The Shadow
Dear Highlands,
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
In reflecting on my role as the 2020 Highlands Christmas Mother, there are not enough words to express my heartfelt appreciation to the people of the Alleghany Highlands and beyond. You are wonderful. Thank you! Thank you!
My theme for this year was “Simple Gifts, Love and Joy.” These gifts are simple and easy to give but what a lasting impression they have on the people who receive them.
You made the Christmas Mother program a success in 2020, a very difficult and unusual year. You all are wonderful and caring.
The program has been in existence for 72 years but none like this one. We have been challenged since March to accept what we cannot change and move forward with love and respect for our fellow man.
This community has shown they have learned the lesson well. You gave with unconditional love. What a joyful Christmas you have brought to many who would not have had a Christmas.
To each and every individual, group, church, retailer and corporation that donated to the program, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are all a most giving community.
Your monetary and physical support has kept the program going. You also gave new clothes, toys, bikes, heaters, kitchen appliances, games, and hundreds of towel and sheet sets. Can you imagine the joy and love felt on Christmas morning because of you caring for one another?
Thank you to the Men of Mission for the loads of wood you cut and delivered. Thank you to the printing companies for the printing of hundreds of letters, flyers, applications and anything else we needed.
Thank you to The Greenbrier Dream Tree organization for the many toys.
Thank you to those providing communication in our area, radio, newspaper, Facebook and Alleghany Journal.
A special thank you to the many individuals, groups and churches who adopted individuals and families this year. Thank you to law enforcement for help during distribution.
A special thank you to the city of Covington Maintenance Team for helping with traffic flow during distribution. A big shout out to city of Covington Refuse Collection for getting our trash each day.
And a most heartfelt thank you to the Covington Alleghany Health Department and Covington City School Maintenance Department for the help when we had to close and clean our shop. You were truly a Godsend.
Thank you to the area ministers for opening each day in the workshop with prayer. It was a blessing having you with us.
Thank you to the Men of Mission, the Shriners, VFW Post 1033 and individuals who helped in unpleasant weather with distribution.
Thank you to the applicants who were kind and patient with us as we worked through all the “glitches” of our online program and COVID-19 restrictions.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped in the shop. We were limited in the number we could have in the shop and missed all the volunteers that have helped for many years. Hopefully next year you all will be back at your jobs. It took a 100 percent effort each day to get the work done and each volunteer gave 120 percent. These shoppers, data processors, shop managers, secretaries, baggers, and new room sorters and packers were responsible for making this year’s program possible.
Also, to my family who gave up meals, ran each errand requested, made phone calls, advertised the program on their Facebook page, traveled many miles and helped with distribution. It is truly a family effort to be Christmas Mother.
Thank you to Sacred Heart Catholic Church for letting us use your church. It is God’s mission to love and care for all.
My Christmas Mother logo of children from around the world holding hands and sharing the love and joy we have for each other was created by my dear friend Cheri Kelley. Thank you for bringing my idea into a picture.
My sincere apology to anyone I left out the volunteer list. I do appreciate every one of you and everything you have done.
Lastly, it was all the people above that made the program work, but it was God who saw us through. Without his grace and love we could do nothing.
He listened to our prayers and told us “You can do it; just hold my hand and walk with me.” He is powerful and always with us, always listening and always caring.
May God richly bless each of you with a beautiful Christmas filled with love and joy.
Thank You,
Brenda Linkenhoker
2020 Highlands Christmas Mother
