Pocahontas group plans fashion show fundraiser

By Roni Gehlke

IT MIGHT BE A small group, but Pocahontas is constantly out working to raise money for its pet projects like the American Diabetes Association, the Alzheimer's Association and the Veterans Hospital in Martinez. Each year the organization puts on several fundraisers to help these organizations. The next fundraiser is a fashion show on Aug. 15.

This year's annual fashion show will take place at the Comfort Suites in Oakley. The event features models showing off the everyday wear from Kohl's department store. A Mary Kay representative will be on hand to show some makeup techniques and a salad bar lunch. Proceeds from the $15 per-person lunch will go toward the many groups the Degree of Pocahontas Council supports throughout the year.

The Pocahontas is also already making arrangements for its annual Halloween Haunted House and activities. It may seem too soon to think about Halloween, but the ladies have decided to start planning early to turn the annual one-day event into two days.

"Last year we were so mobbed with people, we couldn't get them through fast enough," organizer Irene Martinez said. The event has been growing each year, but last year they did exceptionally well.

Instead of having the games and the haunted house both days, Martinez said that they will host games, activities, prizes, movies and storytellers on Oct. 30 and then the Haunted House on Oct. 31.

As with many organizations, the Pocahontas is worried about the money it takes to put on the event. In previous years the group has had sponsors and grants to help pay the setup fees for the haunted house, the prizes and advertising. Last year they were able to donate all of the money, which Martinez said was a nice sum, to the Diabetes Association. This year, however, they already know that they have lost their funding and will have to come up with other alternatives for raising money to host the event.

Last year, Martinez said, they were also lucky to come up with some private donations.

"This is really a nice community event and people know it," Martinez said. "We aren't trying to make money off the event, but it does cost money to put together."

There are so many groups that the ladies at the Pocahontas would love to help this year, but like other organizations, they have to host fundraisers to raise money to give away to the worthy organizations.

Last year the group took on helping the Veterans Hospital in Martinez. The group visited the hospital several times, offering support and well wishes to the wounded veterans from many different wars. Martinez said that military members have a special place in her heart since she is married to a retired veteran who served in both the current and Gulf War. She also has a son in the military.

Even though Martinez had started visiting the Veterans Hospital with the group, she continued to visit on her own because she believed it was a worthy cause. Each time she visits she brings handmade cards that she hand-signs. Each time she visits she brings about 120 cards with her. The Pocahontas has put together bags of things they think the veterans need, along with a card in each bag.

"They are just so appreciative that there are people out there to help," she said.

Already Martinez and her daughter, Alicia, are working on making some more cards for Veterans. She isn't sure whether they will visit again with the Pocahontas group, but she is sure that she will keep going.

"It just breaks my heart to see the wounded men and women, but they fought for our freedom and they have to know how important they are," she said.
Tickets for the Pocahontas Fashion Show can be obtained by calling Pocahontas member Jane Crocket at 625-2527.

Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at oakleynow@comcast.net.