Big Vanilla Pays Tribute To Troops

Local Athletic Club Collects For Care Packages In Memory Of 9-11

By Dylan Roche

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 disaster, Big Vanilla Athletic Club has organized a community service project to support local soldiers deployed overseas and show appreciation for their service.

Marketing Director Donna Sage, who serves as the organizer of the community service project, explains the project began when Big Vanilla owner Larry Ray asked his team to come up with a way of paying tribute to the memory of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The management then developed the idea of putting together care packages for troops overseas, and Sage compiled a list of items for the community to donate. Requested items included all sorts of necessities and luxuries, from food (such as coffee, tea, snacks, and granola bars) to personal care items (like deodorant, shampoo, and tissues), and entertainment (DVDs, magazines, books, and stationery). Sage sought ideas from online resources, making the list of items that were “frequently requested and much needed.”

Collection boxes went out on Wednesday, September 7, and by the end of the week, Sage says the boxes were full. “I’ve received a number of e-mails from members who are glad to see we are doing this,” she says of the enthusiastic response from the gym’s patrons. “We have a very generous community, and people have been, and always are, very responsive.”

Big Vanilla also invited community members to not only donate items, but to also send cards and letters offering encouragement and gratitude to those in service. As the project flyer put it, “The troops love to hear from all of us — mail brightens their day!”

Names of soldiers were submitted by the community in recommendation they receive a care package. “We thought it would be extra special if we could send [the troops] packages from ‘the folks back home,’” Sage explains.

Individuals in the community were not the only ones participating; even businesses came out to show their support of troops. When Janice Offenbacker of Costco Wholesale heard about the project at a meeting of the Pasadena Business Association (PBA), she delivered a number of items on behalf of Costco. Offenbacker and PBA Executive Director Sandi Parrish went by the Big Vanilla on September 12 to deliver their donations in person. “We try to contribute to anyone in the community who is in need,” Offenbacker explained. She says many of the Costco employees were moved by the idea of the project, and on payday many of them made their own personal contribution of items.

Despite the September 11 attacks being 10 years in the past, the memories of the disaster are almost as strong today as they were the day after they happened. Big Vanilla’s community service project pays tribute to the memory by showing appreciation for the soldiers overseas and the service they provide for the country.

Big Vanilla continued to collect donations through September 16. Stay turned for updates on the project’s success!

To follow other activities going on at the Big Vanilla athletic club, visit them on the web at www.bigvanilla.com.