THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412100091
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, PHYLLIS SPEIDELL AND ALLISON WILLIAMS, STAFF
WRITERS
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 215 lines
FOR MONTHS BEFORE Christmas each year, retired insurance agent W.E. ``Bill'' Ashley Jr. stays busy trying to make sure Santa Claus visits every child in the area.
Ashley, 69, has coordinated the local Toys for Tots program for 31 years, first for the Suffolk Jaycees, then with the help of several other insurance salesmen after the group stopped sponsoring the program.
Today, he has countless helpers in the drive that has become a communitywide effort. The program is sponsored by the Suffolk Association of Life Underwriters and supported by the Suffolk News-Herald's Cheer Fund.
But Toys for Tots can always use an extra hand, especially in sorting and distributing the toys.
And the organizers are always glad to get donations of money or toys, new or used in good condition.
The drive has grown every year, Ashley says.
This year, 2,050 children from birth to age 12 are on the lists provided by the Department of Social Services and the Salvation Army. Parents or guardians pick up the toys just before Christmas.
Earlier in the year, Ashley and representatives of Social Services and the Salvation Army buy quantities of new toys and store them in a donated warehouse. And as Christmas draws nearer, schools, churches, businesses and other organizations collect used toys. The city's Department of Parks and Recreation lends Ashley a truck and driver to round them up.
Then the toys must be sorted according to age and sex and packaged for distribution.
``It's mind-boggling to make sure everything clicks,'' Ashley says.
Each child receives two new toys and a used toy in good condition.
The collection drive also provides a lesson in sharing for youngsters. Ten area day schools hold ``Share-a-Toy'' parties, where the children bring a toy to Santa so he can give it to the Toys for Tots program.
To donate a toy or to help with the drive, call Ashley at 539-6646.
There are plenty of other opportunities for giving and helping this Christmas. Here are some of the area's charitable efforts you can help with:
Coats for Kids, organized by Suffolk Christian Church.
Church members started the drive six years ago after they learned that local residents had to go to Norfolk to receive a coat through the Coats for Kids program in Hampton Roads.
``All the coats we get stay in Suffolk,'' says Becky Oldaker, one of the coat drive volunteers. ``That's why we started it.''
She has helped with distribution the past four years, Oldaker says.
``It breaks my heart to see these people come in. I'm glad they get a coat, but it's sad that so many need them. They're happy when they leave.''
The church has fund-raisers throughout the year to buy new coats, and they collect used coats throughout the community. Many other churches and local schools also help with the effort.
But it's always hard to predict what will be needed.
``Last year, we ran out of big sizes,'' Oldaker says. ``But the year before last we ran out of kids' coats. Every year the need is different.''
Last year, the organizers distributed 600 coats, she says.
``We probably could have used 1,000.''
Some people were sent home with only a sweater or light jacket instead of a nice, warm coat, Oldaker says.
Coats or money can be brought to Suffolk Christian at 216 N. Main St. For more information, call the church at 539-9182.
Department of Social Services assistance to needy families.
Every year, department Assistant Director Jack Smith worries there will not be enough sponsors to help all the families and senior citizens who could not have much of a Christmas without help.
He worries this year, too.
``Some people who have helped us in the past may be having a hard time themselves this year,'' Smith says.
The number of calls offering help at Thanksgiving was down from last year, and Smith hopes that trend will not continue at Christmas.
Teenagers and senior citizens rouse most of Smith's concern. Other Christmas assistance programs provide for younger children up to the ages of 10 or 12.
``But teenagers need a Christmas, too,'' Smith says. ``Senior citizens are sort of neglected, too, even though a few clubs do help.''
The need is still there.
``We prefer people to help a whole family if possible, but we will take any help,'' he says, adding that Social Services can provide clothing sizes, children's wish lists and special needs for family food baskets.
For senior citizens, Smith suggests lap robes, toiletries, candy, slippers and slipper socks.
Smith says he has yet to find sponsors for 28 families and about 25 senior citizens.
To find out how you can help, call Smith at 539-0216.
The Salvation Army's various projects.
You can make a difference in someone else's Christmas by contributing money and/or time to the Salvation Army's Christmas efforts. The Salvation Army in Suffolk has collected 500 filled Christmas stockings and more than 300 handmade dolls and teddy bears to brighten the holidays for local needy children.
But help is still needed.
On Dec. 21 and 22, volunteers will be organizing and distributing small mountains of toys and food baskets at the Salvation Army's distribution center. If you have time to volunteer, call 539-5201.
While you are Christmas shopping, stop by an Angel Tree - in Roses in Franklin and in Big Lots and Wal-Mart in Suffolk - and add a needy child to your Christmas list. Monday is the deadline for Angel Tree gifts.
