Sunday, December 26, 2010

Community Christmas helps provide a joyful holiday









Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.
“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
If little Virginia had written that letter today the editor’s reply would have gone something like this:
Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus; he lives in the North Pole but many of his elves live right here in Fleming County!!
You see Virginia, some folks don’t believe in the magic of Christmas so they may have trouble with the whole idea of Santa. But let me assure you my dear child, the very spirit of Christmas live in the hearts of all those elves.
The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished without the help of our Community Christmas elves.”
The Eleventh Annual Community Christmas was held Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at the Fleming Mason Energy Auditorium from 10:00am-6:00pm.
The event was made possible through collaboration among many different community agencies, Toys for Tots Program, churches and businesses in an effort to provide Fleming County’s most needy children with a wonderful Christmas!
Jennifer Griffitt, a disabled single parent of four children between the ages of seven months to twelve years, said she was extremely grateful for the event.
“It’s very heartwarming to know there are so many people in Fleming County with such caring hearts”, Griffitt said. “It’s really hard to provide a nice Christmas for my kids with the economy the way it is. I really appreciate how the Community Christmas Event helps bring joy and excitement for my kids on Christmas morning.”
As parents shopped during the early morning, holiday music filled the auditorium while cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, coffee and various breakfast goodies were kept warm for everyone to enjoy. A warm meal was also provided for those who shopped later in the day.
So yes Virginia, because of all the hard work that Santa’s elves do throughout the year to make Community Christmas possible, the light and love that is the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Fleming County.

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