The Shadow
Dear Extravagantly Generous Citizens of the Alleghany Highlands:
As the 2018 Christmas Mother program comes to a close, we are reflecting on the love and generosity that flowed abundantly through the Christmas Mother Shop to our neighbors in need.
You have made a difference for the Christmas morning of over 680 children and teens plus family members and elderly recipients involved in approximately 493 applications.
Hopefully, the influence of your kindness will stretch way beyond December 25th!
It was truly an honor and a privilege to serve as the 70th Highlands Christmas Mother and to lead the amazing group of volunteers who served the program in a multitude of ways.
I dare not attempt to name names and risk forgetting someone plus there is not enough space to provide a list. I must, however, mention the Men of Mission because the services the shop provides would be dramatically reduced without their time, equipment and dedication. The Men of Mission organization is synonymous with the Highlands Christmas Mother Program.
This year, led by Glenn Jones some of the Clifton Forge Shrine Club members also provided hands-on support. Thank you to the Kiwanis Club who presented our first donation and helped with the shop closure. They will be making and delivering beds in January.
Thank you to my incredible team and the awesome job they did managing their respective areas. They were a blessing everyone who entered our shop door. You are the heart of the program. You lined up additional volunteers, took applications, answered phones, made phone calls, matched up special requests with donations, unloaded, collected, sorted, counted, organized, repaired, washed, shopped, prepared bags of various items, picked up and prepared food, addressed envelopes, entered data, recorded finances, supervised and encouraged young folks on teen nights, and printed reports just to name a few of the jobs extremely well done.
The grocery aspect of the Christmas Mother program is enormous with Pat Hartman and Heidi Kincaid shopped, ordered, organized, loaded, unloaded, coordinated volunteers, bagged and distributed over 8,000 tons plus cleaning products too. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you.
To the many corporations, businesses, organizations, churches, groups, clubs, schools and individuals, please be assured I am very thankful for your numerous donations ranging from coins to wood and every single item in between. You answered my plea for toys, several specific necessities and cash! You gave donations of time, talent and treasures way too numerous to mention.
Also, adoptions are usually a wonderful experience for all involved and are greatly appreciated by the program.
Kudos to all of our local retailers who made in-kind donations, collected toys and placed special orders. The employees’ patience and guidance has been invaluable.
Alleghany Printing and Standard Printing took care of the immense printing needs of the program. A monumental thank you goes out to the Toys for Tots program and the Greenbrier Create a Dream Tree project. Both donated numerous toys for the children.
The Downer family was under tremendous stress this year and still made time to administer the local Toys for Tots effort plus coordinate with the regional Marines out of Roanoke. Your caring, kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. Toys for Tots and the Richard E. Lee, Jr. Memorial Fund allowed the Christmas Mother to gift multiple books to every child.
Thank you to all the local restaurants, food establishments, churches and individuals who provided meals, snacks, treats, desserts and drinks to feed the many volunteers who worked night and day in various capacities to accomplish all the tasks leading to our three distribution days. As in years past, we had a wonderful hospitality team.
To our area youth, Boys Home students, school clubs, sports groups, pageant queens, scout groups, church groups, dance teams and individuals, all who donated time and service, money and needed toys as well as other items, bless you. I am overwhelmed with awe at what you accomplished always with a cheerful attitude.
We are most grateful for our temporary homes. Father Augustine and the congregation of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and Rev. Jim Slate and the congregation of First Presbyterian Church graciously opened their doors again loaning us space for the duration of the program.
Thank you to our Locust Street neighbors for your patience during our invasion of your block.
The Covington Police Dept. and Dept. of Public Works are always friends to this program. This year the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office went “above and beyond” with their donation and assistance.
Communication is always one of the toughest challenges. Thank you to everyone who posted flyers, talked to your neighbors, listed in church bulletins, etc. I have enormous gratitude to those who provided publicity this year including the Virginian Review, the Alleghany Journal, Highlands Media Group, WDBJ-7, WSLS-10, and all those who posted on Facebook. I appreciate you keeping the public informed and our facts straight.
A very special thank you to the Christmas Mother Committee and former Christmas Mothers who provided me with guidance and wise counsel. Your encouragement, advice, donations and answered questions were invaluable. Thank you as well for continuing to protect the integrity of the program.
My thank you cannot be complete without a personal one to my husband, Rev. J. Lynn Wright, son and daughter-in-law, Jarret and Ashley, my church family at Central United Methodist and Fletcher Chapel, and to my very dearest friends.
Lastly, thank you to all the ministers who came daily to pray with us as we began our day and to everyone who assured me you were praying. You nourished our spirits and provided encouragement. You reminded us that we were fulling the command to “love one another” (John 13:34).
It is evident my prayers were answered as so many in our area put my theme scripture into action: “…to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NIV). You made a difference and blessed many, including me.
I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
With profound gratitude,
Michele C. Wright – 2018 Highlands Christmas Mother
