After taking a year off due to COVID, the Fence & Deck Connection team was thrilled to host our 15th Annual Holiday Clothing Drive the first weekend of December! This year, our beloved community event benefited The Blue Ribbon Project, an Annapolis-based organization offering several programs directly serving children who are the victims of child abuse and neglect. Admission was free, but we happily collected new children’s clothing items, as well as monetary donations at the entrance. At the end of the evening, we were able to present two oversized boxes of new clothing to representatives at The Blue Ribbon Project!
While this year’s event was slightly scaled back for the health and safety of attendees, it was certainly a fun and festive way to kick off the first weekend of December! Guests were able to get a free photo with Santa, visit the petting zoo to meet some decked out furry friends in some jolly holiday gear, and ride a ponies right in our Millersville parking lot!
Our amazing friends at T & J Waffles provided delicious dessert waffles and hot cocoa, which was the perfect treat to enjoy cozied up by one of our bonfires sprinkled throughout the event. Festive live music played by Brandt Dunn of local band Mozaic set the mood among our light and blow-up displays. Instead of this year’s craft and cookie tent, we sent home every guest with a holiday-themed coloring book and cookie decorating kit — COVID safe!
Prior to the event, Fence & Deck Connection’s Founder, Jim Rubush, discussed how meaningful this year’s Holiday Drive was to our team:
“Giving back has always been at the heart of our business. Having to cancel last year’s event due to COVID was deeply upsetting. Luckily we were able to host a “virtual” drive and were able to donate various gift cards families of The Blue Ribbon Project. We’re excited to be back this year, in-person, and spread some much needed holiday cheer to children in our community!”
Fence & Deck Connection has been proud to closely partner with The Blue Ribbon Project over the last decade. Both the Annapolis and Millersville locations are a drop-off location for the organization’s “Backpacks of Love’ program, targeted towards children of all ages entering the foster care system. Donated backpacks include such things as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, children’s soap/body wash, children’s shampoo, changes of clothing for the child’s age, personal clothing (underwear, socks, pajamas), and age-appropriate books and toys.
If you’d like to donate a filled backpack, please visit Fence & Deck Connection in Annapolis: 1544 Whitehall Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409 or Millersville: 8057 Veterans Hwy, Millersville, MD 21108.
Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate the holidays with us, and for helping us give back to local children and families in need. The Fence & Deck Connection team is proud to be part of such a generous community and we can’t wait to see you again next year!