As we wrap up the final week for the Neighbors helping Neighbors town wide fundraiser, I wanted to send a public Thank You to the Norfolk Lions, NCTVs Katy Jefferson and Tom Vayianos, as well as Kylie Breen, and of course recent KP Grad and master interviewer, Mia Valencia!!
Back in January, Mia and I started interviewing all of the Norfolk based eating establishments for the Community page spotlights. This was a way for them to introduce themselves and share their stories with the community. Many were still recovering from the long shutdown due to the pandemic. Just as we were wrapping up those spotlights, along came another fairly recent KP grad, and now college student Kylie Breen. She started working with NCTV on a fundraising idea and shortly after that the Lions were involved. Her idea was not only a way to help our small businesses, but a way to help out Norfolk residents that were hit hardest due to Covid. Combining all of our efforts, the Neighbors helping Neighbors fundraiser was born!
At the helm of this project is another KP grad, Katy Jefferson. As the executive director, Katy does an awesome job running our Norfolk Community Television! She was also the master organizer for this fundraiser and the graphic artist behind all the promotional pieces. She kept us all organized and focused! Thank you Katy!
It’s hard to believe that Tom Vayianos from NCTV didn’t grow up in Norfolk. His dedication to this project, coming up with the logo, filming and then helping to share the stories of all our small businesses cannot be matched! Tom lost many hours of sleep working well into the night to help edit videos so the spotlights for the next day could be posted! Thank you Tom!
Without hesitation, Mia took on this challenge, as she was wrapping up her senior year in high school. All the while, working at the King Philip TV network, recording and interviewing all the sports teams, going on college tours, filling out college apps, finishing off exams, playing on the KP senior tennis team and the list goes on! PHEW! As Mia started off each interview with: "We all know how much small businesses mean to the community. Our local businesses are what help to make our community unique and special." she never once hesitated to fit a zoom interview into her busy schedule! Your amazing, positive attitude comes through in all of your interviews! Thank you Mia!
The Norfolk Lions. I’ve lived in town for over 30 years and honestly never realized how many Lions members work behind the scenes helping to support so many in our community. Thank you to the Lions for providing the raffle website! They are our unsung heroes who never want any credit or to be in the limelight. There are so many to list therefore, at the risk of missing anyone, I’ll just say a big ole thank you to all of them!
If you are a small business who donated to help make this fundraiser feasible, WE THANK YOU! You are all amazing and it was a pleasure getting to know you via zoom! You really are what helps to make our community special!
If you purchased a raffle ticket, WE THANK YOU!! Without your support, the Lions wouldn’t be able to have the funding to help those in need.
Between Tom and Mia, there are over 80 spotlights covering many of our local small businesses here in Norfolk!!! We hope that you have been enjoying them each week! In case you missed some of the spotlights over the last 3 months, you can check them all out on the NCT Youtube channel: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXkipe_G29w..." That’s a wrap!
Karen Rita Reilly
Norfolk Community Page Admin