Vaishali Patel
A group of neighborhood ladies gathered Tuesday to bring holiday cheer to men and women at the Georgia War Veterans Home as a special thanks for their service and sacrifice.
The Hens of Lake Sinclair held their third annual holiday celebration at the Kenneth R. Birdsong Recreational Building.
Former Crockett’s Cafeteria owner and co-coordinator of the event, Frances Crockett, assisted in the planning and organization of this year’s “Project Thank You.”
Crockett was present for the Christmas celebration along with fellow Hens members — giving out hats, flags, goodie bags and even taking part in a performance by singing and dancing to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by The Andrews Sisters.
“I used to own Crockett’s Cafe and we used to do this there, so I introduced the Hens with the idea and it just has been getting bigger every year. We wanted to do something for the veterans,” Crockett said. “The first year we did this, we probably gave out about 100 bags ... but this year we’re giving out bags to the whole hospital.”
The Hoodlum bike club, based in Atlanta, donated six DVD players and 900 DVD movies — ranging from comedy to suspense — to the veterans. Crockett said the party would not have been possible if it were not for all of the generous donations from throughout the community and for her fellow club members’ hard work during their three months of preparation.
“This is our biggest project of the year, for us to be able to give back. We raised money to be able to give the veterans this party through a bake sale, which we did at the Deep Roots Festival, and a yard sale we started in March,” Crockett said. “The Elks Lodge Lake Oconee in Eatonton donated hundreds of travel bags to the veterans ... with socks, toothbrushes, snacks, fresh fruits and cookies. [Veterans] can also use the bags to maybe carry their cigarettes in.”
With the help of Hattaway Screen Printing, the women created 300 hats to give out to the entire hospital.
“Every single veteran gets a flag and a hat,” fellow Hens member Ginny Kitchens said. “We’re giving out ice cream cups, too. This is absolutely the best thing we can do to share the happiness of the season.”
This year’s program master of ceremonies, Fred Kitchens, husband of a lady Hen, said he would be more than happy to host the show again as long as he does not have to participate in the performance.
“The ladies worked so hard to do these skits. It’s fun and it’s for a good cause,” Kitchens said. “I think everyone did a good job, and I’d be happy to do it again next year.”
Last year’s legendary show featured music by Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley and The Blues Brothers. For Air Force veteran Fred Stephens, a bit of nostalgia was brought to mind when enjoying the Hens’ performance of songs from The McGuire Sisters, Patsy Cline and The Andrews Sisters.
“I thought it was excellent. Anytime we can get out and do something like this is wonderful,” Stephens said. “The lady Hens are very good to do this every year.”
Korean War veteran Bill White was also very appreciative to the Lake Sinclair Hens for bringing Christmas spirit to the veterans home by not only their performance, but with all of the generous gifts given to them.
“I used to love The Andrews Sisters and the McGuire Sisters ... it brought back some good old memories. I thought their performance was great — good as the one last year,” White said. “[Veterans] go through hats like crazy. I’m not really a hat person, but I like this hat.”
The Hens group is comprised of local women who live in Lake Sinclair neighborhoods on Sinclair Circle, Sinclair and Twisting Hill roads and surrounding areas. A few of them began gathering socially in August 2006 to form bonds of friendship and to discuss how they can contribute to the community. Genie Kay Patterson, Hen member who officially initiated the group, said the women meet two or three times a month.
“When I moved here, I put a note in everybody’s mailbox letting them know about my idea. Everybody didn’t know each other, but we really have become a family,” Patterson said. “We started with 30, but now we have 36 ladies. The oldest member is 93 and the youngest is 48 years old. We get together to have dinners and we celebrate Cinco De Mayo, Thanksgiving dinner and have a Christmas party.”
The Hens have not yet come up with ideas of how to top this year’s celebration, but Crockett said planning will probably begin very soon in order to raise enough money in time.
