The busy 2020 pace for Christmas Friends came to an end Saturday with the delivery of gifts to 194 needy children and 64 needy or disabled senior adults in Middlesex County.
Volunteers in vans and trucks spread out in 12 delivery areas throughout the county. Another group of volunteers with a covered trailer carried bicycles, and other items too large for bags, from one end of the county to the other.
Twelve bags were returned because the recipients were not at home. They were taken to the Middlesex Department of Social Services at Cooks Corner for pick up.
Christmas Friends is sponsored by the Southside Sentinel and the Social Services department, which screens and refers all recipients. This is the 35th year for the program.
The Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department is an important partner in the delivery process. The large bays at the firehouse are loaned to Christmas Friends Friday afternoon and Saturday morning so the hundreds of bags can be divided and sorted in delivery order.
“As usual, our gratitude goes to hundreds of donors, volunteer shoppers, wrappers, delivery folks, and others who support the program in a variety of ways,” said Christmas Friends president Fred Gaskins. “Even in a pandemic year, this community has stepped up again to help brighten Christmas for the disadvantaged in our county.”
Planning now begins for next year.
Christmas Friends Inc. spent $28,855 for gifts this season, and donors have contributed $27,975 so far. Donations are accepted at any time during the year and will allow volunteers to get an early start when the 2021 shopping rolls around.
Monetary donations can be brought to the Southside Sentinel office at 276 Virginia Street in Urbanna or mailed to Christmas Friends Inc., c/o Southside Sentinel, PO Box 549, Urbanna, VA 23175. Checks should be made out to Christmas Friends Inc.
Christmas Friends Inc. is a 501(c)3 corporation and donations are tax-deductible.
Monetary contributors are recognized as Christmas Friends and their donations are listed weekly in the Sentinel. Contributors who wish to remain anonymous should request that their donations be listed as such. Memorial contributions also will be acknowledged.
Donations received during the previous week include:
- In honor of the Poker Divas, Bev, Carol, Donna, Marny, Sally and Sally. Merry Christmas from Lynne, $100.
- In honor of the Dewsweepers. Merry Christmas from Gary, $100.
- In honor of W.D. and Rachel Edwards, $25.
- Given in honor of Anita Healy and W.D. and Rachel Edwards with love from Claibourne and Michael, $100.
- In honor of Doris D. Hunt by Connie Jessie, $50.
- Emily Davies, $100.
- In memory of Hugh Soles given by Alverda, Joy and Julie, $200.
- In memory of Thomas E. Ward by Floyd and Jean, $100.
- Joyce Allan, $150.
- McKim and Kathy Beale, $100.
- Buzz, Fran and Mickey Brown from Southeastern Marine, $207.
- In memory of our loved ones, $100.
- Barry and Vicky Powell, $100.
- In memory of Thomas Bland Norman given by Barbara and John M. Bareford Jr., $100.
- In memory of Marden and John M. Bareford Sr. given by Barbara and John M. Bareford Jr., $100.
- In memory of Fay N. Willaford given by Barbara and John M. Bareford Jr., $50.
- Anonymous, $60.
- Nimcock, $50.
- All Saints Anglican Church, $300.
Previous total: $25,883.
Total this week: $2,092.
