Dear Editor,

We wanted to take a moment to thank the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce and all the businesses that participated in the recent Shop Local campaign. We appreciate the Chamber choosing to use Elves from Catie (a program that links the purchase of fun, mischievous elves to a donation to CURE Childhood Cancer) to encourage customers to shop in local stores for the holidays.

When Brooke Graham and Rick Lott approached us about using Elves from Catie, we were excited. But we never could have dreamed how successful the Shop Local campaign would have been for everyone involved! We are grateful for the participation of businesses and thrilled to know that more than $3,600 is going to CURE Childhood Cancer because of the support of the good people of Effingham County.

We also want to thank both Effingham County High School and South Effingham High School for their support. Both schools held dress down days and each raised $1,500 to send fun mischievous elves to children in the hospital. The participation of these two schools funded elves for kids in five hospitals and means that an additional $1,000 will go to CURE Childhood Cancer. Additional thanks goes to Marlow Elementary School as well. They have supported Elves from Catie for several years now by allowing parents to purchase or donate elves. They’re contribution over the last few years has been very significant.

We are so grateful to live in such a wonderful community.  Your support (through schools, businesses, the Chamber, or the purchase of elves) has been wonderful and will truly make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer. 
 
Thanks so very much,
Tré and Jenny Wilkins