A thank you from 2023 Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother

To All,

The words “Thank You” do not seem big enough to express my appreciation for allowing me to serve as the 2023 Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother. The generosity of this community is overwhelming!

From monetary donations that stream in, to churches who offer furniture, to individuals who call to ask, “How can I help?” it takes a village to make this program come together. It makes me so grateful to live in this community — a community who truly cares about those less fortunate.

It is hard to express the gratitude I have for the team who made this program work so well this year: the office staff, adoption staff, new room staff, data staff, the team who packed the bags, those who oversaw “special” items, the teen bag coordinator, the Facebook and media coordinators. I could not have asked any of them to do a better job. They gave it their all!

Thank you to Alleghany Printing for all the hard work they do for us each year. Thank you to Toys for Tots for their delivery of an enormous amount of toys. Thank you to area newspapers and radio stations for helping to get the word out.

Thank you to all those who helped with distribution, including officers from the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office, and for the young men from Boys Home of Virginia. Thank you to the Greenbrier Dream Team for their donation of wonderful toys. Thank you to all the men who helped me with individual deliveries. Thank you to all the churches, civic organizations, businesses and individuals who contributed to this program with donations or adoptions.

Thank you to all the area schools for providing much needed supplies to the Christmas Mother Shop; you all did an awesome job and we appreciated it so much! Thank you to all the clergy who came to have prayer with us to begin our day. Thank you to Christ United Methodist Church for allowing us the use of their building.

Thank you to my family who loved and supported me through it all — my husband, Perk, who answered the phone whenever I needed help, to my daughter-in-law, Jess, who lightened my load, so I could spend much needed time with this program, and to my son, Ben, who spent countless hours helping me with all the forms and letters I needed. What an awesome job!

Lastly, I want to thank you, the Alleghany Highlands, for your continued support of this program. It is a program born out of love for our fellow man. It continues to be a blessing for many who would not have Christmas for their families without it. To see the beautiful smiles on children’s faces as they come with their parents to pick up their gifts. Their excitement because they know they will have Christmas, and to watch their anticipation for what surprises might be in those bags, that’s the smile of Christmas!

If I have forgotten to thank anyone, for there are so many who need to be thanked, please know whatever you did is so appreciated! May your holidays be filled with love and blessings and may God bless them — everyone.

Becky Perkins,

Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother 2023