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Shots for Tots’ fundraiser quite a ride
By Jeanne STARMACK
LIBERTY
At the Masters Bar and Grille, tucked away on Trumbull Avenue just off Belmont Avenue, they used to make room for Jell-O only once a year.
It was a Christmas treat. Friends and Liberty residents Debbie Minniti and Joan Dalessandro used to bring out those trays full of Jell-O shots and charge a buck a piece to raise money at the bar’s Christmas party to buy bikes for the Marines’ Toys for Tots program.
In 2011, they raised money for three bikes. In 2012, they collected enough for six. Last year, they raised enough for eight.
“We bought eight bikes,” said John Grachanin, who owns the bar with his wife, Monica, and a partner, Dave Cordy.
“We were so, oh, that was exciting ...,” Grachanin continued.
“Just so you know,” Minniti added, we were shooting for 30 this year.”
Thirty? Their sights were set high, from eight all the way to 30, but that’s because suddenly, Minniti and Dalessandro had a whole lot more help.
A group of eight more friends who had seen that tray come around enough times by last year’s party decided they were going to pay it forward, said Cat Channell of Liberty.
“It’s a good cause,” she said.
“Now we’re holding the tray,” said Patty Wright of Girard.
It wasn’t until this year that this tight-knit group gave their cause a name. They began selling shots at the bar’s New Year’s Eve party, too, and at Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and other events throughout the year. They asked patrons who celebrated birthdays there if they could sell shots.
They worked it, slinging cubes of exotic flavors such as Washington apple, strawberry creamsicle, fuzzy navel and the must-have favorite, watermelon. It became a no-brainer at some point to start shouting out: “Shots for Tots!” as they carried their trays through the room.
That’s now their official name. They’ve sold 50 “Shots for Tots” T-shirts, 20 of which were donated by New Dawn Design on Trumbull Avenue in Liberty, which also donated a banner.
They also are raffling a basket that will be auctioned at this year’s Christmas party.
They did not buy 30 bikes this year. They raised more than $3,000, spent $60 a bike and bought 50 of them at Walmart, which gave discounts and helped them put the bikes together.
The Marine Corps is sending four representatives to the bar Saturday evening for an appreciation party for everyone who donated to the cause.
People who donated money, bought shots, donated their time, bought raffle tickets, or would like to buy raffle tickets for the Christmas basket are welcome.
The party begins at 7 p.m. No shots will be sold there, Dalessandro said. The party is just to thank people for donating.
“These are working people,” said Dalessandro. “It’s their hard-earned money that bought these bikes.”
The bikes will be given to local children, she added.
“It’s just amazing how generous people are,” she said.