The Shadow
Michele Wright, 2018 Highlands Christmas Mother, presented her final report recently to members of the Highlands Christmas Mother, Inc., Board of Directors during a meeting in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish?Hall in Covington.
The 2018 Christmas Mother Program received 495 applications and served 1,595 individuals: 910 adults, 527 children, and 158 teens (13-18 years of age if still in high school).
The program serves Covington, Clifton Forge, Iron Gate, Low Moor and Alleghany County residents.
The Christmas Mother Shop was located in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Locust Street. Food and household products were distributed from First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Locust and Maple Streets.
The $56,279.59 in donations received was spent to purchase items for needy residents of the Highlands as follows: food, $21,773; clothing $5,477; household goods, $10,504; teen items, $1,107; toys, $4,843.
Ancillary expenses, including office expenses, postage and telephone, amounted to $3,882. All items and food are purchased locally.
Of the remaining balance, the board voted to donate $250 to First Presbyterian Church for heating and utility expenses and $500 to Sacred Heart Catholic Church for heating, utility and floor cleaning expenses.
The board also voted to give $1,000 to Covington City Schools and $1,500 to Alleghany County Schools for their clothing and shoe funds which provide items for needy students.
In addition, $2,000 was donated to the Kiwanis Alleghany Highlands Com-munity Food Drive. Any remaining funds will be used to begin the 2019 program in September.
Contributions were received from businesses, $18,612; churches, $10,269; individuals, $19,719; or-ganizations, $6,502 and schools, $1,176.
All of the funds received are used to help needy residents in the Highlands. The Christmas Mother, her volunteer staff and members of the board of directors do not receive any compensation for their duties. The program is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.
Michele chose “Love Extravagantly” as her theme this year.
“Please accept my extreme gratitude for the honor to serve as the 2018 Christmas Mother,” she said. “The miracle of bringing the entire area together for the common cause of loving our neighbors by improving their Christmas never ceases to amaze me.”
