Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412270026 SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY SOURCE: KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
But the worst was still to come.
After years of gradual physical decline, McPherson's back gave out in 1991 and he lost his job. By Christmas, McPherson, his wife and two children found themselves living in poverty - the happy holidays a sentiment that only existed on greeting cards.
Then they found the Christmas Store.
"I was told about it when I was applying for food stamps," said McPherson's wife, Pauline. "I felt so bad because I didn't have the money to go out and buy for the kids. That's what was so hard."
Three years after receiving holiday help from their community, the McPhersons, still struggling but in better shape than they were in 1991, are giving back.
Like nearly 2,000 other volunteers, the family has donated time this year to help set up the Christmas Store - a three-day charity department store that brings Christmas to needy families in Montgomery County.
The store, which operates out of the old Hecks building in Christiansburg, was originated 12 years ago so that needy families can shop for their children's Christmas gifts, rather than relying on door-to-door donations.
"That's what the Christmas store is all about," said Joyce Hendricks, a member of the store's executive board. "People who come here can choose what they want."
Described as a "Christmas with dignity," parents or other primary care-givers are given 100 points per child to purchase high-quality new and used goods, which range from 10 to 40 points each.
The adults can typically buy a coat, hat, gloves and other winter wear for each child for 50 points, while several toys may cost another 50.
The McPhersons know how the system works. Its effectiveness in 1991 led them to volunteer this year.
"Pauline had her mind set on it," Bruce McPherson said with a laugh. "We were going to do it whether all of us wanted to or not."
Pauline McPherson is thoughtful and articulate, with a quiet, soft-spoken demeanor that belies her strength.
It wasn't easy to rely on charity organizations, she said, but Christmas Store volunteers put her at ease.
"I realized there's nothing to be embarrassed about," she said, sitting among the bookshelves that make up the Christmas Store lobby. "When people won't help anyone or do anything for anyone, that's what they should be embarrassed about."
McPherson said even though she is working full time and her husband is back to working construction, they could still possibly qualify to be Christmas Store recipients instead of volunteers
"We're still a paycheck away from being homeless," she said. "We live from payday to payday, but there's no sense in us getting what other people should have."
Hendricks said the Christmas Store should provide nearly 1,350 needy families with a Christmas this year.
Of the $110,000 needed in donations to run the store, she said nearly $75,000 has been collected so far, and more volunteers and donations are always needed.
Volunteers are especially helpful during the store's shopping days, she said, and for cleaning out the store and returning its contents to storage facilities once the shopping days are over.
"We had six weeks to put all of this up, but we have three days to put it all back on the trucks," she said.
McPherson said her family would always be there to help if needed.
"We'll do anything we can," she said. "After all they did for us, why not give something back?"
Families can still apply to the Christmas Store, which will hold its shopping days Thursday through Saturday.
The public is invited to an open house for the Christmas Store, to be held at the store Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 221, Blacksburg, Va. 24063. For more information, call Mary Childress at 382-0363.
by CNB