Give Needing Kids Some S.P.U.N.K. This Christmas

For those unfamiliar with S.P.U.N.K, it's a group of people who collect new Socks, Pajamas and Underwear for Needing Kids in Grand Junction. This year's holiday drive has a very special meaning.

S.P.U.N.K, (SPUNK) was founded and organized by Grand Junction resident Gretchen Haynes, who died earlier this year.

Her husband Don, who helped with the annual clothing drive, wanted to continue the event in memory of his late wife but wasn't sure he could organize, collect and distribute the clothing alone.

After hearing of Haynes dilemma, both Jubilee Family Church and Orchard Mesa Lions Club offered their help to continue this event.

Businesses who had participated as drop-off locations also offered to do what they could to make sure there were plenty of socks, pajamas, and underwear to donate to local organizations.

This year the clothing will benefit three local organizations, Mesa County Foster Care, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach and School District 51 REACH Program.

SPUNK was designed to fill a needed niche for children using the services mentioned. Often, kids using these services have underclothes that are almost completely worn out or in some cases, only have the underclothes they are currently wearing.

Giving these children new clean underwear, socks, and pajamas help make them more comfortable in a situation that definitely isn't. All sizes, toddlers to teens, are needed this year. Donation deadline is December 15.

There are donation barrels located at businesses in Grand Junction, Clifton, Orchard Mesa and Fruita. You can also drop off your donations at the KOOL 107.9 studio. To find a donation location close to you, call 261-5321 or 241-3210.