Greater Dundalkians are Generous with Money, Spirit

Greater Dundalkians have always been quick to open their wallets and just as quick to open their hearts.

Proof of that generosity of cash and spirit rolled in again recently when residents enthusiastically supported two local fundraisers and stepped forward with information so a disabled girl could celebrate Halloween.

A couple of weeks ago, Zack Taylor, a long-time Polar Bear Plunge participant, held a fundraiser at Donovan's bar in Edgemere.

Polar Bear Plunge is an annual event that benefits Maryland Special Olympics.

The Super Plunger—one of those extra-crazy participants who throws himself  into the frigid January waters of the Chesapeake Bay once an hour for 24 hours—and his wife Val donated all the fixings for a tailgate party during the Ravens-Steelers game.

During the game and for awhile afterward, Zack tended bar, slinging beers and mixing drinks for tips that would be donated to the cause. 

The Taylors also sold jello shooters, held a couple of raffles and accepted outright donations.

When the dust settled, the couple had raised $400 in just a few short hours—not bad for a small neighborhood bar.

The Taylors want to thank bartender Kim Condon—who let Zack crash her regular shift—Buddy Donovan and Kathy Donovan for hosting the event, and all patrons who reached into their pockets and doled out more tip money than they would have otherwise.

Across town at Donna's Tavern and Restaurant in St. Helena, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser on Oct. 26 netted more than $6,000.

The joint effort between the restaurant and Dundalk Florist lasted a month, leading up to the culminating gathering at the tavern, according to Dundalk Florist's Mary McWilliams.

The floral shop offered a "Wall of Hope" throughout the month of October, according to McWilliams. Customers were asked to make a donation, and in exchange received a paper decoration that they could inscribe in memory or in honor of a loved one who battled the disease. The decorations were then added to the Wall of Hope.

"We had about 700 customers donate, and all made donations of $1, $3 or $5," she said Monday.

Both sponsoring businesses as well as other local businesses and individuals donated themed gift baskets, which were raffled off at the gathering at Donna's, according to McWilliams.

Raffle tickets for the baskets were also sold all month.

When the event was over and the donations were totaled up, the effort raised $6,600.83, according to Heather Sekora, the manager of Donna's.

The money was donated to the American Cancer Society, which held its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Oct. 27.

Both businesses credited the success of the event to their generous customers.

"I was real impressed with the amount of money raised and it was our customers who did it," McWilliams said. "We asked them to donate and they graciously gave."

So these two tales of financial generosity bring me to my final warm and fuzzy act I witnessed recently among Dundalkians.

A day or two before Halloween, a Dundalk mother posted an appeal on a community board on Dundalk Patch. She explained that she had a daughter in a wheelchair who is unable to participate in traditional trick-or-treating because of the many steps often involved in going door-to-door in the annual masquerade procession.

The mother asked if anyone knew of any local trunk-or-treat events or parties in which her daughter might be able to participate.

Seeing that no conversation was taking place on the board's thread, I posted her appeal to Dundalk Patch's Facebook page.

In no time at all, a lengthy list of suggestions appeared, with information about school, church and shopping mall parties — and even one at  a mini-golf course—that were open to the public.

One reader, overwhelmed by the outpouring of information, commented on that generosity of time and thought.

"Wow, what a great response!" Donald Franklin Ridgely wrote. "You're all really great and caring people. Sometimes we overlook the less fortunate among us but you all chimed right in with great solutions. Bless you all. Don"

Well said, Don, well said.