Twig’s Beverage is known for its amazing glass-bottle sodas, including the signature Sun Drop drinks, as well as its museum dedicated to soda. This October, it might get a reputation for its swinging parties, as well.
Twig’s is hosting the first Soda Pop Swing Party from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Sun Drop Museum, 920 S. Franklin St., Shawano. Besides offering tours of the museum, the party will include dancing to 1950s music and plenty of food to enjoy from local businesses. If Twig’s soda alone is not enough to satisfy party-goers, there will be Sun Drop old-fashioneds, along with local beer and wine.
Jaime Lee, Twig’s Sun Drop Girl, has been making the rounds around the area in a purple dress with a purple ribbon and a straw hat that belonged to her late grandmother to talk about the event and how funding goes to support the Forget Me Not Fund, which tackles Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness. The fund hits close to home for Lee, who lost her grandmother to dementia.
“The Hartwig family has the Forget-Me-Not Grape soda,” Lee said. “Portions of the sales from the soda go to the Forget Me Not Fund. Since I’ve been the Sun Drop Girl, I thought a new project to work on would be something for this cause that is dear to my heart with my grandmother, Lois Bartz. She suffered from dementia at the end of her life, and it was very heartbreaking to witness. So I’m doing it in her honor because she always made me feel so golden, and she made me feel so special.”
Lee compares dementia to “a hundred little goodbyes at the end there because they start forgetting.”
“Usually there’s something that they hold onto, like with my grandma, there’s a song that we always sang together,” Lee said, noting that she and her grandmother always sang “You Are My Sunshine.”
Bartz also taught Lee about the Golden Rule, which addresses treating others the way one wants to be treated.
“We’re all human, but sweetness and kindness goes a long way,” Lee said. “Sometimes the challenges and heartbreak we go through in life, we can ripple that forward and help others.”
Lee recalled that Bartz always told her that when someone looks good, they can feel good, too.
“Anytime I had a Sun Drop job or Shawano News, I’d go over there and show her my outfits. She was just so supportive, and she loved that. She loved to see me dolled up,” Lee said.
Lee feels that sharing her story helps to make the issue of dementia a little more real to people who might not have been in direct contact with someone who is slowly losing control of life. She noted that the Forget Me Not Fund lets families know that there is help out there for those suffering from dementia, and that they’re not alone.
“Although this is a serious cause, we’re doing something fun,” Lee said. “That’s why we’re calling it a ‘fun-draiser.’”
Lee noted that Diane Hartwig recently lost her father, Gus VanRemortel, who had Alzheimer’s.
“This is a cause dear to all of our hearts,” Lee said. “He was an avid Sun Drop lover, and he wore all of the Twig’s merchandise. Not only are we doing this for the people we love, but we’re asking the whole community to come and remember and celebrate those who have loved and lost.”
Lee said she wanted to keep the fundraiser simple at two hours instead of having something that lasts for four hours or more and requires other side activities like raffles. A $50 ticket provides two hours of snacking, drinking and dancing.
Lee, who has enjoyed making the rounds as a pin-up girl, has also invited colleagues to come to the party and pose for pictures with the guests.
“These are the pin-up models from my Symco route,” Lee said, referring to the Miss Symco Pin-up Contest held every August in Waupaca County. “I have three of my Symco friends coming, and they’re going to be taking pictures with people.”
The dress code for the party is vintage 1950s attire or wearing something as a tribute to a loved one. Lee plans on wearing her grandmother’s hat with forget-me-not flowers nestled on the brim.
The party is also designed to be a safe place for those who are dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia, as well as their caregivers. Lee noted that the event is helpful in that it provides a night away for those people, something often needed when care is required 24/7.
“You can walk around with them and be safe and get them out of the house,” she said.
Tickets are going fast, according to Lee, noting that the donations from local businesses have made that possible due to Twig’s reputation for giving back to the community. Tickets can be purchased at www.forgetmenotfund.org, but guests must RSVP by Sept. 26.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Soda swinging at Twig’s fundraiser
