The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – It has been an incredible honor and a privilege to serve as the 76th Highlands Christmas Mother for 2024. I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to all citizen of the Alleghany Highlands. Your generosity has been truly remarkable. We received contributions from businesses, churches, individuals, organizations, and schools, all working together to make this program a success. The mission of the Christmas Mother program is to provide a joyful Christmas for all area applicants meeting the official poverty guidelines.
A special heartfelt thank you goes to Becky Perkins, the 2023 Christmas Mother, who graciously offered her guidance and her assistance from the very start. This year the Christmas Mother shop was moved to First Christian Church, and I also want to thank Reverend Bill Gilliland and the Church Leadership for being so accommodating with making the new set-up possible.
My theme was “Love Thy Neighbor!” “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” was a biblical verse taken from the book of Matthew 22:37–39. Loving your neighbor as yourself is found eight times in the Bible.
Not once. Not twice. Eight times. Loving your neighbor as yourself is so important to God that He not only repeats Himself, He makes it a command. As I reflected on this theme, I was reminded of my own childhood days being raised with my mother and grandparents. They taught me the value of caring for those around us. In our neighborhood, we took care of each other. Whether it was to borrow sugar, butter, help with fixing a car, plumbing issues, or just short on money…. we supported each other. That sense of community still resonates in the Alleghany Highlands, and regardless of our differences, we come together for the greater good to support our community.
Honestly, I was just the face of the program. The dedicated and committed volunteers and staff made this program a success. We received 420 applications. The generosity of the community allowed us to serve 1,119 individuals: 605 Adults, 417 Children, and 97 Teens. Several key women on my staff deserve the credit for unselfishly giving significant time during the duration of the program. Gail Wallace and Stephanie Persinger served as Shop Managers, and Martha Nicholson and Staci Morgan had oversight of the “New Room!” Special thanks to Tad Robertson and the Boys Home for setting up the tables. Diane Hicks and Mary Sue Vest were the cleaning bag coordinators. Mary Beth Broughman, Melissa Nicely, Lexie Unroe and Jill Harlow were responsible for the teen bags. Carol Claytor and Dawn Nagy served as the data managers-they were present during the application process. Jessica Gibson and Michele Wright kept the Christmas Mother Facebook page updated with all pertinent information. Kathleen All took
care of the finances of the program. These ladies and gentlemen did whatever it took to ensure that individuals, families and kids were informed and properly served, and that the program ran like a well-oiled machine. Having a full-time job with significant responsibilities, I did not have to worry with this staff about things getting done.
Heidi Kincaid and Tonya Holley made sure that individuals were adopted by churches, community groups, businesses and people who wanted to assist. Many thanks to the adopters. We had 22 full adoptions and 22 partial adoptions.
Several people served in specialized roles. Patsy Snead, Pam Myers, and Catherine Morgan coordinated the office, answered the phone, took pictures, and set-up appointments. While the individuals listed above provided leadership for their specific duties, they were supported by another 80 plus volunteers.
Thanks to area pastors and religious leaders who started our days at the shop with prayer, inspiration, gratitude and strength. Also, a special thanks to those who helped during our distribution days. These helpers included Teresa Hammond, Greg Persinger, Tony O’Brien, Tad Robertson, Boy’s Home Key Club, Ingevity Staff, the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office, The Covington Police Department, and the Men of Mission.
We took applications 7 separate days in Clifton Forge and Covington before the office officially opened.
The following volunteers helped with applications at Central United Methodist Church and Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church: Brenda Linkenhoker, Dianne Garcia, Michele Wright, Marie Fitzpatrick, Linda Venable, Mary Asma, Harriet Woodward, Kathy Wood, Pam Warren, Alita Brisendine, Martha Nicholson, Mary Sue Smith, Ettrula Moore, Dawn Nagy, Carol Claytor, Nancy Moga, Teresa Hammond, Pam Myers, Wendy Smith, Ann Wright, Marion Paxton, Gail Nicely, Jane Tucker, Karen Robertson, Jannie Crawford, Patsy Snead, Wanda Davis, Janie Barnette, Robert VanBeek, Chris Nicely, Susan Goings, Lana Kidd, Romania Jordan, Christie Hardbarger, Teresa Gibson, Judy Clark, Adell Pettrey, Karen Buzzard, Violet Jefferies, Wanda Woodyard, and Catherine Williams. If I left anyone out, I apologize.
The following volunteers worked countless hours doing internal and external shopping for the program. These volunteers were Martha Nicholson, Staci Morgan, Ellen Nicely, Alisa Morgan, Trina Carter, Cynthia Carter, Evelyn Cooper, Lana Kid, Margaret Mann, Mary Sue Smith, Karen Bradley, Hannah Snyder, Missy Linkenhoker, Rhonda Adams, Danielle Helton, Payton Reynolds, Trina Allen, Laura Kyle, Tammy Sharp, Romania Jordan, Renee Jones, Dawn Pierce, Tiffany Bowser, Rylee Reynolds, Stephanie Hepler, and Sue Cahoon Hall.
A special thanks to Toys for Tots, Becky and J.D. Downer and the Greenbrier Dream Tree Program for providing numerous toys for all ages. The “Golden Girls” led by Michelle Newton and Patsy Sampson made and delivered 840 pillow cases for the teen bags. The Virginian Review, Patsy’s Dance Studio, and the Alleghany Regional Library served as collection sites for the program, and we thank you for supporting the program.
My goal was to focus on including the children with the program this year. The Highland’s Christmas Mother Program had a great turnout for Youth Night at the Family Life Christian Center on November 7, 2024. Children ages 5 to 12 years old made crafts, ornaments, and cut-outs that were used to decorate the Christmas Mother Shop. Special thanks to the Girl Scout Troop 1281 for participating with youth night. This would not have been possible without the children who participated, the Alleghany High School teen volunteers, and the community volunteers who came out to support the program. Teen Night at the Highland’s Christmas Mother Shop occurred on November 15, 2024. The teens helped to decorate the shop! Thanks to HOSA, Alleghany High School Leadership, Key Club, Boys Home, Book Club and the adult volunteers! Special thanks to Pam Marshall, Marie Fitzpatrick, Debbie Burns, Johnell Cantrell, Dianne Garcia, Stephanie Harmon, Melissa Nicely, Jill Harlow, and Stephanie Clark for helping with the children. It filled my heart to see the kids participate with the program, and they had a great time doing it.
Thanks to the local media outlets-The Virginian Review, The Alleghany Journal, The Recorder, Big Al- Highway 64 for providing publicity for this program.
This program would also not be possible without the support of local retailers and their employees, who helped ensure that we had what we needed. We did all of our shopping locally. Special thanks to all former Christmas Mothers who continue to support the cause. This program is reliant on your wise advice, knowledge, and unending support. As the program has concluded, I hope that I have not unintentionally left anyone out. Every contribution whether big or small was integral to making this year’s Christmas Mother program a success, and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you who played a part. I will leave you with this quote from Mandy Hale, “there is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” This program has touched the lives of many but it would not be possible without the momentous support of the volunteers.
