Pink flamingos ready for retirement as flocking fundraiser draws to an end
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Numerous homeowners awoke for the day or arrived home from a day at work, only to gaze upon their prized lawns and note something amiss – flocks of pink plastic birds, cheerful frolicking on the sod.
Hurriedly, they’d race across the lawn, snatch up the paperwork housed in a little plastic box and find a ransom note of sorts – pay up or the birds stay put. Briskly, they found a checkbook and a phone, set to send the fair fowl on their way.
Such was the case of the recent “flamingo flocking” fundraiser put on by the most recent graduating class of Leadership Whitley County as a means of raising money to help offset the costs of the Splashpad project at Morsches Park. The Splashpad is a unique water feature that is handicap accessible and free for use by families during the summer months. Currently under construction, the Splashpad will be completed soon – thanks to significant support from the Dekko Foundation, private contributions and other contributions.
According to totals recently reported by the Whitley County Community Foundation, as of last week, more than $1700 had been raised – with perhaps a few hundred more expected to trickle in this week.
As of Saturday, though the flocks may be viewed for a few more days, the flocking has officially come to an end. Some of the birds, it seems, have seen sunnier days! And those planning the fundraiser say they have far exceeded their goals.
So, as the summer sun shines on, the flocks are ready for retirement. Will they reappear at some later date? We’ll have to wait and see…