2018 marked the 21st year of a very successful fundraiser that has been run by a single
Rockford family because they wanted to give back to the community that they loved. Led by
Denise Bradley and her parents, "Scarecrows" was originally created to provide affordable
family fun that would not only bring families together but would also provide funding for local non-profit organizations. It is now headed up by Denise, her mother, and her son, Jason.
Initially, the recipient of the Bradleys' generous donations was the Rockford Area Historical Society, a totally volunteer group that still depends on donations and membership dues to pay for the operation of the Rockford Historical Museum, (now the Rockford Area Museum - RAM).
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The museum stores and preserves records and artifacts that tell the story of the Rockford area's history. The RAM provides services such as museum admission, group tours, and genealogy and other research completely without fees of any kind. These, as well as recently expanded services continue to be free to all area residents and visitors.
Word of the scarecrows grew quickly. It is now a signature event of Rockford's annual Harvest Festival with proceeds being shared between The Rockford Area Museum (RAM) and North Kent Connect (NKC).
NKC is a Christian organization committed to improving the lives of individuals and families throughout northern Kent County by providing access to basic needs and promoting economic independence. Services include food with a focus on healthy living, clothing, employment assistance, life skills education, and much more.
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In 2018, an army of volunteers was mobilized to help the Bradleys turn "Make It and Take It" Scarecrows into a destination event where families gathered in a beautiful riverside park setting to work together, laugh together, and build not only scarecrows, but also memories that will last a lifetime.
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Since Make It "N Take It Scarecrows began, Denise and her family have donated over $96,000 to local charities.
For just a $10 donation, visitors receive everything they need to build their own full size scarecrow..PLUS...
a Certificate for $10 OFF a pizza at Vitale's right across the street.
That's like getting a FREE SCARECROW while enjoying a family meal in beautiful downtown Rockford.
2018 set participation and donation records despite rain and cold temperatures on 3 of the 4 event days. Happy families from across Michigan and beyond left Rockford with a custom built scarecrow and a goal to return in 2019..
2018 was just the beginning. This year Make It "N" Take It Scarecrows will be a true fall destination event for visitors from all over Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The event will continue to grow to provide fun for more families plus educational experiences and assistance for many deserving area residents through the efforts of NKC and the RAM..
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WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US AS A PARTICIPANT BUILDING A SCARECROW, AS A VOLUNTEER TO HELP ON EVENT DAYS, OR AS A FINANCIAL DONOR TO HELP DEFRAY EXPENSES.
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TO VOLUNTEER, CLICK
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE...to donate toward 2019 expenses, PLEASE call Al Pratt at 616 485-4144
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