About Nana

Dottie Gudger was born in DC.  When Dottie was only 10, she and her siblings were sent to foster homes and an orphanage in DC after their mother passed away.  This is where her love for children and children's charities grew.  After high school, she worked for DC Family Services for 6 years focusing on helping children and families who were less fortunate.  Dottie and her family lived in Sterling, VA until her daughters Teresa and Carol went off to college.  She and her husband then moved to their summer home in Millsboro DE where she continued to live until her tragic and untimely death in November of 2011. It is so hard to believe it has been ELEVEN  years, but we know that Dottie lives on through the Nana's Kids campaign. 

Seeing the efforts of all her friends and family coming together to support the children in Sussex County would have made her so proud.   We have done soooo many amazing things for the children and disadvantaged of her community.

 On the first anniversary of our mother's death – we engaged the IRVFC/the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Orchard/Riverdale, the Nanticoke Indian Association, County Bank, and the Community Church of Oak Orchard.  We were extremely happy they agreed to honor our mother by changing the name of the annual drive. 

 It was then that the NANA'S KIDS CAMPAIGN was born.

 For the last fourteen years, we have been so blessed with such a great turnout of toys/monetary donations and clothes.  Collectively, we have done some GREAT things for some really GREAT kids.  We were able to help so many of the Long Neck Area children by providing over $130,000 in smiles : )

 Once again we are hoping our friends and families will help us honor our mother and carry out her legacy. The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company's Annual Toy Drive was our mother's favorite charity to support because it provided much needed attention to the at-risk children in Sussex County, DE. In addition to being very agricultural, Sussex County is proud to have one of the largest concentration of Nanticoke Indians. The Indian River School District reports that 1 in every 3 children are living at the poverty level.