Miss Farmington to Launch Charity Projects

For 2011 Miss Farmington Elise Newcomer, doing volunteer work and raising money for charity is part of a busy life.

One of the reasons the Farmington High sophomore got involved in the pageant, held in Farmington this past July, was to find a larger platform for the causes that are near and dear to her.

"I knew just being a sophomore girl with a dream, I couldn't do everything I wanted to do," Newcomer said in an interview Sunday.

Sure enough, almost as soon as she was crowned, Drakeshire Lanes manager Geno Grabinski offered to host a fundraiser. Newcomer is organizing a Holiday Shopping Craft Show and bowling fundraiser set for Nov. 12 at Drakeshire. But she's not stopping there.

Newcomer will also be spearheading a Blizzard Buddies clothing collection from Oct. 1 to Dec. 10. The new and gently used winter coats, boots, scarves and mittens collected will be distributed to homeless veterans and needy families in a Detroit neighborhood.

The Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit focused on providing services to about 20,000 families on the far west side of the city. Its free clinic operates out of the Health & Education Center, providing primary and preventative health care.

"That's my mom's childhood neighborhood, so it's really important to me to help them out," Newcomer said.

She also supports Sweet Dreamzzz, Inc., a Farmington Hills-based charity that provides sleep kits and sleep education to children in schools where 75 percent or more are eligible for free school lunches. The kits contain a sleeping bag, nightshirt and socks for warmth, a toothbrush and toothpaste for hygiene, and a stuffed animal, books and crayons.

Several years ago, Newcomer and her friends collected 92 Webkinz for the program. They were touched by how important those stuffed animals were to the children who received them.

To participate in the Holiday Shopping Craft Show as a vendor, or for more information, call 248-471-9042.

Blizzard Buddies drop-off points will be at:

25200 Grand River, Farmington

31775 Grand River, Farmington

35000 Grand River, Farmington

34740 Rhonswood, Farmington Hills

33336 Grand River, Farmington