Owner of Cory's Valley Market Cory Thompson poses with the Loesch family in front of about half the order for the Watson Children's Shelter. (L-R): Thompson, Arik, Jean, Nevaeh, Aubri, Allie, Perry, Alysa, Alex, Gordon and Darrin.
Jean Loesch making dinner rolls to raise funds for the Watson Children's Shelter.
Jean Loesch accepted orders through Facebook. Only a couple people didn't pick up their orders. These cheesecakes easily found a buyer after they went unclaimed.
SEELEY LAKE – The Loesch family was sad to read the Christmas wish list for children at the Watson Children's Shelter in Missoula.
"They weren't asking for toys," said mother Jean Loesch. "They were asking for simple things that we take for granted."
The family decided they wanted to help. They raised $750 and will be delivering diapers, wipes, pull-ups, diaper rash cream, fruit snacks and goldfish next week to the shelter.
Jean and Gordon Loesch became foster parents in 2013. Since then, they have taken care of about 40 foster children and adopted six of them.
In December 2017, they adopted Aubri and her younger sister Nevaeh. Both girls lived at the Watson Children's Shelter.
"They said the staff was very good, treated them nice and loved on them but the staffing wasn't enough to send a lot of love around. They had to share everything because there was not enough to go around," said Loesch. "I think that bothered us. Nothing against sharing but there should be some things that you don't have to share."
For example, the children weren't able to have their own stuffed animals. They also read a story of one child who was asking for pull-ups. Jean said he was embarrassed because he wet the bed and they were out of pull-ups. Others asked for socks and gift certificates for things to do over Christmas break. The shelter asked for diapers, dish soap, snacks.
When the Loesches saw the Christmas list and hearing the girls' stories, they decided they wanted to help.
The family put their money together. The children donated money they received in Christmas cards and in total they had more than $150 as a family.
"We knew we could do more," said Jean.
The children came up with the idea of doing a bake sale. Jean posted the bake sale on Facebook saying she could make about anything for donations to the Watson Children's Shelter.
Jean's friend Tessa Stevens agreed to help by making cupcakes, mini pies and peanut butter cream pie.
"[Jean] is fantastic," said Stevens. "I'm her friend and it was a good cause and those kids that she has are super fantastic. Jean asked me and I'm willing to help out pretty much for anything."
The orders came pouring in. Jean sold 150 pans of cinnamon rolls, 20 pans of dinner rolls, cupcakes, cheesecakes, various pies and cobblers. She donated all the ingredients and just asked for a donation, there was no set price.
"The community really came together," said Jean. "A lot of people were very courteous and thought what we were doing was great."
They raised $650. After talking to the owner of Cory's Valley Market Cory Thompson, he donated $100. The Loesch family purchased everything at cost from Cory's.
"They came to me and asked if I could help and I said yes," said Thompson. "It was a good cause – helping kids is always good."
Jean added, "He helped us a lot."
The Loesch family will be delivering the items to the Watson Children's Shelter after the entire order comes in next week.
"It just affected me that these kids are asking for things that my kids have everyday - socks, shoes," said Loesch. "We are just glad we can do something to help."
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