LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Asheboro Courier-Tribune:
Dearest thanks once again to our Asheboro community for spreading the magic of Christmas.
On December 25, 2017, THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS held our third annual free Christmas Day dinner to those alone for the holidays. Guests included almost 100 seniors, empty nesters, folks without family nearby, stranded college students, and people who had suffered a loss and anticipated having trouble getting through the holidays.
(My personal favorite moment this year was seeing that folks at every single table were merrily joining in our singalong of “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.”)
I’m taking the liberty of sharing this note we received from a dinner guest:
“I can't begin to thank you enough for hosting a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.
“I was dreading Christmas Day because I was alone in a new place without family around. Although I had many opportunities to enjoy several activities that led up to Christmas Day, it ended up that I would be alone for Christmas.
“My husband passed away a year ago at this time, and the thought of being all alone was weighing heavily upon me. Then I read about your Christmas Day dinner in the newspaper, and I knew if I attended that I would not only be with others in the same situation, but I would be able to look forward to Christmas Day without the dreaded loneliness.
“The meal was fantastic, the helpers were wonderfully attentive, and the music was delightful. The thought that so many people would take time on this special day to volunteer was very heartwarming. It could not have been better.
“Please know that your hard work to make this event happen is greatly appreciated.”
The honor of organizing this merry get-together, inspired entirely by Howard Kilburn, is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten. Profound thanks to those who gifted their time and goods and talents to share the joy:
Sue & Steve Baltes; Sharon & Ron Bennett; Kat Bradley; Geri & Dan Bressler; Brightside Gallery; Jessica Cain; Linda Carnes; Central Bakery; Julia Cogburn; Fonda Craven; Ray Criscoe; Lydia Davenport; Janet Davis and Rick Davis; Michele Dawes; Jean & Wayne Dawson; Debbie & Larry Draughn; Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd; Father Philip Kollithanath; First Baptist Church; The Flying Pig; Ginger Flynt; Elaine Foust; Friends of the Library; Kathy & Barry Goldstein; Candace Hammond; Julie Hannan; Lisa Hare; Jo Ann & Gary Harris; Sandy & Dan Higgins; Hop’s Bar-B-Que; Katie Illig; Janet Jones; Annette Jordan; Mary Kilburn; Patti & Steve Knudsen; Deirdre Kraft; Betty LaGrange; Jane Ledwell-Gant; Mary, Natasha, Stephanie, & Alek King; Dianne & Kristin Leonard; Chris & Brent Lewis; Shannon & Dianne Lowe; Mayor Roy Maness; Jeni Martin; Georgia & Carl McCollom; Gaynell McCourry; Kevin McGeary; Alisa & Shaun McNeill; Sarah, Caleb, & Hannah McNeill; Mike’s Chicago Dog (and more!); Mistletoe Meadows; Mary Murkin; Libby Nault; Martha Ogburn; Chris, Tom, & Patrick Osteen; Maricruz Palma; Party Rentals by Lisa; PIP Printing; Sandy Powell; Mary Joan & Alan Pugh; Randolph County Senior Adults Association; Retro Christmas Cards; Louise & Hoyt Russell; RSVP Community Theatre; Jaden Skelly; Saint Joseph's Catholic Church; Saint Joseph Columbiettes; The Salt Box; Jose Sanchez; Maureen Shandoor; Sharon Shipwash; Philip Shore and Suzanne Tate (aka Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus); Mayor David Smith; Fran & Ron Stark; Debbie Strider; Cheryl Surratt; Susie’s Lovin’ Oven; The Table Farmhouse Bakery; Bill Travers; Jean Vollrath; Carey Way; Kathy West; Tammy Willcox; Kathy Williams; WITI Professional Association; Qua Wood; Zoo City Pickers (Barbara & Bernie Bartos, Mitchell Solomon, Linda Zimmerman); plus special thanks and sincere apologies to anyone I’ve oafishly failed to salute.
“No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” Especially right here in Asheboro.
