"The Secret Santa Program was founded to ensure that children in our area would not go without on Christmas morning and no parent would suffer the guilt of not being able to provide for their children at Christmas." Quoted from the www. WVSecretSanta.org website found on Secret Santa Foundation website.
For the first time since it's founding Secret Santa is sponsoring Christmas in July featuring a Bluegrass Festival in the Madison Civic Center, which is located beside the Madison V.F. W.Post.
For those of you who are new to the area, follow these direction. Just follow the signs on State Route 85 south, if coming in from the Pond Fork area to Madison. At the first light, which is past Larry's Pharmacy, take a left and go up the hill and it will be located at the top and to the right.
If coming to Madison from Corridor G follow the signs to Madison and State Route 85. You will travel through all of the Stop lights in Danville, past the Boone County Court House in Madison, and up the hill after going through the second light toward the Madison Methodist Church, which is at the intersection of State Routes 17 and 85. Follow Rt. 85 to the first light at which point you will see signs on your right directing you to the Civil Center.
To explain myself, and to keep you from wondering why I have chose this as a subject for a column, the Secert Santa Program and their activities doesn't get the accolades, or praises as it should. This program is a very important part of the lives of so many children of the area this particular chapter of the West Virginia of The Secret Santa Foundation serves on Christmas morning. Which includes, as stated before, approximately 800 children of Boone County.
I personally know how it feels not to have enough money to spend on my two girls for Christmas. These times were due to either being between jobs, not having a job due to illness, or having a job which didn't pay enough for me to give my family a good Christmas. I relied on my family members to help me out, in particular my mother Bessie Hackney.
I know how the guilt feels and how the feeling of failure grabs your heart and stubbornly refuses to let go. Even if things at the time were taken out of my hands and I felt helpless and useless. Those are the feelings I personally deal with when I, as a Dad, can't for whatever reason, give my two daughters the Christmas I felt they should have had. These aren't the feelings anyone should have during the Christmas season. They should be of joy and happiness.
I also know the feelings of a child who has had very little for Christmas. This was due to my Dad, Billy Lee Hawks, being disabled and having to live on a fixed income for a family of six children. After paying the bills there wasn't much left to spend on other things.
Unfortunately, these other things included birthdays, and Christmas. As a child, not having much on birthdays and Christmas, left the feelings of not being loved or asking oneself, "What did I not do this year that could have made my birthday and Christmas better?"
Don't misunderstand me as a child growing up I had everything I needed to grow both mentally and physically. We always had a roof over our heads, a bed to lie down in at night, and something to eat for every meal, the necessities.
These feelings were of a child not understanding how the world worked. Even when the bread winner of the home wasn't able to work and was raised the "old school" way believing the wife's work was inside the home and not out in the work force.
This was long before I understood the meaning of raising a family and it's responsibilities. Since that time I have learned how my dad and mom felt come those special times for a child. I have been on both sides of the fence and neither are a good spot to be. In particular when you want your children to have more out of life than you had growing up. Something every parent wants for their children regardless of who you are or your so-called "status" is in the community.
Programs such as the Secret Santa have been in place, not by the Government, but by people who had more than their share of money and a loving heart. Both of which can lead to giving back to the community or communities of this great nation.
This is exactly what the Secret Santa program does. It gives back to the least fortunate of our society, the children. Children who have no control or input into what their lives are at this point or going to be in a couple of years or so.
As with all non-profits, they too need our helping hand to continue to ensures the children who live under the poverty level, and the pride of the family doesn't get in the way, have a good Christmas. Please this year if the Good Lord has blessed you with something extra in your pockets, help the Se cert Santa help those around you who can not afford a good Christmas for their children. If you are a business and have extra to give please help out with your tax deductible donations on this Saturday, July 21, at the Bluegrass festival being held at the Madison Civic Center. The tax deductions also apply to individuals also.
It is unfortunately in today's society these same circumstances still existed here and in other places around the world. Families not being paid enough to make special occasions that special. Even with the great minds of today we still haven't figured out how to make sure our children of the less fortunate aren't forgotten.
The Bluegrass line up is as follows:
12:00 - APPALACHIAN ROUNDER, include members from Boone, Kanawha, and Lincoln counties. 12:40 pm - COAL MOUNTAIN COON HUNTERS, with members from Kanawha county. 1:20 pm - HAPPY VALLEY BOYS, whose members are from Boone and Kanawha counties. 2:00 pm - GORDON HARMONY BOYS, with all members coming from the Gordon area. 2:40 pm - GRASS STAINS, all members coming from Lincoln county. 3:30 pm the event everyone is waiting for is the arrival of SANTA CLAUS all the way from the North Pole. 3:40 pm - TRADITIONAL COUNTRY with all members from Kanawha County. 4:20 pm - SON RISE featuring members from Boone, Kanawha, and Lincoln counties. Last but not least the BRUSHY FORK BLUEGRASS band with member from St. Albans is scheduled to take the stage at 5:00 pm.
If you are a business owner or an Individual and are wanting to make your tax deductible donations to the Secert Santa program come and enjoy the festivities at the Madison Civic Center. This will go a long way to make sure the children of the county who's parents, for what ever reason, can't afford to give their children a good Christmas may make it better. To give to those who can't afford to give makes you feel better about yourself as a Christian and as an individual. So please stand up and be counted give to an organization who helps those of this county.
WORDS OF WISDOM: Pay someone a compliment today. Lift someones spirit and self-esteem. It doesn't take away from your own. You have the choice to be one of two kinds of people - One who brings happiness whenever he comes, or one who brings happiness whenever he goes.
Until next time MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH SUNSHINE AND YOUR NIGHTS FIND PEACE. If there is something you would like to see in " A HAWKS' VISION OF THE POND" please feel free to contact me by phone at 247-6310, or by mail at Bill Hawks HC 78 Box 4069, Wharton, WV. 25208 or by e-mail at darkhorse_rider@yahoo.com or whiteknight7591@netzero.com
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