Grand View Lodge collects for charities

NISSWA - Grand View Lodge employees gathered in the Grand Ballroom at the Gull Lake Center Dec. 15 for Grand View's annual employee holiday party.

The theme for this year's event was Giving Unto Others.

Those attending the event were encouraged to bring donations for several area charities - Lakes Area Food Shelf, The Salvation Army Coat Drive, Toys for Kids and Cell Phones for Soldiers. Grand View's employees generously responded, and a number of items were donated to each of the four charities. Mark Ronnei, Grand View general manager, said everyone has been affected by the economic downturn in some way but during the holiday season they wanted to take the opportunity to give back to the community and employees responded positively.

A total of 192 pounds of food were collected for the Lakes Area Food Shelf, 30 new toys were donated for Toys for Kids, 39 coats and cold-weather clothing items were collected for The Salvation Army Coat Drive and 41 cell phones were donated for the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization which uses the money from selling recycled phones to purchase calling cards for our troops overseas.