This week Christmas Friends Inc. kicked off its 34th year of helping the less fortunate of Middlesex County. The community-based program again brings together those who want to make Christmas brighter for hundreds of local needy children and elderly or disabled adults.
The gifts this year will be delivered on Saturday, December 21. That gives Santa’s helpers about four weeks to buy, wrap, sort and deliver thousands of gifts.
Shopping, wrapping, delivering
Packets are being prepared for more than 100 volunteer shoppers who will soon begin fulfilling the wish lists for recipients.
Wrapping sessions at the Sentinel office will be on two Saturdays, December 7 and December 14; and if needed, on Sunday, December 15.
To volunteer to wrap presents, or deliver the gifts, please call Geanie Longest at the Southside Sentinel at 758-2328, ext. 101, or email her at glongest@ssentinel.com.
Since its creation in 1986, a key to the success of Christmas Friends has been its partnership with the Middlesex County Department of Social Services, which carefully screens all applicants for eligibility. Applicants must meet strict income guidelines.
Once applicants are approved, the gift-giving program begins a process that’s almost like a pre-Christmas visit with Santa. Eligible families submit a “wish list” of clothing (including sizes and colors desired), toys and other needs; a volunteer shopper is assigned and issued donated funds; and the purchased gifts are assembled at the Sentinel office in Urbanna for wrapping and delivery.
The fund-raising goal for Christmas Friends this year is $30,000.
Last year, Christmas Friends spent $32,390 on gifts for 219 children and 72 elderly or disabled adults, said Christmas Friends secretary and shopping director Bettie Lee Gaskins.
In 2018, the community donated $30,751.07 to Christmas Friends and those funds are being used this year to help the less fortunate. Approximately 300 clients are expected in 2019.
Several vehicles will be needed for gift delivery on December 21. The ideal van for holding approximately 25 large bags of gifts is a Chrysler or Dodge with stowaway rear seats or similar size vans with seats that can be completely removed. “Full size” SUVs (such as a Chevy Suburban) have also been used successfully. Most regular size SUVs do not have enough space for all the bags.
Full size pick-up trucks with camper shells are also suitable.
Delivery vans and drivers will soon be assigned. If you have a van and are willing to remove its back seats and be the driver for one of 12 delivery teams, please call 758-2328.
Gift boxes can be left any time at the back door of the Sentinel office.
For more information, call Geanie Longest at the Southside Sentinel at 758-2328.
Total volunteer effort
All funds donated to Christmas Friends go directly to help needy children and disabled or low-income elderly of Middlesex. All workers are volunteers and administrative fees are extremely low. Supplies such as boxes, wrapping paper and delivery bags are all donated. Volunteers supply storage space, vans and fuel to assist with the big delivery job.
Contributors will be recognized as Christmas Friends and their donations will be listed weekly in the Southside Sentinel. Contributors who wish to remain anonymous should request that their donations be listed as such. Memorial contributions also will be acknowledged.
All checks should be made payable to Christmas Friends Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 549, Urbanna, VA 23175.
Donations received through November 19 total $3,608. They are:
- Jerry and Judy Whidby, $200.
- Network for Good $102.
- Carousel Physical Therapy Inc., $250
- Edward and Sherry Inabinet, $100.
- Jane Jackson Woerner, $150.
- Anonymous, $100
- Anonymous, $500.
- Mr. and Mrs. R. Strother Scott, $200.
- Church of the Visitation golf tournament 2019, $500.
- Middlesex Kiwanis Foundation, $750.
- Forest Chapel United Methodist Church, $100.
- Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center, $656.
Total to date: $3,608.
