MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Deborah Guthrie recently talked with Gayelord Mankowski about the annual Mankowski Holiday Party on HOMTV’s Coffee Break. With what started out as delivering gifts to an orphanage in a town up north, one local man, Gayelord Mankowski has brought a spark of hope to children's Christmas' in Okemos and Haslett for over 20 years. The annual Mankowski Holiday Party is hosted at the Okemos Public Montessori at Central but is Township-wide and will take place this year on December 14th.

When asked if the number of kids in need of presents has increased, he said over 150 kids showed up last year who certainly were in need for presents. Most kids who attend don’t receive much more than what they get at the event.

Gaylord Mankowski stands firmly against the media for this event one day a year, just focusing on the benefit of the children and not advertising the event. Prizes are given out to every child, when their name is drawn out of a basket. The child then gets to go up to a table, see all the gifts and pick which one they would like. Once everyone receives a gift and then larger “super prizes” are given out on a raffle-drawing basis.

Many stores around the area have been very generous to the Mankowski Holiday Party. Another benefit of this event is that the money is spent in the Township, benefiting local businesses.

To donate to the Mankowski Holiday Fund people are welcomed to call the Meridian Township and say they would like to donate to the Mankowski Holiday Fund. People are also welcomed to write a check out to the Meridian Township at 5151 Marsh Road, Okemos, MI in care of the Treasurers Department and in the body of the check write “Mankowski Holiday Fund”.

If anyone would like to provide food for the event, they are welcome to bring it the day of the event or if they can’t make it that day, plans can be arranged for it to be picked up. Donations are still welcomed for the Mankowski Holiday Fund this year.