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January 2, 2020 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

INKSTER - WAYNE

Winners

Annual charity raffle provides

Holiday food, toys for families

More than 100 families and 300 chil- State Rep. Jewell Jones and his team
dren were able to celebrate the Christmas again did the toy shopping for the more
holiday this year with food and toys pro- than 300 children helped by the raffle. Dr.
vided by the annual Inkster Legends of Stiles Simmons, superintendent of the
Basketball Holiday Raffle. Westwood Community Schools and coach
According to founder and Director Jermaine Carter and members of the
Fred Smiley, the event again this year at Robichaud High School basketball team
the Booker T. Dozier Recreation Center helped with the packing and loading.
was “a smashing success.” Smiley said that the foster grandpar-
Smiley repeatedly thanked all the ents helped with the registration and
donors and sponsors, along with the vol- organization and Al Backus and his staff
unteers, who made the event possible at the Booker Dozier center had every-
again this year. thing ready for the event when they
“I would just like to thank everyone, all arrived. State Rep. Jewell Jones and Fred Smiley, founder and president of the Legends of
those who sold tickets so that we could “I just want to thank them all,” Smiley Basketball join in the shopping for toys for 300 children funded by the annual holiday
reach our goal. I would like to thank all said, “along with U-Haul in Inkster for raffle this year.
the volunteers who helped fill the boxes allowing us to use the truck and the stor-
and bags at Kroger along with the staff at age space.” A special
the Cherry Hill and Merriman Kroger Smiley said he also owed a special display of
fruits and
store,” he said. thanks this year to his daughter, Melissa vegetables
Smiley said the generosity of the com- Smiley, who prepared one of her specialty prepared
munity was overwhelming this year and fruit and vegetable arrangements and dis- by Melissa
wanted to express his gratitude to busi- plays for the event. Smiley
nesses that contributed food to help feed “None of this would be possible with- amazed
the volunteers while they were working out the goodness and grace of God,” the volun-
on preparing the gift boxes. Smiley said. teers and
“Dunkin' Donuts in Wayne and Winners of the grand raffle prizes this raffle hope-
Domino's Pizza in Westland, People's year included: Detroit Pistons game fuls.
Bakery in Detroit, Better Maid Potato against the Eastern Conference
Chips in Detroit, S & F Foods in Romulus, Champion Milwaukee Bucks at Little
Starbucks in Westland, Beverly Hills Pies, Caesars Arena on Feb. 20 and a $50 din-
Hungry Howie's in Garden City, and ner card at Sports & Social Detroit was
Pepsico, along with Captain Hays in Brian Quantz; The Harlem Globetrotter
Inkster and Walls Fish and Chicken in package along with an autographed bas-
Wayne,” Smiley said. ketball, head bands plus four tickets on the Bayshore Resort was Sam Mims. donated, who helped, who sold or bought
“Support for the event has grown Feb. 1 at Calihan Hall Detroit plus a $50 Many, many other prizes were also tickets. This is really a worthy event and
beyond Inkster to the entire area and we dinner card at Mr. Mikes Pizza Detroit awarded, Smiley said. we are able to help a lot of people enjoy
just want to thank them all,” he added. was Mike Haljer and the two-night stay at “We just want to thank everyone who the holiday,” he added.

On the job

Wayne welcomed a new offi-
cer to the police force last
month when Charles Woody
was officially sworn in during
the Dec. 17 meeting of the
Wayne City Council members.
Woody graduated from the
Wayne County Regional
Police Academy in November
and earned his bachelor of
science degree from Central
Michigan University. Woody
will undergo the required
training period under the
supervision of an experienced
officer, according to Police
Chief Ryan Strong. Woody's
family and friends were on
hand to witness his oath of
office.