Showing posts with label Allentown Fairgrounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allentown Fairgrounds. Show all posts

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A Whole Lotta Fun for a Really Good Cause!

Male or female, young or old, there’s something for everyone at the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley’s annual Trucks & More event.  My family certainly had a great time!  I admit, my son is a truck fanatic, so we knew we’d have fun.  But my daughter also loved
seeing, sitting in, and honking the horns of all of the cool vehicles at this event!  Trucks & More is an annual fundraising event for the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley.  At this event there are fire trucks, ambulances, dump trucks, tractor trailers, bulldozers, and so much more!  This year, the MedEvac helicopter was even there, and kids were allowed to climb in it!  There was also a K-9 police officer who did a presentation about his dog.  As soon as we arrived at Allentown Fairgrounds, my son spotted the Air Products tanker truck and began yelling “a tanker truck, a tanker truck. Look, a tanker truck!”  And that was just the beginning!
At a cost of just $5 per person, this amazing event was quite a bargain! The smile on my son’s face as he got to climb into a dump truck and honk the horn is a memory I won’t soon forget.  My daughter giggled like, well… like the little girl she is when she saw the remote control ambulance brought by Cetronia Ambulance Corps.  We walked around to all of the different vehicles and meeting the men and women who drive these vehicles.  It was fascinating for my husband and me to see the fire truck ladder 70+ feet in the air and talk to one of the firefighters who climbs that ladder when necessary.  We got to talk to and learn about a high-tech trailer that Lehigh Valley Health Network has that enables them to communicate with multiple emergency organizations at once.  We even got to learn a little bit about how some K-9 police dogs are trained.  Each child also got fitted for and given a free bicycle helmet after being educated about the dangers of head injuries.  And of course, no event would be complete without a little treat as well.  There was a truck there selling cupcakes that the kids loved!  It was truly a fun and educational morning for all of us, and my son hasn’t stopped talking about it!  The bonus is that it is also for a good cause!

The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit group that trains volunteers and works toward bettering the community, and educating and helping women in the area.  This amazing organization has donated approximately a million dollars to various Lehigh Valley charities, grants and projects over the past ten years!  Trucks & More is just one of its annual fundraisers.  Each Spring, the Junior League also hosts an American Girl Fashion show showcasing historical and current fashions for women.  This event was held in March of this year, but watch for it for next year!  They also hosted a Bunco Bash this spring to help with fundraising for their many generous programs.  Though these 3 big events have taken place already for 2013, they are annual events and will be sure to be a hit again next spring!
The Junior League uses the money raised at their fundraising events to provide amazing educational programs throughout the Lehigh Valley.  One of these programs is their Strong Moms Strong Girls program for tween girls and their caregivers.  The goal of the program is to empower these girls and women to handle conflicts and bullying appropriately.  What an amazing program!  They also have a Kids in the Kitchen program that helps teach kids and families about healthy eating!  These are just a few of the wonderful programs and fundraisers done by this extraordinary organization!  Check out their website to learn more about them and to find out what other fun events they have coming up!



Friday, April 6, 2012

Consignment, Consignment, Consignment!


The Kid's Clothesline - May 3 - 6, 2012
Let me first start out by saying that I really enjoy being a Mom.  The hugs, the kisses, the yelling the screaming...OOPS!  I think I said too much.  Seriously though...being a Mom has had more rewards than I can count.

But there is one thing that gets under my skin...all the clothing that we go through.  I literally blink my eyes and the pants that we just bought for my 5 year old are now capris.  That's fine for spring but for the winter?  Not so much...  And that trendy sweatshirt that my 8 year old "just had to have" is now too small.  But what is a Mom to do???
As I have said in the past, one of the many benefits of running my own business (http://www.lehighvalleyfamilyfun.com/) is meeting new people.   And I was recently introduced to Amanda D'Ambrosio, Owner of The Kids Clothesline
The Kids Clothesline or "Consignment Extravaganza" as I like to call it, offers families a place to sell their children's outgrown items and to buy new and gently used items at up to 90% off retail. 

The next Kids Clothesline Event will take place May 3rd - 6th, 2012.  


In 2004, when Amanda's kids were in Preschool she developed that entrepreneurial "bug".  Not sure which direction to go, Amanda met a woman who had a children's consignment event in the south.  After that meeting she knew what her next step would be...CONSIGNMENT! 

"So many people benefit from the sale"  says Amanda.  "Any time I think of giving it up I meet someone really wonderful who tells me how much they appreciate it!"


With over 2,500 Shoppers at the last event and filling approximately 250 Volunteer Shifts and 375 Consignee Spots, the growth of the sale has been tremendous.  For Spring of 2012, they will move to Ag Hall, which can fill 550-600 Consignee Spots.  "I think this has always been my goal (moving to Ag Hall)" says Amanda.  "So I'm happy that we've finally done it!"


Mom to 4 kids, Amanda is a busy WAHM (Work-At-Home-Mom).  "I think a lot of people think the sale is 2 weeks of work, twice a year. That is so far from the truth."  In reality, Amanda begins preparing for each consignment event approximately 12 weeks prior to the Sale.  " I am usually at my desk any spare moment I can find and a lot of times into the night. When it's not sale season I am still working part time coming up with new ideas..."

I wanted to find out more about this amazing Mom...so I asked her what life messages she has for her kids.  "It's important to me that my kids be kind to others and that they are honest," says Amanda.  "We are very open minded and do not judge others, I guess it's just the only thing they have every known, it's just how we live."

I also wanted to know what tips she would give new parents of things she wished she knew before being a parent.  "Patience is so important and enjoy every second...it goes so fast.  It is so cliche but SO true!" 

The Kids Clothesline is dedicated to bringing families excellent quality items at a fraction of the price.  TKC is a selling and shopping experience not to be missed!


The Kids Clothesline will hold its next event May 3rd - 6th 2012.