Clydesdale helps make Christmas brighter


Thursday, December 27, 2007
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Clydesdale helps make Christmas brighter

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer


Photos by Barry Burleson
Spreading holiday smiles (Left) Betty Byrd, one of Santa’s helpers, shares a smile with children. (Right) Keaunna Perkins visits with (Mrs. Santa) Alice Stuart.

For the 14th year running, the Clydesdale Christmas Store handed out items on Santa’s list from children December 15 at the National Guard Armory.

The Christmas Store was begun by Brenda and Ronnie Luther and today has grown with the assistance of sponsors and volunteers to help over 300 children in the area.

“Thousands of dollars worth of food, clothing and toys were given out again this year,” said Ronnie Luther. “Several families had houses burned or were grandmothers or parents raising kids on welfare with nothing left after the bills to buy toys.”

He said this year the need for Santa was greater than in some years.

“There were a lot of tearful parents,” Luther said.

Photos by Barry Burleson

A Merry Christmas
(Top photo) A large group of Clydesdale Store volunteers pose for a photo prior to the start of this year’s festivities on December 15 at the National Guard Armory. (Left) Kassie Booth is aglow as she receives a doll from Santa Claus.

Children must be referred by a school, church or agency in order to be eligible for selection. They are allowed to specify the type of toy or clothing they want as a gift and store volunteers do everything possible to get the right brand and color matching the child’s request.

About 70 volunteers helped distribute toys, food, snacks and other items as Santa took time for each child to sit on his lap.

Among the group of volunteers were Casey Hillmer and his Boy Scouts Troop, Rev. R.J. Wilson and members of his church, deputies and jailers with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and officers with the Holly Springs Police Department.

Also this year, several ladies returned with their children who are now grown up, to help with the all-day affair.

The Clydesdale Christmas Store accepts donations year around and holds several fund-raisers – the Byhalia Clydesdale Festival, the Clydesdale Auction, and the Clydesdale Golf Tourney.

Luther said sponsors help raise the donations through their sponsorship of the fund-raising activities.

“We want to thank all the sponsors,” he said. “Without them we couldn’t do it. And, of course, we thank all the volunteers.”

To make a donation to next year’s Christmas Store, make checks payable to the Clydesdale Christmas Store and mail to Brenda Luther, 843 Peyton Road, Holly Springs, MS 38635.

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