Pink flamingos help raise funds for youth mission
From STaff Reports May 30, 2012 3:34PM
CUTLINE: It’s a flamingo invasion. People may commission a flock of 10 flamingoes from the youth Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, for $20 each. Proceeds will fund the Youth Mission Trip in July.
Updated: July 3, 2012 12:40PM
The Fox Valley, and other parts of the western suburban landscape, are seeing pink once again as flamingos return to the area.
And those pink birds mean greenbacks for the youths at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, who are planting the flamingos to raise money for the church youth mission trip in July to rebuild tornado-ravaged homes in Alabama.
Participants pay $20 to have 10 flamingos placed in someone’s yard, along with a note explaining the flamingo invasion.
Should the resident want to discover just who “flamingo-ed” them, that information is available — for the mere fee of $10.
“We’re taking bookings through June 27,” said Jim Best, Baker youth director. “The youth are having a great time with the clandestine nighttime flamingo plantings, and those getting the flamingos are having a great time figuring out just who sent them.”
One needn’t be a member or be connected with the church. “We’ve had a number of orders from people who think the whole idea is a lot of fun,” Best said.
The flamingos remain for four days unless the “flamingo-ee” wants them removed before then. “And it better be for a good reason,” Best joked.
This is the second year for the flamingo fun. Last year’s fundraiser was declared a big success; the flamingos traveled more than 800 miles and were sold out for all of the 2½ months of deliveries, garnering more than $2,100 for the 2011 mission trip. The colorful creatures were seen in Bartlett, Elgin, Geneva, Batavia and even Naperville, and orders were received from as far away as Janesville, Wis., and Atchison, Kan. Another area church even began its own invasion of pink birds.
To arrange flamingo fun, people can call Best at 630-881-4338. Checks should be made payable to Baker Memorial UMC, with “youth mission trips” written on the memo line.
Baker Memorial UMC is in downtown St. Charles, on East Main Street, between Third and Fourth avenues. Visit www.bakermemorialchurch.org.
