It started June 1 with the sale of balloon cutouts at Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Gray in exchange for a $1 donation to the Children’s Miracle Network, and the outcome of the 2022 Children’s Miracle Network fund-raising campaign is once again in the hands of the community of Gray and Jones County.
The owner and manager of Gray’s Dairy Queen, Justin Kelly, said the record-breaking amount raised in the 2021 campaign, $89,000, was a high bar.
“I’m not setting unreal expectations, but we’re going to do the best we can,” he said.
Kelly said the ‘round up’ campaign, rounding up change from purchases, starts in July, culminating with the actual Dairy Queen Nationwide Children’s Miracle Treat Day July 28.
Kelly said he believes the Lord used the community last year to defy all odds and greatly exceed the $50,000 goal that had been set for the fundraiser.
“The weather was awfu that morning, but when the first customer bought a biscuit and said to keep the change from his $100 bill, I knew it was going to be a good day,” he recalled
The owner said, although he is not setting a goal this year, he is confident the community will come through again this year.
Kelly said he has already received a lot of interest from businesses and individual sponsors wanting to partner in the fundraising event with matching funds. He said he has also received numerous phone calls from churches and organizations wanting to volunteer to assist July 28.
Gray’s Children Miracle Treat Day differs from others across the Dairy Queen franchise in that it does not donate a $1 for every blizzard sold that day. Kelly will donate every dime that the restaurant takes in July 28, just as he did for the 2021 fundraiser Oct. 28.
In addition to that, all Gray Dairy Queen employees have already committed to donating their salaries for the day. Kelly said Jones County Schools have started submitting orders for blizzards.
In addition to the food being sold July 28, Kelly said there will also be Gray Miracle Day Treat Day shirts for sale.
The owner said the money collected in Gray goes directly to the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon and is used to purchase equipment to make children receiving treatment as comfortable as possible while they are in its care.
The Miracle Treat Day event is but one of the many ways Kelly and the Dairy Queen in Gray helps raise funds for schools and other organizations in the community. The restaurant’s Facebook page announces fundraisers those fundraisers that include Jones County Schools, sports teams, churches, charities and civic organizations.
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill is located at 315 W. Clinton St in Gray. For more information about the fund-raiser, call 478-986-1202 or visit its Facebook page.
