Making A Difference: This Girl Won't Quit

On September 20th I brought you the story of Chantel Crandall, a 12 year old Junior Charger Cheerleader fundraising for the Make-A-Wish foundation. If she raises the most money she even gets to go on the field with the real charger girls and perform during a game. Kids doing fundraisers is nothing new, but the way she is doing it, why she is doing it, and the perseverance she is showing is what sets this girl apart.

You see this young lady was not one to settle for just doing the minimum entry donation to get in the program, she wanted to win. The first year she raise over $300. This year her personal goal was $1,000. Her mom had no doubt she would do it. To date she has raised $750 for her cause. What's more important is that this particular charity is one that has touched her family, not once but twice. She has had two family members receive their wishes from the Make-A-Wish foundation and believes very deeply in the cause.

This coming Saturday, on October 24th from 9am-12pm at 29224 Steamboat Dr. in Menifee, she will be having a bake sale. She will also be collecting recyclables to help her cause. Her parents are ecstatic that she is so close to her goal.

For anyone who wishes to reach out and contribute, her mother Melissa's email is mcccrandall@aol.com

Athletic Spotlight: Menifee Little Kickers Launches Second Season

Last spring I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Serena Gordon, a Menifee Resident, and learning about her community group Menifee Little Kickers, a group of families with kids from age 2-4 who meet every Wednesday at Sunrise Park in Heritage Lake and practice soccer skills.

My 3 year old Joshuah started a little late in the season but he learned very quickly. It was wonderful to watch him learn and adapt. He is still at that age where he is working out how to respond to other kids his own age. 

I also enjoyed seeing how he responded to taking direction from an adult he was unfamiliar with. I was happy and a little sad to see how well adjusted he was and how he needed very little guidance from me. At the end of the season in June we had a big pizza party for the families. Joshuah was sad to see it end but we promised him it would start up after summer was over. 

You can imagine his reaction when I told him it was coming back this Wednesday. His whole face lit up and he did a little cheer. 

Come see what it's all about this Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Sunrise Park, on the corner of Heritage Lake Dr. and Lindenberger Rd. No special gear required. Just your kid, weather appropriate clothing for running around in the grass, close-toed shoes and a soccer ball (make sure your name is on it). See you there!

Click here for the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/menifeelittlekickers

Making A Difference: This Girl's Going Places

Since time immemorial kids have always needed money. Sometimes there is a need for the latest toy or fashion, other times there are nobler reasons. Regardless of the reason, the resounding cry from parents everywhere has been, "Money doesn't grow on trees. What are you going to do to earn it?" 

When Melissa Crandall's daughter Chantel, now 12, wanted to participate in the Jr. Charger Cheerleading program several years ago, that was her response as well. For a minimum of $175 entry fee, which goes as a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Chargers Community Foundation, girls can participate in a Chargers half-time event with the Charger Girls. Melissa went with a tried and true method that has existed for generations in America. She sold baked goods and refreshments from her parents' driveway.

Not satisfied with donating a minimum amount, Chantel wanted to go above and beyond. Last year she very proudly topped an all time high of over $300, almost double the inital entry donation. This year she hopes to do over $1,000 and she is well on her way. Her first sale today yielded almost half that amount. She plans to do at least one more bake sale in the next month or two.

Her parents have every reason to be proud. This young lady is setting goals, accomplishing them, and all for a good cause. For anyone who wishes to reach out and contribute, Melissa's email is mcccrandall@aol.com

Menifee Heritage Lake Lions Opens With a Roar

One of my dad’s favorite stories to tell about his grandkids comes from when my middle son, Jeremiah, was about 4 or 5 years old. My wife and I were at work and he was on “Grandpa Duty”. The Men’s Group from church was helping with some repairs at a local convalescent home. He signed himself and my son up to paint the banisters outside. As he described for him the work they would be doing, he asked Jeremiah if he understood why they were doing this. My son simply responded, “Because they need our help?”

When I heard this I was instantly filled with pride. This told me that my son was beginning to understand his place in the world, and that he didn’t really need a reason to help someone. He is 11 years old now, and while he may not be as sweet or innocent as he was back then, he is still a pretty good kid. He reflects the values that I hold important and I can tell that he is following my example.

That’s why when I first heard about Lion’s Club International opening up a chapter in Heritage Lake back in April I was happy to sign up. Through my many years volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America I had worked plenty of charity events alongside various Lions Clubs. Lions Club International is a civic-minded organization with Duty to God and Duty to Community at it’s center, much like the BSA. Their motto is “We Serve” and Menifee Heritage Lake Lions club has taken that motto to heart. There a few service projects that we have already taken on:

• We will be collecting toys and blankets for the Sheriff’s Dept. to keep in their trunks as an emergency “care package” when an incident arises involving children.
• We are in the process of collecting toys, books, clothing, toiletries, and common household items for a local battered women’s shelter. For obvious security reasons then exact “who” and “where” are kept quiet, but that doesn’t change the fact that help is needed.
• We have been able to assist in adding much needed transportation services for the community of Menifee at McCall Blvd & Packard St. in collaboration with the Riverside Transit Agency – Dial-A-Ride Program.
• We are collecting pull tabs from beverage cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda.
• We are collecting eyeglasses for California Friends in Sight to benefit those in need of prescription eyewear through vision and eye exams at no cost to the recipient.

We meet every first and third Monday of the month at Merna’s Café at 26850 Cherry Hills Blvd in Sun City, which is where we will be hosting our official Charter Night Fundraiser on Saturday July 25^th at 6pm. We still have about 8 tickets available for the public which include dinner and entertainment. Anyone wishing to attend please RSVP to Lion Peggy at LionNightengale@Gmail.com

Heritage Lake 6th Annual Fishing Derby

The sign posted outside the Heritage Lake Clubhouse

One family's lessons in patience

This was the scene at Heritage Lake today when residents gathered to kick off the beginning of summer with the annual Fishing Derby.

Some people arrived as early as 5:30 in the morning to compete against each other for the prize for the biggest catch. Participants ranging from the young to the young at heart practice their skill. Even some furry and feathered friends joined in the fun. 

Some people have it all figured out

Only two anglers hooked anything. The grand prize winner of $100 was Joe Barrett with a 1.1 lb whopper, the second prize of $50 was awarded to Noah Bixley with a 15 oz fish he caught, which was a nice way to start his birthday. The third prize of $25 was raffled off to Caleb Royer.  Despite the few bites, there were still plenty of smiles and laughter to be found. Some blamed for June Gloom saying the fish would be more likely to bite after the sun came out. As one resident put it, "A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work." To which I responded, "Unless of course you're on Deadliest Catch."

The event went until 8:00 AM at which time the Heritage Lake Master Association along with Valleywide Recreation served the participants a well earned pancake breakfast.

A little girl makes some new friends

I wonder if these guys smelled the pancakes.

Keeping a safe distance from the humans waving pointy sticks

Joe Barrett shows his certificate with his friends

Happy Birthday Noah!

Caleb high fives his little bro after winning the raffle drawing for third place