021 - Rina's Ramblings

Hello readers!

If you don’t pay attention to our header on our paper each week, you wouldn’t know…. We have been publishing the Winter Texan Times since 1987. So, we are celebrating 35 years this season. What started as a bi-weekly paper by June Brann and Jim Brunson, has grown to a weekly paper during the Winter Texan season – October through March.

They saw the need 35 years ago, and the Winter Texan Times quickly became a staple in the Winter Texan community across the Valley.

Read more: December 15, 2021 - Rina's Ramblings

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