The Spirit of the Season
The holidays are the season of giving, and right now I am asking CCC members to come together to embrace the spirit of the season and do just that!
As many of you know, last month one of our members, Dianna Wara, lost everything in the devastating tornadoes that hit the Midwest. Â She and her family have recently relocated to an apartment and are in the process of rebuilding. Â So many of you reached out to see what you could do to help. Â Now is the time.
Get ready, because we are throwing a CCC Kitchen Shower!
Take a look at your kitchen – What are your favorite appliances, gadgets, or cooking tools?  Do you have any gently used extras to spare?  Maybe when you are out holiday shopping you could pick up a gift for Dianna?  How about sending a few cookbooks to help her rebuild her culinary library?  Right now anything and everything helps and will be greatly appreciated.  Dianna will have to rebuild her kitchen and everything inside from the ground up. Let’s shower her with love, support and supplies!
Next week I will gather up all the donations and get them to Dianna just in time for Christmas. Â That means, we need you to start sending items RIGHT AWAY. Â I ask all of you to truly embrace your fellow contester during this season of giving!
I will be at my parents house for Christmas, so all the items you donate can be sent to their home just outside Chicago. Â That way I can easily get everyone to Dianna in central Illinois.
Cooking Contest Central
Kristina Vanni
1133 Claridge Drive
Libertyville, IL Â 60048
Thank you CCC!!! Â
Kristina,
I just sent something via Target and they said that it will arrive between the 19th and 24th. Thank you for organizing! Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Veronica!!
Thanks for organizing this Kristina. I would like to send a gift card. Are there any other stores you know Dianna likes? Whew, I can’t imagine what it is like to go through this. I wish Dianna all the best.
Oops, meant to post this at the bottom. Sorry Veronica.
I will mail something’s out on Monday
Thank you Lisa! You rock!
I will gather up some things this week end and get them out on Monday. Thank you so much for organizing this!
Thank you for your generosity Pam!
I will have cookbooks to start Dianna’s library.
Outstanding!
This is a great idea! I know Dianna loves to bake so I ordered her a baking set from Kohl’s. Hope you get it in time!
So generous, thank you Ronna!
I’ll be sending the special items that your mother and I talked about ……. I’ll also send a few other items as well …… won’t get to the post office until next week …… hopefully all will get to you on time…….
Wonderful, thanks Susan!
Kristina, just sent something from Wal-mart…will arrive by 12/19! Thanks so much for coordinating and delivering everything!! Have a Merry Christmas!!
Thanks Debbie! I will keep my eyes peeled.
Hi Kristina,
I am very happy to help. I have forwarded over to you a Target Gift Card. It should arrive between the 19th and 24th. So sorry Diana for all you have gone through. Stay strong!!!
Perfect! Thanks so much Linda.
Another package coming from Target!
Woo hoo! Thanks Jen 🙂
Sending a Target gift card, this is so sweet and thoughtful Kristina ! God Bless all the victims of this tragedy.
Can’t go wrong with Target! Thank you Angela.
Kristina is there an email I can send an e-gift card to …that way you will receive it automatically. You just print it off and give it to her. Thanks a bunch
Hi Angela – you can email Kristina@CookingContestCentral.com and I will include it!
Kristina – I am sending you a box of ‘goodies/cookware’ for Dianna on Monday. Thank you for having this – it is always a pleasure to be able to share with our BFFs in their time of need. Blessings to Dianna and her family and to all of the wonderful Vanni family.
Wonderful! Thank you so much Mary Louise.
I’ve been gone this week and just read your post. Thank you for helping us to activate GooDwiLL, Kristina, at this time of year! Hmmmm let me ponder and get back to you.
Thanks Merry!
Just wondering if you want the items gift wrapped???
Susan – It’s probably better not to wrap them. Thanks!
Just sent a gift to your parents’ house. They are saying 7-10 business days. Thanks for organizing this, Kristina.
Thanks Marie, it already arrived!
Thank you, Kristina, for collecting and delivering the gifts. You are a super organizer!! I will be sending cookbooks and a gift card on Tuesday- Dec. 17th. Blessings to you and yours this Holiday- Kim Hookman
Wonderful Kim! I will keep my eyes peeled. Thank you!
Amazing idea
Thanks Arlene! Your letter just arrived!
UPDATE – FedEx Express picked up my box a few minutes ago. Will be delivered to your home in 3 days. Thank you for allowing us to share with a fellow CCCer. Merry Christmas Blessings to everyone!
The FedEx man will be coming to our house often this week! Thanks again ML 🙂
I decided to send her a gift card as I’m thinking the time is closing in on putting packages in the mail. I will be putting it in the mail tomorrow to your Mother’s house, Kristina, thank you and your Mother for handling all of this.
That’s wonderful of you Barbara!
Oh wow…I need to check in here more often…I will get something to you, Kristina, TOMORROW….!!! What a wonderful opportunity to spread the cooking love!
Thanks Catherine! You are right – we are always here to support our fellow cooking friends 🙂
Really glad somebody organized this
A gift card from Target is on its way to Libertyville. Thanks for doing all this Kristina.
Thank you Priscilla! I think we are going to have a GIANT pile of gift cards from CCC. Perfect, because then she can get exactly what she needs!
Target gift card coming your way! I’ll be happy to go through my kitchen and send some things after the new year. Thanks, Kristina, for organizing this!
Great Kim!
I’m printing out my postage now and a few items will make their way to you this week for Dianna. Thank you for organizing this. All the best to Dianna and family!
Thanks so much Holly!!
I’d also like to email a gift card, probably from Amazon. Can you give me the appropriate email address. You can send it to me at paulvans@stny.rr.com if you’d prefer not to post it here. Thanks!
Perfect! You can send it to Kristina@CookingContestCentral.com and I will add it to the growing pile of gifts from CCC 🙂
Amazon is shipping today for Friday delivery. Thanks for organizing! Derick
Fantastic, thanks for the heads up Derick!
Kristina: I will send out a gift card tomorrow…just read the posting. What a wonderful bunch of CCC members in our group.
Kristina,
I am just getting around to reading this. I sent out a package this morning via 2-day mail. It is scheduled to arrive on Monday. Sorry for the delay. Thanks for organizing this.
Kristina… I just sent her some baking kitchen gadgets via Amazon.com that should be to the address provided above on Christmas Eve. I want her to enjoy these and all that she receives from her foodie friends. I understand the struggle she faces in trying to get her home rebuilt and resupplied. Living on the Gulf Coast we have had to endure many hurricanes and replace personal property several times. I consider myself fortunate unlike many of my local friends and family members who had to start over after losing everything like Dianna! You’re a sweetheart for leading the path and organizing this SOS for her! Thank you!
Hi Kristina,
Maris Callahan shared your request in a private Facebook group, and it caught my eye for a couple of reasons. My father’s family is from Washington/East Peoria, and I still have a few relatives in the area, including a great-nephew getting ready to graduate from Illinois Central in East Peoria. Thankfully, he and his friends are fine, although two of them lost their apartment. Also, one of the clients of my small PR firm runs a gourmet coffee company, Second Chance Coffee Company, staffed by post-prison employees learning a profession and how to return to society – and they produce the most incredible coffee I have ever tasted, I Have a Bean Coffee. We shipped two bags of their best coffee by USPS priority mail, and those of us here at Quicksilver sent a grinder and measuring spoons so she can at least have a good cup of coffee as she works to put things together. Please keep us posted on how she’s doing!