Entering A Season of Thanks and Giving

We have so much to be thankful for not only in our community but also in our country. We are very prosperous, healthy and live in peace. As the holidays approach,  I am reminded of how much it means when we give back to an individual, an organization or a community. Here at the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce we try to do that not just during this season but all year long. In May we held our 17th Annual Golf Tournament and Scholarship Fundraiser and gave away $2,500 to graduating high school seniors. In July we held our 1st Annual Montrose Food and Brewfest that raised funds for the Glendale Police Dept. Explorers Program, the Glendale Firefighters Fund and the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Support Group. Then just a few weeks ago we held our 37th Annual Oktoberfest, which brought many people from around Southern California to Montrose and was one of the most profitable days in Montrose for many of the shopping park businesses. We were glad to host this event for the community.

After Oktoberfest we were able to continue to give back to many organizations in the Glendale area. All of our leftover brats, bread, potato salad, sauerkraut, snacks, drinks, condiments and supplies were donated to Prom Plus, the CVHS PTSA Snack Shack and to Salvation Army in Glendale. The lion’s share of the leftovers went to The Salvation Army Glendale Corps and Community Center. They do their best to provide assistance to families in Glendale, La Cañada and La Crescenta that need a little help to get by. From youth education to stopping human trafficking, they are pursuing a mission that is responsive to the spiritual and social needs of our community. They are always looking for new partners to join them in their work through volunteering. They need help with their food pantry, the after school academy for students ages 8 to 14, their family program and the Red Kettle campaign, which is just getting underway. If you or your organization would like to volunteer, please contact the Salvation Army of Glendale at (818) 246-5586 or log onto www.glendalecorps.org.

One way to help give back to the community is by doing business in the community. The holiday season is quickly approaching and the Montrose Shopping Park is so beautiful during the holidays and is part of what makes this community so special. So while you are enjoying the area, I encourage you to shop in Montrose and remember that when you shop locally you are giving back to the community and the businesses in the area. You help ensure Montrose remains the quaint little town we have come to know and love. I am positive we have many items for sale that you didn’t think you would find here and they will be competitively priced. Please try to shop in Montrose first for any gifts you are looking for and dine in Montrose for any special family dinners.

Our November business mixer is at Foothill Retirement at 6720 St. Estaban St. in Tujunga. It is on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Foothill Retirement is steeped in rich history and urban myth. Prior to 1960, the Tujunga area was famous for its healthy climate and its relief for asthmatics and TB patients. Foothill Retirement, previously the Tujunga Hotel located on “Horse Thief Trail,” was just one of the numerous sanitariums that sprung up in the area with the objective of treating patients with chronic diseases. I encourage you to attend the mixer and see the historic building they reside in and learn more about them.

Thanks and keep on giving!

  melinda clarke