Jarms Ace Hardware employees, Lyndsey Wood (left) and Tawny Adams, show off the tropical display they hope will net the Children's Miracle Network a special donation.
Pine trees, not palms, are the dominant species in the area surrounding Cheney.
But recently, Jarms Ace Hardware has "planted" their version of those trees from the tropics in front of the store, hoping to ultimately help the Children's Miracle Network and specifically, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital.
Competing with other Ace stores across the country, Jarms hopes their display in the Miracle Bucket promotion will earn them, but more importantly their local CMN hospital, a donation.
"If we were to be chosen as having the best display in the country then our Children's Miracle Network Hospital would get an additional $7,500 from Ace," store owner Tom Jarms said.
All Ace stores in the U.S. are offered the opportunity to participate, Jarms said. "We've seen a couple of other things but I'd like to think ours is pretty good," he added.
The Cheney display is a collaboration of efforts from store employees, Tawny Adams and Lyndsey Wood.
"When they want to build a display it's 'Tawny, do this,'" Adams said. She also coordinates the Mother's Day Garden Party and helps with Santa Claus pictures at the store.
The contest theme of palm trees came from Adams. "It was all Tawny. She knew about the bucket contest last year," Wood explained.
The tropical theme was unique. "Palm trees, that's something creative, nobody's done it," Wood said. Other stores were building castles and swimming pools.
"Tawny's palm trees, that was a cool idea," Wood said. The display also includes a beachfront bar.
Original entries are done by submitting a photo to Ace's corporate headquarters who will pick up to 10 finalists.
"Then it (the voting) goes to Facebook," Wood said. "Whomever get the most likes, shares and comments is the winner of the $7,500 for the hospital." The Rocking R Ace in Harrisonburg, Va. won the contest in 2015 with 4,300 votes.
Approached last year, Wood was told there was an interest in doing more, but things were still getting settled from their move to the former Ben Franklin store she said. Still last year the store helped raised over $6,000 for CMN.
"This year we've already raised $8,500," Wood said.
Money is raised in a variety of ways, the most notable being the purchase of the special themed blue 5-gallon buckets. Customers fill the bucket with items and receive a 20-percent discount, which is donated to CMN.
"I'm an elementary and special education major at Eastern," Wood said. She tries to visit the hospital once a month she said. "They knew I have a very special place for children."
"You think of how much those kids are going through, I get choked up talking about it," Wood added. "They are so happy and full of life you want to do everything you can."
Since 1991 Ace has been a proud partner of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the American Red Cross.
Through its stores, vendor partners and corporate team members, Ace has raised over $71 million for CMN Hospitals and have continued to support the American Red Cross through product donations when a disaster strikes. http://www.acehardware.com.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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