It’s not often that I rocket out of bed at five in the morning and jump into the shower before I even start the coffee. Oh, I’m up by five-thirty pretty much every day of the week. The dogs, the cats, the chickens, the ten year old boy…all demand that I’m an early riser and I have no complaints. Today is different – although I still can’t find one thing to gripe about. Not just because it’s Friday. Not just because it’s going to be a beautiful day that I want to get a head start on. It’s because it’s only two days until Christmas! And I have much to do in final preparations. Wrapping it all up and tying it together with beautiful bows, figuratively speaking.

On June 3, WINGs (Women’s Independent Networking Group), decided that in lieu of our regular monthly meeting, we would host a fundraiser in an effort to give back to the community while creating awareness of the strong, successful women in our group, the group itself, and the wonderful opportunities and programs that Girls, Inc. has to offer young ladies. In less than eight short, summer weeks we found support and sponsorship from Girls Inc. of Worcester for our venue and will be donating proceeds from the day back to the organization. We have gathered together over twenty wonderful women who own their own businesses and are willing to step out of their comfort zone and support a great cause at the same time. We have received donations for our raffles and support from local businesses as well as Worcester “greats” such as the Worcester Sharks, The Hanover Theater and Polar Beverages. We have promoted and advertised, invited all of our families and friends and managed to work this all in to our busy summer schedules, while juggling jobs, children, vacations and anything else that is thrown at us Moms.

This morning, I will be heading over to Girls Inc. of Worcester to have a quick and final meeting with one of the directors, count available tables and power outlets and wrap my head around the fact that the day is coming…fast! I am making signs for the raffles, the bake sale, overflow parking…. I’ve made a list and I’m checking it twice…okay – maybe more like five hundred times…and , generally, working through the last, minute details to ensure the day is a success.

Yes, Christmas is right around the corner. One hundred fifty-two days, sixteen hours and fifty-eight minutes until December 25, 2014 as I’m typing this at seven o’clock this morning, to be exact. Or, if you just can’t wait, fifty-one hours and fifty-five minutes until Christmas in July.

Please stop into Girls, Inc. of Worcester at 125 Providence Street, Worcester, MA between 11am and 3pm this Sunday, July 27, 2014. It’s a great time to get some early holiday shopping out of the way, a chance to win some great raffle prizes and to give back to the community at the same time. A good deed, indeed. One sure to get you on you-know-who’s “Nice List”.