Newspaper Page Text
December 24,
2008
The joy and
the stress
M erry
CHRISTMAS.
This paper
will come to you on
Christmas Eve, and if you
are like me, you are wrap
ping up the final holiday
gifts, finalizing family
plans and maybe even pre
paring food for the vari
ous get-
togethers.
This
year for
me, it’s
Grand
mother’s
fudge.
It’s been
three
years
since
Grand
mother passed away,
just before Christmas,
and we miss her. Having
her fudge and her dress
ing at the holiday table
only seems right.
The holidays are a
time of both joy and
stress. For some, who
have lost loved ones, it’s
a time tinged with sor
row and remembrance.
For others, like chil
dren, it is magic.
As adults, we may
sometimes have to work
a little harder to main
tain that sense of won
der, as we get caught up
in the hectic schedules,
the financial worries of
gift-buying (particularly
this year) and the gen
eral sense of overwhelm
with too many places
to be at one time.
I was shopping in a
crowded store in Athens
last week and as I paused
to review my list and
figure my checkbook bal
ance, I noticed a nearby
couple pushing a cart.
The woman held her
hand to her head as if to
ward off a headache.
I heard her say,
“Why do we do this?
It is so stressful.”
It’s true. The “things”
can take away from the
beauty of Christmas.
But, as someone noted
in an email to me last
week, “Christmas will
come, whether you and
I are ready or not.”
It’s here. Now let’s
make the most of it.
The shopping and bills
aside, this has been a
fun Christmas for us, as
our 3-year-old daughter
is thrilled and has been
counting down the days,
not only to Santa, but also
to her debut in a church
Christmas pageant.
When the time came
for our little sheep to join
the flock onstage, she
was somewhat intimi
dated. She took her job
very, very seriously.
My husband and I
watched a video clip
from the event the other
night, feeling somewhat
tearful as we watched
her solemn expres
sion. Then, as she rang
bells, there was a flash
of delight and joy that
passed across her face.
The “it” moment when
she realized she was
really doing it. She was
onstage and truly a part
of the Christmas play.
I started out in that
church, in that play, as a
little girl myself. It was
touching to see my little
girl on that stage, feeling
that sense of Christmas.
So the circle
comes around.
Christmas stress passes.
The memories last.
Jana Adams Mitcham
is features editor of
The Jackson Herald.
jana. a.
mitcham
Inside: JHS classes of 1970-79 hold reunion — page 5C
0 The Jackson Herald
finendtes
Jana Adams Mitcham,
Features Editor 706-367-8760
jana@mainstreetnews. com
Section C
VOLUNTEERING FOR HOLIDAY CONNECTION
Some of the Holiday Connection volunteers are (L-R) Paula Matzko, Margaret Lang, Niki Adams-Morris, Susan Shadix, Kathy Tyler,
Tracey Oxley and Teresa Carson. They’re pictured with some of the 30 bicycles and helmets donated by the Jefferson Rotary Club.
Photos by Mark Beardsley
Holiday Connection sees 600 applications this season
Will provide Christmas for
more than 1,400 children
Giving
Spirit
By Jana A. Mitcham
T’S A LABOR of love.
They start getting
organized in August,
begin taking applications in
October and then really get to
work making sure those seek
ing Christmas aid in Jackson
County get the help they need.
Volunteers with Holiday
Connection, a program of
Jackson County Family
Connection, set up the “toy
store” at Jackson Creative in
Commerce Dec. 8. Between
Dec. 9 and Dec. 11, some 600
children were served.
And that’s just the store.
Holiday Connection got
its start in 2001 as a “fam
ily adoption” program to offer
Christmas to those in need
across the county. This is the
third year the store has been
open, with toys, coats, some
clothing and canned goods
available for those who quali
fied for assistance. In seven
years, Holiday Connection has
aided more than 6,200 chil
dren. Solid figures through
2007 show close to 3,000 fam
ilies assisted.
As of last week, the Holiday
Connection program was
still mid-stride, with families
being adopted out until Friday,
“Figures through
2007 show we've
helped close to 3,000
families. We've had
6,200 kids served
over seven years. ”
— Niki Adams-Morris,
Family Connection coordinator
but coordinator Niki Adams-
Morris said the number of
applications was up by about
100 this year — 600 were
processed. Last year, 1,400
children were served, up from
1,200 the previous year.
“We’ll easily push past 1,400
this year,” Adams-Morris said.
The numbers for those
served and donor contributions
will be finalized in January.
CHECKS AND
BALANCES
“We try to take care of the
people who apply on time,
first-come, first-served,”
Adams-Morris explained.
“Then we have a waiting list,
and most of those usually get
served too.”
There’s a system of checks
and balances to the program so
continued on page 2C
SHOPPING FOR SONS
Rebecca Norton looked through the toys at the Holiday Connection Toy Store
recently, seeking gifts for her two sons. Clothes, toys and food were offered.
FROM FOOD TO FISHING POLES
The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce collected canned goods to
include in this year’s Holiday Connection store offerings. For children, items
ranged from fishing poles to toddler items to pre-teen and teen gifts.
HOLIDAY TOY STORE SERVES 600 CHILDREN
The Holiday Connection Toy Store, now in its third year, served 600 children over the course of three days during the second week of
December. Jackson County Family Connection organizes the event, which is held at Jackson Creative in Commerce.