By Amelia A. Pridemore
Richard Jarrell said he received his Christmas present Thursday night, one week before Thanksgiving.
The chairman of the United Way of Southern West Virginia’s Wonderland of Trees watched as numerous people browsed 38 fully decorated Christmas trees at Crossroads Mall.
“This is my Christmas present,” he said. “To have something like this ... Now I know what it’s like for a mother to have birthed something and have seen it to this point. There are people out with excitement. It’s just amazing.”
The event raised more than $15,000, and all proceeds from the auctioned trees and other items will support the United Way.
Margaret O’Neal, executive director of the United Way of Southern West Virginia, said 38 businesses, churches and other nonprofit organizations donated $125 and received a 7 1/2-foot tall, pre-lighted tree. It was then up to these groups to decorate the trees.
Several groups used serious creativity in their decorating, O’Neal said, including a Rotary Club’s tree with ornaments coming from other Rotary organizations in foreign countries. A power company decorated its tree with electrical outlets.
Jarrell pointed to the L.A. East Preschool tree, which had attracted numerous people. The tree not only featured children’s homemade ornaments, but also their letters to Santa Claus. In these letters, children’s wishes included dino-saurs, tigers, motorcycles and a pirate ship with pirates and gold on board. They also told Santa they loved him, with several wanting to ride in his sleigh. A boy asked if he could go fishing with Santa at the North Pole.
Over two weeks, people were allowed to vote for their favorite trees for $1 per vote, O’Neal said. That alone raised nearly $3,000.
“That’s a lot of money for the times we’re in,” she said.
O’Neal pointed to the work of the United Way’s member agencies and described what they do for people in southern West Virginia. The work they do is crucial. Recently, the United Way received a call from a mother who needed diapers and baby formula.
“If you go to bed tonight with a beautiful new Christmas tree, you have done a good thing,” she said.
Other items were sold via silent auction, including an overnight stay at The Greenbrier and a Marshall University package.
Celi Van Dyke, director of Just For Kids, called the turnout “heartwarming.” Just for Kids is a United Way member organization dedicated to helping child victims of sexual abuse in Raleigh and Fayette counties. She noted some people who normally donate have not been able. However, people in southern West Virginia are always giving and wanting to help others.
“With the economy, you don’t know what’s going to happen. This is a good sign,” she said.
