THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9411300119
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Kathy Goldberg and a handful of other volunteers have been preparing for Christmas all year long.
Goldberg, assistant director of Chesapeake's Department of Social Services, is president of the Chesapeake Christmas Committee, which has been brightening up Christmas for hundreds of underprivileged families since 1970.
For more than two decades, the organization has given away food baskets and gifts certificates to needy adults and children, including the elderly and disabled.
``Basically, we try to identify those who may not have any family or friends to remember. We don't want them to be forgotten,'' Goldberg said.
Last year the Christmas Committee spent about $16,000 to help about 900 families.
The independent non-profit organization that started with mostly city-employed volunteers, has grown over the years to include volunteers from civic leagues, fraternal organization, churches, schools and the business community.
Each year, local fire officials contribute by collecting canned food from elementary schools and deliver them to families.
This year, Goldberg said, the committee will continue to spread more holiday joy, but with a shrinking budget of about $13,900, it will be only be able to help about 500 families.
``Giving is pretty rough this year. I'm not sure if we'll be able to have a Christmas Committee next year,'' Goldberg said, adding that she was trying not to sound like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. ``We say this every year, and somehow we make it through.''
The committee will try to stay hopeful, she said, and take things one day at a time.
``I think we do make Christmas happen. I don't know if we feel like Santa Claus. He's a little bit more magical,'' she said. ``But maybe we are helping Santa Claus a little bit. That would be a nice feeling.'' MEMO: If you would like to join the Chesapeake Christmas Committee or serve on
one of its subcommittees, call Kathy Goldberg at 543-9211, Ext. 208.
Subcommittees are involved with fund-raising, publicity, gift-buying,
packaging, delivering and sponsoring families. Tax-deductible
contributions may be made payable to to the ``Chesapeake Christmas
Committee,'' P.O. Box 1025, Chesapeake, Va. 23327.
by CNB