The Shadow
Dear Editor,
As the 2011 Bath County Christmas Mother program wraps up its season, I would like to express my appreciation to all area residents who supported our program and helped make it a success. It was heartwarming to see so many people come into our shop with gifts, donated items or checks for fuel assistance. Local businesses and our public schools were so generous with their time and money making sure their Bath County neighbors had Christmas.
I am also overwhelmed by the support of a multitude of people who live all over the United States and support Bath County even though they live here part-time or simply visit. Bath County is a beautiful and special place, and we are thankful you think of us even when you are not here.
This year the Christmas Mother program served 140 families including 321 people. Gifts and food baskets were distributed on December 14th and fuel assistance will be complete by mid-January.
In order to be ready for distribution day, many volunteers were needed. I want to thank the volunteers who worked in the Christmas Mother Shop at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the volunteers who worked at Hot Springs Presbyterian Church to prepare the food baskets, our shoppers, wrappers, and many others who worked behind-the-scenes to organize and conduct the 2011 Christmas Mother Program. This is truly a community effort and requires much teamwork to get everything completed and serve all the families in the program.
Again, I thank the community for supporting the Christmas Mother program this year. Many individuals, businesses, churches, youth groups, and school organizations made monetary donations, adopted families, collected food for the food baskets, or conducted fund-raisers for the Christmas Mother Program. We could not have provided for the families in the Christmas Mother Program without your support.
I also express appreciation to our local newspapers and radio station for their excellent media coverage of this year’s program.
It has been an honor to serve as the 2011 Bath County Christmas Mother and continue the mission of the Christmas Mother program another year. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to supporting it in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Angie Keyser
2011 Bath County Christmas Mother
