A child my daughter, Sarah (or Miss Hoath to students), taught at EMC last year visited her a few days ago with exciting news. Her family was selected to “Shop with a Cop” and she was thrilled.
She wanted Miss Hoath to join her for lunch at Souderton Pizza and Pasta after shopping, and Miss Hoath was honored to be invited. Miss Hoath knew all about the upcoming event as she and her long-time friend, Natalie, who is also a teacher, had been helping me wrap gifts from STRC over the past few weeks. Miss Hoath could easily picture some of her current and former students who would receive the gifts as she wrapped with all the love and care she pours into the classroom each day.
It looked like the most packed “Shop with a Cop” lunch hosted at the restaurant that I have experienced over the few years I have been participating, and families seemed genuinely happy to be there and thankful for this special day. It was a fantastic way for the Franconia Township police force to join with other generous donors to help meet the needs of families in the community. The children were peaceful, lovable, kind, polite and thankful and it was beautiful. One precious girl leaned in to hug me after I gave her a gift from STRC, then she thanked me, wished me a Merry Christmas, and kissed me on the cheek. This was our final Rotary-supported event of the year and it was a great one.
I am looking forward to spending the next week and a half with family and friends as we close out 2024 and start thinking about the new year. I plan to set 3 work goals for each of my jobs in 2025 and I was hoping you would be willing to set work goals too (or volunteer goals for those of you who are no longer working for a salary). I invite you to share your goals with us at our next STRC meeting on January 2, 2025. My hope is that we will learn more about each other and potentially be able to help each other meet the goals we set. We will also be able to check in with each other throughout the year to see how progress on the goals is going.
Until then, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Kate Hoath
President