Today I took what donations I have received so far out to the boys at Arrowhead Ranch and told them that there was still more donations coming. I just wanted to get what I had out of my home and into the hands of the boys plus I needed to see their smiling faces. I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for what you all have donated and the boys and I thank you so much. So far, we have 17 fly rods, 15 fly reels, 6 vises, 15 assorted chest paks and vests, an Orvis shirt, a Glacier Rain jacket, 3 pair of tying scissors, 1 whip finisher, 1 thread bobbin and fly boxes full of flies and fly tying material. There are still items coming that have not arrived yet. I also turned over 4 checks totaling $375! We have 10 complete fly rods with reels, backing and line and will need to get backing and line for the other 7 fly rods and we will be ready. Here is the results of your giving that makes it all worth while:
Vests and chest paks
Vises, flies & reels
My âstarâ tying student found some tying material & is happy
With your help all the boys have a fly rod and reel to use as soon as we get some more line & backing
This is what it is all about for me!
THANK YOU FAOL DONORS FROM ALL THE BOYS AT THE ARROWHEAD RANCH!!
Looks like a great group of boys to me. The smiles are what it is all about. I do wish I could join them on the river, it would be a great time. Reminds me of taking my son to Alaska years back with a group of boys and Grand Dads, it can be a wonderful time. Something that is never forgotten and always special. Somehow the Lord has my place here with wonderful people and friends as well. He is so good when we allow Him to be!!
Thanks, PanFisher, for your donations for the boys. Through us, He can do wonders. The gentleman on the left with the orange shirt is the Activitiesâ Director, Brian, and the other gentleman to the right in the back row to the left of the deer head mount is the President, Jeff. While we were unpacking what I had hauled out there and spreading it out on the tables, the boys were told they could not come into the Community Center until we were finished. All the while we were arranging and inventoring everything, you could see heads peeking through the windows trying to see what we were doing and what we had! It was just great! There were a couple of the older boys that came up to me and took my hand and said, âThank youâ. You could read how sincere they were from the way they looked into your eyes. They are a good group of boys that just need to feel they are loved and appreciated and with all the help you all have given, they can now make a few changes in their life styles and make their mark. For me, it is all about the smiles plus the things I overhear when they are talking to each other. Yesterday, I over heard one make the following statement to his buddy, âWouldnât it be great to hang out all day with Mr. Patterson?â It takes so little to make them happy.
I wish all FAOL members could just spend 3 hours with these boys. It really does your heart good to be around them.
THANKS, FAOL. You HAVE made a difference in the lives of these boys and in mineâŚ
I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for what you all have donated and the boys and I thank you so much. So far, we have 17 fly rods, 15 fly reels, 6 vises, 15 assorted chest paks and vests, an Orvis shirt, a Glacier Rain jacket, 3 pair of tying scissors, 1 whip finisher, 1 thread bobbin and fly boxes full of flies and fly tying material. There are still items coming that have not arrived yet. I also turned over 4 checks totaling $375! We have 10 complete fly rods with reels, backing and line and will need to get backing and line for the other 7 fly rods and we will be ready. Here is the results of your giving that makes it all worth while:
Reminds me of taking my son to Alaska years back with a group of boys and Grand Dads, it can be a wonderful time. Something that is never forgotten and always special. Somehow the Lord has my place here with wonderful people and friends as well. He is so good when we allow Him to be!!