Finally, when you pass by the Salvation Army bell ringers, consider dropping a little something into the kettle. With fewer kettles in town this year, the program, a major Salvation Army fund-raiser, is falling behind.
The Tree of Lights at local hospitals.
You can brighten the holidays for friends and acquaintances by making them part of the Tree of Lights at Obici Hospital in Suffolk or Southampton Memorial in Franklin. Sponsored by the hospital auxiliaries, the Tree of Lights will be used to buy new equipment - for the cardiology unit at Obici and the Mammography Suite at Southampton.
Lights may be bought in honor of or in memory of a loved one, and acknowledgments will be sent to the honorees or their families. Single lights may be bought for $5, lights in the treetop star for $100.
If you prefer, a holiday donation also may be made to the Oncology Care Fund at Obici. For more information, call Obici Hospital at 934-4000 or Southampton Memorial at 569-6100, or stop by one of the hospitals for order forms.
The Genieve Shelter.
For victims of domestic violence, the best Christmas present may be the help and support offered by the Genieve Shelter, which opened in Suffolk last April.
Shelter Director Diane Hall says the five-bed facility always needs financial contributions. But this season it needs an artificial Christmas tree, lights and ornaments and a freezer and an ink-jet computer printer, which she says would save the shelter almost $1,000 a year in printing costs.
Children who have been shelter clients are invited each year to a Mom's Room shop where they can select Christmas gifts for their mothers. Help is needed to stock the shop so 30 to 35 youngsters will be able to find a present for their moms. The gifts must appeal to the children selecting them, Hall says.
``We can use anything that glitters, anything with mirrors, colognes, soaps, and anything that comes in a basket that the mother can use later.''
To help the Genieve Shelter, 123 Bank St., call the office at 925-4365.
Suffolk Shelter for the Homeless.
If your family or civic group would like to make the holidays happier for a homeless family, you could make a contribution to the Suffolk Shelter for the Homeless or ``adopt'' a family.
The shelter will have cards available listing the sizes, ages and needs of families that could use your help.
To help, call the shelter at 934-1353.
Operation Merry Christmas, sponsored by the Franklin Jaycees.
The Jaycees distribute toys to children and food baskets to needy families in the city of Franklin and in Southampton County.
To help, bring canned goods or a new or used toy in good condition to the Jaycees headquarters in the Franklin Plaza Shopping Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Monetary donations also are accepted. Checks should be made payable to the Franklin Jaycees O.M.C. and delivered to their headquarters or mailed to P.O. Box 183, Franklin, Va. 23851.
For more information, call 562-0191.
Smithfield Kiwanis Club toy drive.
The club will provide toys to nearly 400 underprivileged Isle of Wight County children between the ages of 1 and 11. The organization raised money last fall by sending out letters requesting donations for the 1994 Isle of Wight Christmas Fund.
Food collection at Hearn Furniture in Smithfield.
Six local organizations have decorated Christmas trees in Hearn Furniture's annual tree-decorating contest this month. The public has until Thursday to vote for the prettiest tree by placing canned food items under that tree. The organization whose tree has the most items will win a cash award that usually is donated to charity.
At the end of the contest, the groups will make food baskets to be delivered to needy families.
The Joy Fund, organized by The Virginian-Pilot & The Ledger-Star.
Each Christmas, the campaign provides gifts for underprivileged children, 12 and younger. The names of needy children are compiled by churches, schools and social service agencies. Vouchers for toys or clothing are sent to the children's families in time for Christmas.
Contributions may be mailed or delivered to The Virginian-Pilot's offices at 157 N. Main St., Suite B, Suffolk 23434, or 1613 S. Church St., Smithfield.
For more information, call 934-7500. ILLUSTRATION: 'TIS THE SEASON
THE COVER
Cover photo by staff photographer John H. Sheally II.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Rev. Bruce Havens hangs Coats for Kids on a rack at Suffolk
Christian Church, at 216 N. Main St. You can take used coats or
funds to buy new ones to the church.
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Commanding Officers Kathy and Joe Burton place stockings in boxes
for needy children at the Suffolk Salvation Army. The stockings will
be distributed Dec. 21 and 22 by volunteers. If you have time to
help make deliveries, call 539-5201.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
This time Santa is getting instead of giving, as Trudy Stevenson, 3,
and her friends in day school at First Baptist Church fill the jolly
old elf's sack with toys to distribute in the Toys for Tots program.
To donate a toy or help with the drive, call W.E. ``Bill'' Ashley
Jr. at 539-6646.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Rev. Bruce Havens hangs Coats for Kids on a rack at Suffolk
Christian Church, at 216 N. Main St. You can take used coats or
funds to buy new ones to the church.
KEYWORDS: CHRISTMAS CHARITY NEEDY by CNB