Dance benefits soldiers

An event this weekend will help provide a happier holiday for the families of soldiers serving overseas.

The "Country Christmas Dance in a Tribute to Our Soldiers," scheduled 8 p.m. until midnight Friday at the Dade City National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave., Dade City, will feature a live performance from Todd Brown and the River Junction Band.

At the door of this event, organizers will accept donations of new, unwrapped toys for children from ages 1 to 18, gift cards and monetary donations; in lieu of these, an admission fee of $10 will be charged.

All of these donations will go to fund a special event that will take place Saturday in Lakeland, in which the children and families of troops deployed overseas - many of them based in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Plant City and Lakeland - will be treated to a special Christmas dinner. Also in attendance will be Rear Detachment soldiers stationed locally, as well as their families.

"We'll have a full dinner, a trimmed tree and a visit from Santa Claus," said Dade City Chamber of Commerce representative Missy Lea, who is coordinating these events with chamber treasurer Bonnie Krummen. "It's the least we can do."

Lea and Krummen have relatives deployed overseas, and have been hosting ongoing efforts - gift collections, a going away dinner and school supply drives - to support local troops and their families.

"Our soldiers that were deployed a year ago, right before Christmas, are still deployed today, and others are rear guard, not deployed but serving locally," Lea said. "We're talking about 102 soldiers, and military pay is not a lot. Their spouses may be trying to raise their kids on a single-family income."

Aside from their fundraising events, Lea and Krummen have set up drop-off locations for new, unwrapped toys and gift cards at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, 14112 Eighth St. or CenterState Bank in Dade City and Zephyrhills. Monetary donations also are accepted at these locations, and should be made payable to: Salute to Our Soldiers.

"We assist military families because there's a need for it, and the community has come together to help," Lea said. "Now we want to give them something to make their holiday a little brighter."

For information, contact: (352) 567-2981 or (352)521-0715 or visit the chamber office.