Prince of Peace Youth Group Hosts Chili & Cheesecake Chow- Down!!!

On Saturday, February 18, 2012 The POP Youth Group held a Chili & Cheesecake Chow-Down to benefit the youth members that are attending the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. There are 11 youth-James Cox, Christian Gilbert, Renee Grandmaison, Mike Klauck, Rachel Kovacs, Nicole Lane, Lazzara Manka, Megan McNally, Luke Mueller, Beau Pettit, and Peter Ruckel & 3 chaperones - Monica Walsh, Mary Gilbert, and Matt Klauck scheduled to be part of this Gathering of 32,000 youth and adults that will be in New Orleans. While there we will engage in service projects within a city still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

The event was a total success thanks to the leadership of Matt Klauck and his planning team of Mary Gilbert, Kathy Pettit, & Monica Walsh. Thanks to all of our youth members and their families for their generous donations of food and raffle baskets! Thanks to Kathy Pettit and her decorating skills the Fellowship Hall was transformed into a festive inviting room! The youth and adults serving this evening provided the guests with the opportunity to try 9 different types of chili, toppings, a variety of cornbreads, tortilla chips and hot dogs & chicken nuggets. For dessert there was a cheesecake bar set up with choices of different flavors of cheesecake and an array of toppings. ALL cheesecakes were made by Matt Klauck- they were a big hit!!

Musical entertainment was provided by Jacques Plante on the piano and Joe Gilbert on guitar. Thanks to Casey Johansen and 105.5 FM WDBY, Brookfield for providing sound equuipment for the night. Line dancing lessons concluded the evening led by Monica Walsh & Mary Gilbert- many joined in with lots of boot kickin action!!

The evening was recorded by Tonia Walsh from joy.life.artphotography with great candid shots of the night!

So how does an event like this happen????

With the help of many and we are blessed at POP Youth Group to have so many members and families supporting the youth attending the service to New Orleans this summer.

Thanks to our youth members: Sabrina Aragon, Sebastian Aragon, Rachel D'Ausilio, Christian Gilbert, Renee Grandmaison, Jacob Johansen, Diana Koehm, Rachel Kovacs, Lauren Kovacs, Emily Kovacs, Janessa MacCarley, Lazzara Manka, Sierra Mayerson, Megan McNally, Beau Pettit, Peter Ruckel, Emma Weis, Emma Zschunke, Sami Zschunke & Jason Walega.

Thanks to our adult helpers: 

Judith Aragon, Nancy Humphreys- D’Ausilio, Mary & Will Gilbert, Beth Grandmaison, Casey & Kathy Johansen, Matt Klauck, Joyce & Roland Klauck, Andy and Eva Koehm, Cathy Kovacs, Anna Lane, Monica MacCarley, Amy Manka, Eric and Wendy Mayerson, Sue McNally, Guy & Kathleen Pettit, Lori & Phil Ruckel, Lisa Walega, Russell & Monica Walsh, Kim Weis, Bonnie and Mike Zschunke

Alumni:  Ryan Ackell, Joe Gilbert, Mike Walsh

And most importantly thank-you to all of our guests - church members, youth group members & families, alumni & families, friend and community members!!!

The Spirit that was shared that night will be carried to New Orleans to be spread by the POP Youth Group to the citizens of New Orleans as we serve them in their needs!