Annual Christmas in July was “best yet”
Pretty soon, this year’s annual Christmas in July, the eighth annual event will only be pleasant memories. Many new Christmas Elves joined the group this year. There were more than 227 people who volunteered their time during the set up for Christmas in July. There were countless more who had worked in churches prior to set-up at Calhoun First United Methodist Church to get donations ready. Several new churches also joined in the massive undertaking to help more than 100 local families have a better start to their children’s school year. The elves were able to assist 107 families this year; 185 adults and 267 children. Extra school supplies were also given to the Calhoun City Schools and the Gordon County Schools. The Christmas Elves wish to thank everyone who helped in some small or large way – whether with donations of needed items or with their precious time and energy.
We thank Calhoun First United Methodist Church for allowing the Christmas Elves to use their facilities during the event.
We thank the churches for their donations. Churches involved this year were: Barrett Road Church of God, Belmont Baptist Church, Blackwood Springs Baptist Church, Calhoun Community Church, Calhoun First Baptist Church and the VBS, Calhoun First Presbyterian Church, Calhoun First United Methodist Church, Calhoun Seventh Day Adventist Church, College Street Church of God, Echota Baptist Church, Farmville United Methodist Church, Hill City Baptist Church, Meadowdale Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Curryville), Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Resaca), Nellie Peters United Methodist Church, New Echota United Methodist Church, Oostanaula Baptist Church, Plainville Independent Methodist Church, Plainville United Methodist Church, Reeves Baptist Church, Salem Baptist Church, Sandi Dillard’s Sunday School Class, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, St. Vincent de Paul of St. Clement’s Catholic Church, Trinity Baptist Church, Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, West Union Baptist Church, Word of Life Church and World Harvest.
These businesses added their Christmas gifts to the efforts of the churches: American Eagle Outfitters, Apache Mills, Bealls Outlet, Beta Tau of Delta Kappa Gamma, Calhoun Gordon County Retired Educators Association, Calhoun Premium Outlets Management Office, Chick-fil-A, CVS, Dr. Ku, Kappa Kappa Iota, Kiwanis, Kroger, Little Caesars, Mohawk, North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Operation Round-Up Grant, Old Navy, Papa John’s (Red Bud Rd.), Pizza Hut, Run Fit Sports (in McDonough, Ga.), Shaw (plants D4, D5, D7, and WF), SubDelights, Tractor Supply, Mary Jane and Pete Valentino, Vanity Fair, Wal-Mart and Zaxby’s.
Gordon County is blessed with many agencies that provide services to people in need. Those agencies who participated this year for Christmas in July were: Amerigroup, Calhoun Gordon Literacy Council, Family Connections, Fellowship Health Resources, Gordon County 4-H Program, Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Gordon Hospital, Kool Smiles, Northwest Georgia Health Care Partnerships, Prevent Child Abuse Gordon County, Right From the Start Medicaid, United Way and WellCare Health Plans.
Yolanda Fuller with Fringe Salon provided haircut vouchers. Santa and his elf (William Early and J.D. Zapp) brought smiles to everyone and hugs to many. You can’t beat Christmas with the love of God in your heart and God’s Spirit passed along to Santa! Sincerely, The Coordinator Christmas Elves: Linda Abercrombie, Dot Broome, Katherine Dempsey, Vickie Spence, Sandi Dillard, Betty Vaughn and Christi Bennett – Calhoun First Baptist Church
Anne Barton and Judy McEntyre – Calhoun First United Methodist Church
Mary Sterling, Dana Bagwell, Cynthia Dutton and Diane Bockholt – Meadowdale Baptist Church
Jan Drexler – St. Clement’s Catholic Church
Mary Sterling – West Union Baptist Church
Roberta Charbonneau – Family Connections/St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Pam Treglown – Plainville Independent Methodist Church
Davina Pass, Tara Zapp, Sue Stewart and Rosellen Burns – New Echota United Methodist Church