Each year at the December meeting, the Brownfield/Terry County Red Skirts organization gathers money and gift cards to donate to the Terry County Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) and Terry County Child Welfare Board. This annual donation helps provide monetary funds to meet the physical needs of children who are impacted by unstable home situations, neglect, or other life altering events, including removal from their residence. Often times, children are removed without any of their belongings, and this is where Red Skirts has elected to fill a critical need in our local community.
The drive originated with former Red Skirt and Chamber Director, Ann Willis who also served on the Child Welfare Board. The tradition was carried on by her daughter Kendra Willis Cabrera who formerly served Terry County as a juvenile probation officer. Typically, Kendra’s grandmother, mother and she would attend a Christmas luncheon to receive these funds to take back to be used to benefit children in need from the community. However, as is with “life”, eventually Kendra’s matriarchs passed, and Kendra moved away.
To keep the annual “giving tradition” in place, the Red Skirts collected over $500 in funds/gift cards this year to donate to the JPO office and Terry County Child Welfare Board.
Accepting the gift for Juvenile Probation is Steve Rivas and accepting for Child Welfare is board member Kim Carter. Presenting this year’s donation are Michelle Cooper, outgoing President of Red Skirts, and incoming President, Michelle Connett.
The Red Skirts organization invites any woman who is a local resident or business owner and wishes to serve the local community to their monthly meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022, at the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce building at noon. For more information, contact Michelle Connett, President, the Chamber at (806)637-2564 or any current Red Skirts member.