Peggy George Kilburn
Managing Director, The Heart of Christmas
Dearest thanks once again to our Asheboro community for spreading the magic of Christmas.
On December 25, 2017, THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS held our third annual free Christmas Day dinner to those alone for the holidays. Guests included almost 100 seniors, empty nesters, folks without family nearby, stranded college students, and people who had suffered a loss and anticipated having trouble getting through the holidays.
(My personal favorite moment this year was seeing that folks at every single table were merrily joining in our singalong of “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.”)
I’m taking the liberty of sharing this note we received from a dinner guest:
“I can't begin to thank you enough for hosting a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.
“I was dreading Christmas Day because I was alone in a new place without family around. Although I had many opportunities to enjoy several activities that led up to Christmas Day, it ended up that I would be alone for Christmas.
“My husband passed away a year ago at this time, and the thought of being all alone was weighing heavily upon me. Then I read about your Christmas Day dinner in the newspaper, and I knew if I attended that I would not only be with others in the same situation, but I would be able to look forward to Christmas Day without the dreaded loneliness.
“The meal was fantastic, the helpers were wonderfully attentive, and the music was delightful. The thought that so many people would take time on this special day to volunteer was very heartwarming. It could not have been better.
“Please know that your hard work to make this event happen is greatly appreciated.”
The honor of organizing this merry get-together, inspired entirely by Howard Kilburn, is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten. Profound thanks to those who gifted their time and goods and talents to share the joy:
Sue & Steve Baltes; Sharon & Ron Bennett; Kat Bradley; Geri & Dan Bressler; Brightside Gallery; Jessica Cain; Linda Carnes; Central Bakery; Julia Cogburn; Fonda Craven; Ray Criscoe; Lydia Davenport; Janet Davis and Rick Davis; Michele Dawes; Jean & Wayne Dawson; Debbie & Larry Draughn; Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd; Father Philip Kollithanath; First Baptist Church; The Flying Pig; Ginger Flynt; Elaine Foust; Friends of the Library; Kathy & Barry Goldstein; Candace Hammond; Julie Hannan; Lisa Hare; Jo Ann & Gary Harris; Sandy & Dan Higgins; Hop’s Bar-B-Que; Katie Illig; Janet Jones; Annette Jordan; Mary Kilburn; Patti & Steve Knudsen; Deirdre Kraft; Betty LaGrange; Jane Ledwell-Gant; Mary, Natasha, Stephanie, & Alek King; Dianne & Kristin Leonard; Chris & Brent Lewis; Shannon & Dianne Lowe; Mayor Roy Maness; Jeni Martin; Georgia & Carl McCollom; Gaynell McCourry; Kevin McGeary; Alisa & Shaun McNeill; Sarah, Caleb, & Hannah McNeill; Mike’s Chicago Dog (and more!); Mistletoe Meadows; Mary Murkin; Libby Nault; Martha Ogburn; Chris, Tom, & Patrick Osteen; Maricruz Palma; Party Rentals by Lisa; PIP Printing; Sandy Powell; Mary Joan & Alan Pugh; Randolph County Senior Adults Association; Retro Christmas Cards; Louise & Hoyt Russell; RSVP Community Theatre; Jaden Skelly; Saint Joseph's Catholic Church; Saint Joseph Columbiettes; The Salt Box; Jose Sanchez; Maureen Shandoor; Sharon Shipwash; Philip Shore and Suzanne Tate (aka Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus); Mayor David Smith; Fran & Ron Stark; Debbie Strider; Cheryl Surratt; Susie’s Lovin’ Oven; The Table Farmhouse Bakery; Bill Travers; Jean Vollrath; Carey Way; Kathy West; Tammy Willcox; Kathy Williams; WITI Professional Association; Qua Wood; Zoo City Pickers (Barbara & Bernie Bartos, Mitchell Solomon, Linda Zimmerman); plus special thanks and sincere apologies to anyone I’ve oafishly failed to salute.
“No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” Especially right here in Asheboro.
Peggy George Kilburn
Managing Director, The Heart of Christmas