THE EMPORIUM SCOOP

Welcome, all, to our November issue of The Emporium Scoop. We hope so much this finds
you all well, and planning for the upcoming holiday season. In years past, this is the time of
year we’d be encouraging you to purchase delicious treats from us to meet all your gift-
giving and sweet tooth-satisfying needs. If, in fact, that’s what you’ve been planning and are
in a position do, just as before, we’d be extremely grateful for your orders and will look
forward to preparing, packaging, and shipping those items for you or to you. There are great
gifts available on our website, www.lakesideemporium.com. Be sure to check out the
“Shipping News” section to make the process as easy and affordable as possible. Thank
you! If, however, you’re thinking of alternative ways to make the holidays special, we totally
understand. Read on.
Circumstances are very different this year than in the past. Many more people are
struggling financially and are, quite literally, hungry. This description fits folks in our
community, our neighbors, family members, and perhaps even you. With this being the
case, the holidays will, for many, take on a whole new meaning. We all need to ask
ourselves how we’ll rise to the occasion and address these needs.
If you are in a position to provide help, you may already be volunteering time or donating
items or money to local organizations or individuals. Many thanks to you for doing so!!
Where appropriate, and if you’re willing, we’d love to hear from you if you have names of
food pantries or other resources that want those in need to know who and where they are so
we can pass that information on. Send mail to [email protected].
Are you looking for an opportunity to help but not sure where to start? If so, we beg you to
consider donating to Feeding America. Lakeside Emporium is sponsoring a fundraiser for
this organization that, according to its website, “invests 98% of all cash and non-cash
donations directly into programs and services that help millions of people facing hunger.”
We were drawn to it because every dollar given to Feeding America can help provide 20
meals to families facing hunger through its national network of food banks. Donating is
easy! Just click on the link below and your donation goes directly to Feeding America. Your
kindness and generosity will have a great impact at a time when your help is needed the
most. Thank you so much for considering donating to our fundraiser!

https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/Lakeside-Emporium

In addition, if you are, or someone you know is struggling and not able to get to a food or
clothing pantry or not having any success in getting assistance, please notify us via email of
the situation, name, and contact info. We will do all within our power to find or provide help.

Send email to [email protected]

Thank you so much for subscribing, for reading, and for caring!! We look forward to hearing
from you! And whether it’s an order to process, the name of a resource to pass along, or the
opportunity to help you or someone else, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the
privilege.

CONSIDER THIS………..

“Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.” That line, at the conclusion of Chapter

20 in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, took on an extremely profound double meaning as I read it

aloud that late summer day in 2001. I quickly handed the book and the job of designated

reader to my mom, mostly so I could pull myself together, but also to ensure a seamless

continuation of the story so my father wouldn’t have too much time to concentrate on the

words I’d just read. He was dying of an aggressive form of brain cancer, and we would often

read to him for purposes of engagement and distraction during that time. It was difficult not

to choke up as I read the second sentence at face value.

The character delivering that line in the story, however, was not telling Miss Jean Louise to

stand because her father, a lawyer named Atticus Finch, was passing away, but rather

passing by. He had just been ruled against by the jury in a racially charged case in which he

had, by all standards, successfully defended an innocent man whose life was at stake. His

daughter was being encouraged to join with those who respected her father for who he was

and what he stood for to rise as their hero walked by. It was that meaning of the words I was

reading that really stopped me in my tracks that day. I felt about my dad the way those

standing in the courtroom felt about Atticus Finch. He was my hero.

Consider, please, for just a moment, a few definitions of that word – “a person of

distinguished courage or ability”; “someone who acts with courage, selflessness, &

compassion, often in spite of their own fears, to help others”; those who “prioritize the

greater good over their own personal concerns and are motivated by a desire to serve

others without expecting anything in return”. In most basic terms, a hero is a good person. I

think my dad fits that category. Like many others, he was an immigrant who survived war

and persecution as a child in Poland during WWII and came to America in his early teens.

He was so enamored with and grateful to be a part of this country and all it stood for that he

joined the army, and went back overseas as a soldier, even before he became a citizen

here. He went on to marry, raise a family, and worked tirelessly to build not one, but

eventually four small businesses. The intent of each was not just to support his family, and

to employ others, but the community at large by the everyday services provided (service

station/convenience store; towing company; trucking; building/contracting). I was awed by

the brave journey that led him and his family to freedom in a foreign country, his willingness

to defend it, his drive, hard work and self-sacrifice that enabled him to succeed as he gave

back, and, finally, his courage in coping with a fatal cancer diagnosis.

