"Dorothy" is ready to kiss the local "winner." -Photo provided

Benefits Local Food Pantry

Christ United Methodist Church Mission Committee is bringing awareness regarding the local concerns of hunger and will be holding a “Kiss the Goat” fund raiser to raise funds for the local food pantry.

According to Feeding America.org, “In Iowa, one in nine people or one in seven children struggle with hunger”. Lack of money or being unable to provide enough food for their family impacts 12.4% of the families in Tama County (Eathington, 2014). Being concerned with these statistics, and the need in our local communities, Christ United Methodist Church felt that they wanted to do something locally for the local food pantry.

This event will be held at the Hunters Breakfast, Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. There will be jars with pictures of local business celebrities on them. Participants will put money in the jars and vote on who they think should win the contest and have to kiss Dorothy, Ledvina’s State Fair Celebrity Goat.

Dorothy will be decked out in her one of kind ear rings for the kissing event on Sunday, Oct. 27, during their regular church service at 10 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 301 S. Broadway in Toledo.

Willing local celebrities for this event are: Galen Musgrave, owner of Musgrave Motors and husband to Michelle from Toledo; Jared Smith, South Tama Community School District Superintendent; John Kavalier, State Bank of Toledo President and husband to Dr. Polly Hineman from Tama; Pastor John Christianson, Living Faith /Christ United Methodist Churches and husband to Wendy from Tama; Brent Heeren, Tama County Attorney and husband to Becky from Toledo; Nathan Shepard, Toledo Police Department, and husband to Sarah from Atkins; and Dorothy “Ledvina”, State Fair Kiko Goat.

“Dorothy is betrothed to a man named Greyson. She is from the land of Kansas (hence the name Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz). She is loved by many as she became “famous” by attending the Iowa State Fair and her prayer is that the Lord opens her womb and that she may become with kid!” states Amy Townsend, Iowa Kiko Goats Co-Owner (personal communication, October 9, 2019) .

“Hunger is a local problem in Tama County, and we want to help our local food pantry by holding this Kissing Goat Event to raise awareness and funding to donate to the food pantry”, states Becky Heeren, Chair of Christ United Methodist Church Mission Committee.

If you are unable to attend the event but would like to donate to the Kissing the Goat event, you can send your donations to Christ United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 285, Toledo, IA and note on your memo line “Kissing Goat” or you can donate directly to STC Food Pantry, ATTN: Sharlene Applegate, Moore, McKibben, Goodman & Lorenz, LLP, 120 E. High Street, Toledo, IA 52342.