Community steps up to back Gary Christmas dinner

By Carole Carlson ccarlson@post-trib.com December 21, 2011 5:24PM

Updated: December 21, 2011 11:21PM

GARY ? The Grinch won?t steal this dinner.

Thanks to the generosity of several Northwest Indiana residents and businesses, State Rep. Vernon Smith said his annual ?Spirit of Christmas? dinner will offer free bus transportation. The outpouring of goodwill has been so great, Smith said he?ll have a little extra money to buys toys for children, as well.

?A lot of time, when bad things happen, good things come out of it,? Smith said Wednesday.

He?s been scrambling last week to find bus transportation for about half of the anticipated 500 people who attend the dinner, set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Ivy Tech, 1440 E. 35th Ave.

Smith said Illinois Central, the company that contracts with the Gary Community School Corp., has provided the free service for the past two years, but declined to do it this year. Instead, Smith said the company asked for $1,500.

Gary School Board members Barbara Leek and Marion Williams read about Smith?s plight in Wednesday?s Post-Tribune and offered to cover the cost.

?I know that?s something the community has looked forward to for a long time,? said Williams. ?This is just a season of giving. I feel honored to contribute to do it.?

Smith said Larry Webb who owns Eclipse Charters and Tours in Gary will now provide the transportation.

Leek stressed they were doing it as citizens, not on behalf of the school district.

?Vernon has been doing this for more than 20 years,? said Leek. ?I know the housing authority residents very much look forward to this dinner. With times as they are now, I?m sure it will be better attended. It?s important to support it.?

Smith hosts the dinner along with friend Joyce Washington-Price, Dwight Pointer and Dwight Williams.

Meanwhile, others stepped up, too. Smith said he received calls from Luke Oil in Hobart, Patrick Salvi who owns the Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball team, Haywood Insurance and local developer Vance Kenney. All of them offered financial help.

?It?s certainly solved my problems,? said Smith. ?It?s going to be great.?

Reach reporter Carole Carlson at 648-3154.

Source: http://posttrib.suntimes.com/9585806-418/community-steps-up-to-back-gary-christmas-dinner.html

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