The fictional Atticus Finch, my dad, yours, our moms, neighbors, teachers, classmates,

nurses, first responders, – “everyday” people may all be considered by many of us to be

heroes. They don’t have to perform extraordinary feats to receive that status in our hearts

and minds. It’s who they are and what they stand for. Their character is what we admire

and want to emulate. It’s the way they live their lives that earns our respect. They are good

people. So many of you, our amazing customers and now readers, deservedly hold that

place in our hearts as well.

It’s times like the one we’re in now that we remember, look for, and need heroes more than

ever. Not all of us have been fortunate enough to be able to witness heroism within our

family, immediate social circle, or even discover them in books or movies. As we seek them,

and, hopefully, help others do the same, the importance of the word’s definition is

paramount. We must resist equating the word “hero” for its often-used synonym, which is

“star”. How easy it’s become to elevate those who are popular in the world of entertainment

to hero status based on wealth, looks, fan base, or, sadly, ways in which they minimize and

mistreat others. For a star to be a hero requires a totally different set of characteristics (see

paragraph #3!). It’s imperative that we do all we can as a society to help those who are not

aware of the difference to learn what real heroism requires as we all strive to live our lives

courageously, with compassion, and with a desire to help others.

With that mission in mind, we’d like to enlist your help in identifying and acknowledging

those individuals who are living their lives and contributing to their families and society in

ways worthy of role modeling. Many of you whom we’ve had the honor of getting to know as

customers will see heroes reflected in your bathroom mirror, though you may be too humble

to agree. Have conversations with your friends and co-workers about your definition of

heroism, and most importantly, talk to your children and find out who they look up to and

why. Help them develop a list of worthy characteristics to look for and strive to emulate.

Please. Together, let’s take this important step in making the world better. At the very least,

let’s “stand up” and show our respect for those good people as they pass by in our lives. At

best, let’s do all we can to be worthy of the same. If you’d be willing to share your thoughts,

we’d love to hear from you. Click here to send your thoughts, questions, ideas, and

requests

Speaking of heroes, November 11 is Veterans Day. Thank you to all who served!

SOMETHING MORE TO THINK ABOUT.…

If someone listens, or

stretches out a hand, or

whispers a kind word of

encouragement, or attempts

to understand a lonely

person, extraordinary things

begin to happen.

-Loretta Girzartis (b. 1920)

American writer & educator



Press the picture to play the video

As a society, we have gone through and

are going through some very trying times.

Friendships have been damaged and families are

divided. Let’s strive to get back to a time where we

listened to each other and still cared for one another

despite our different beliefs, whether they be

religious, political, or what we’re having for dinner.

Let’s get back to love and compassion before all else.

Gary Samples wrote the song and created the video

below to encourage us to do just that. Together we

can do better.

Shipping News

We’ve added a few new items this month for you to choose from on our website.  Because our truffles have always been so popular, we’ve expanded our online offerings to include our 6-piece “regular size” and 6-piece “dessert size” truffles.  These are great for gift-giving, just like our 24-piece box that’s been a staple at lakesideemporium.com for years.  Buy them individually, or order several to have on hand as gifts (remember, if your order totals $50 or more, it ships for FREE!).

To thank you for ordering from lakesideemporium.com, all orders $50 and up SHIP FREE!! 

Here, dear newsletter readers, is the way to ensure your order ships free!  When your order of $50 or more is in your “cart” and you’re getting ready to check out, click on the button that says “Click here for Free Shipping via Priority Mail” (see below). It’s easy!

As you peruse our website, you’ll find other packages that offer free shipping.  One of them is our Fudge Trifecta, which contains a pound each of chocolate, peanut butter, and maple walnut fudge, and SHIPS FOR FREE!! 

Lakeside Emporium October Contest Winners

Thank you to all who participated in the October newsletter contest! The hidden message

was PRESTO. It was found by taking the first letter of each sentence in the clue.

Probably you are thinking that this would be a waste of time. Really, it’s fun and pretty

simple. Everyone, no matter how old or young, should give it a try. Sometimes you may get

a little frustrated. The best thing to do is keep trying. Oftentimes, after you’ve figured it

out you’ll say to yourself, “I should have seen it, it was easy.”

Congratulations to the three lucky winners who were randomly selected from all who sent in

the correct answer:

Emily Baker

Sheryl Reed

Jenny McNeill

Your gift packages will soon be in your possession!

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!