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Mother, elves getting into high gear
BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER
 | | BCHS sophomore Josh Feury, left, created this wooden rocking horse and another just like it, in teacher Willie Jenkins' industrial maintenance class. Dusty Burke, center, created a fish pull-toy for Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell, right. The entire class worked at least six weeks on their projects, which some lucky children will find under their trees come Christmas morning. (Photo courtesy Kelly Rosenberg) |
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HOT SPRINGS - The sign for the Christmas Mother Shop in St. Luke's Church says it closes at 2:30 p.m. But, just like Santa's North Pole workshop, the place is a hive of activity well into the shank of the evening.
Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell and Debbie Kincaid, her sister-in-law and right-hand elf, are bustling about, wrapping and counting and sorting. They've made a list, and they've checked it more than twice. They know that everybody is nice. In fact, the kindness and generosity of young and old do not cease to amaze them.
Take Monday afternoon, for instance. Trudy's husband Russ showed up after dark. He said he "had a little something" for her. Trudy was surprised when Russ handed her a $100 bill.
 | | This is just a portion of the "Toys for Tots" delivery to the Christmas Mother Shop Monday evening. Christmas Mother Trudy Woodzell's elves included, from left, Shianne Gum, Ryan Woodzell and Kara Kincaid. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) |
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"Where'd you get this?"
"Some fellow handed it to me when I was picking up trash," replied Russ, who runs Jack's Trash Service.
"Who was it?"
"I forgot to ask."
Trudy was thrilled to add the $100 bill to her coffers; she was sad that she knew not whom to thank.
"This just goes to show what it's really all about," she noted later that night. "People here just don't stop giving, giving, giving."
Trudy and the gang got home late Monday evening. That's because, at 4:45 on the dot, as promised, Marine David Gum of Covington showed up with a truckload of Toys for Tots. He brought his daughters, Savanna, 6, and Shianne, 13, and literally hundreds of fun things kids will be overjoyed to find in their stockings on Christmas morning: Bratz dolls, sparkly pink Glam Girl makeup kits, floppy bright orange Elmos, cute stuffed dogs, cuddly teddy bears, watches and wallets, electronic games, radios, toddler's toys and baskets of toiletries.
Volunteer gift wrappers had their work cut out for them Tuesday morning, when the shop opened at 9 a.m. But, it's a safe bet the heavy workload made them happy.
"It's amazing how things happen around here," Trudy Woodzell notes. "People just show up, smiling and ready to do whatever needs to be done."
Almost every need, and many wishes, on the Christmas Mother's list has now been fulfilled, except for donations to the fuel-assistance program, Woodzell says. "Large furniture pieces, appliances, bedding, firewood - all those needs have been filled. I had a stove, and a van, that needed fixing; local repairmen donated those services, and now they are up and running."
Some of the most endearing gifts donated this year came from Bath County High School students in Willie Jenkins' industrial maintenance class.
"The students have been working on these for about six weeks," says Woodzell. "They're putting the finishing touches on them, and we'll pick them up Tuesday - doll baby cradles, two rocking horses, a pull-toy shaped like a fish that, when you pull it, its tail wags back and forth like it's swimming - these things are just incredible. The students drew diagrams to make patterns, cut out the wood, and then put them together themselves."
Lined up against one wall of the Christmas Mother Shop at St. Luke's Episcopal Church is a collection of attractive bedding - red floral comforters and matching pillow shams. These were donated by the Owner's Club at the Homestead.
"They were redecorating, and decided we might be able to use these," Woodzell explains. "We sure can; they're quite lovely, and we really have a need for them."
The program this year is larger than ever before. There are 131 families and individuals, which translates to 298 people. "Currently, everyone has either been adopted, or shopped for by our volunteer shoppers," Woodzell says, "so we have every gamut of that taken care of. We had a lot of people step forward to adopt this year, those who have adopted in the past, and lots of new people who have never adopted before. People want to help others have a merry Christmas."
Former Christmas Mother Kelly Rosenberg knows all about that. She continues to be amazed by the community's penchant for giving, especially among the young people.
"I'm always quick to brag about students whenever it is appropriate to do so," Rosenberg laughs. "I was substitute teaching Monday, and it struck me how so many diverse groups are working together in the schools to support the Christmas Mother program. I think this level of community service by our youth is very cool and exciting."
Students and teachers from all three Bath County schools are behind the program, and doing many good things, Rosenberg says. At the high school, there are the "phenomenal" wooden toys created by Jenkins' class. "Adaline Hodges' FCCLA club students have adopted three children in the program. Bo Trumbo's Student Council is conducting a food basket drive, which is a huge and ambitious undertaking every year. They're hoping to make 50 or 60 food baskets, and they'll deliver them, too. There's a contest going on among the first-period classes to see who can bring in the most canned goods and other items to donate to the SCA to make those baskets."
Students at Millboro and Valley Elementary are also busily collecting canned goods for the SCA baskets, and Valley teachers have adopted three children in the program. Home-schoolers, too, are participating, by helping out at the Hot Springs shop.
Rosenberg adds, "The cheerleaders made a donation from their homecoming week festivities. They had a construction helmet decorating contest, and donated all the money they earned to the Christmas Mother."
Civic organizations, churches and businesses have jumped onto the donation bandwagon, hoping to help wherever they're needed. Many have adopted families, or donated goods or services. Some even supply lunches to the Christmas Mother Shop. Hella Armstrong, volunteer food coordinator, convinces area restaurants to donate lunch each day. The restaurants call in the morning, ask how many people want lunch and what they'd like to have, and then Armstrong picks it up and delivers it.
"It's great," Woodzell notes. "Every day, some restaurant is making us a good lunch. This is a wonderful convenience, since we don't really have time to stop. We're on a countdown here, until next Wednesday."
If you've adopted a family or individual, please note: "Everything needs to be back in the shop by Friday, Dec. 6. We'll be open until 3 or 3:30 that day," says Woodzell. "If you can't get your things here by Friday, please call and let me know you'll have them here by Monday, Dec. 10. That's when we positively have to have them, so they can be wrapped and organized."
The Christmas Mother Shop telephone is 839-LOVE, or 839-5683.
Recipients will pick up presents at the Christmas Mother Shop next Wednesday, and see fuel assistance coordinator Debbie Woodzell, if necessary. Then, they'll head to nearby Hot Springs Presbyterian Church to pick up food boxes, an aspect being overseen by Jane Lyle.
"We've outgrown this area here, so we were happy when Hot Springs Presbyterian stepped in to serve as food distribution headquarters a few years ago," notes Woodzell, who has been helping with the program since 1999.
Distribution begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. "We hope to be finished by 3 o'clock," Woodzell laughs.
Then, it's all over but the clean-up. And the untold delights on Christmas morning.
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