PHOTOS BY MATT NAGLE

It was a happy day at Lister Elementary School in Tacoma Nov. 18 when every student received a brand new, fleece-lined jacket bearing the school name in bright yellow embroidery. A gift to the children from B.J. Turnipseed, owner of B.J.’s Bingo, she pitched in to help distribute the jackets while 4th-grade teacher LaShelle Dralle (right) wrote students’ names on the labels.

Christmas comes early to Lister Elementary

By Matt Nagle

For nearly 400 students at Lister Elementary School in Tacoma, Christmas came early this year and the joy showed on every one of the little students’ faces. Thanks to BJ’s Bingo in Fife, the young learners were fitted with brand new, water-resistant sports jackets complete with the Lister name embroidered on them in yellow in keeping with the school colors of black, white and yellow.

On the big distribution day Nov. 18, children filed in to one of the schoolrooms class by class to receive their jackets, shouting out an enthusiastic “Thank you” as they left in single file. The pride on their faces showed how pleased they were to wear their spiffy new black coats.

Each year, BJ’s Bingo makes a donation to a needy school or charity during the holiday season. This is the third year in a row that BJ’s Bingo has outfitted students in a Tacoma elementary school with warm coats. Owner and Puyallup Tribal member B.J. Turnipseed was there to help with the giveaway. She said she does it simply because she wants to help those who need it most. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “I have so much fun seeing the kids so happy to get their coats.”

Christine Meyers of Northwest Embroidery found the particular style of jacket that BJ’s chose for the donation. She worked closely with Lister Principal Rafael Maltos to design the school logo that was embroidered on the left chest of the fleece-lined jackets. Two weeks before the distribution day, BJ’s staff went to the East Side school and sized each child for proper fitting.

Rafael Maltos expressed great appreciation for the gifts for the children. “With all of the jackets being exactly the same and in the school colors, this will help greatly with our school identity,” he said.

B.J. Turnipseed thanked the customers and staff of BJ’s Bingo, whose loyalty and patronage make this and other yearly holiday donations possible.

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