Community Christmas Tree gifts keep on giving to young and old participants

By LARRY HYPES

No doubt you are making plans to help the Community Christmas Tree project sponsored by the Daily Telegraph and helped by so many thousands over the past eight-plus decades. This year’s big party scheduled for Dec. 22 at the Bluefield Auditorium will make scores of children happier. Many of them would not otherwise be able to enjoy the same treats for Christmas that most of their friends look forward to.

What is sometimes not mentioned, but always understood, is just how special the adults and youthful volunteers feel. Although we all know from reading Acts 20:35 that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” seldom is this lesson taught more effectively than for those who plan and produce the annual Christmas Tree festivities.

No matter what the value of the treats inside the bags might be, the uplifting feeling gained from helping to put them there is worth more than any item’s price tag.

Our Managing Editor Samantha Perry is familiar with the process although she usually took responsibility for keeping the newsroom in order while the late Executive Editor Tom Colley busied himself for a time with the daunting task of organizing the Tree events. That will be the hardest thing for many of us who have been part of the Community Christmas Tree for years — looking for Tom and not seeing his lanky frame presiding over whatever is going on.

He did love the “Little Jimmie” activities and although it has often been said that his favorite part of the program was looking for that one special child’s face who most enjoyed the giving, I can tell you that he was always so animated on the morning of set-up, when the trucks with fruits and nuts were ready to arrive.

He just couldn’t wait to see the delivery trucks, in recent years provided by Charlie Cole and his staff, bringing in toys from around the local area after their purchase by dedicated volunteers.

I can tell you that he would have long since contacted Don Whitt the boys from the Fancy Free band or Cecil Surratt by now. In fact, he started talking about that in late summer and reminding me that “we” had to call people. I was never sure he was serious but he never failed to worry that schedules might conflict and somebody might not be able to make the show. That never happened, and he was always pleased that the performers, including Bill Archer and Karl Miller, enjoyed being part of the Tree as much as anyone.

Sue Richmond, the “go-to lady” for everybody in the newsroom and always at the ready right across from Tom’s office, would just grin and shake her head as the days for the Tree party got closer. Between calls and questions about tickets, quick conferences about last-minute details and just plain memory conversations about years past, she has always known as much about what went on in the Tree activities as anyone in the building.

Don Rice took care of the general organization on the floor when bags were being set up and Tom would never fail to go over all the details. Sometimes that was before he took off his gloves and sometimes after. It was not long that he would have to have at least some kind of a stand-off with Frances Wayland, who always had a ready answer for him. It was almost as much fun to listen to them as to help with the set-up. I knew that Frances was going to be there before Tom and she made sure that he knew what time the volunteers were going to take part.

Another concern was the “muscle” needed to move toys and bags and boxes of food around. Tom always asked me if I could get some of those Tazewell football players and I often did but in many other years it was a pleasure to have some fine students come up from Graham High to help with the organization. He was always so happy when they showed up. Of course, in the backs of our minds, we knew that Bluefield coach Fred Simon could always be counted on to have a reliable troop of Beavers ready to help us so we have never really had to worry.

W. D. Hasty will be in his usual place providing both assistance and spiritual guidance. No doubt my pal Elizabeth Scruggs will be on hand to get me riled up. I always look forward to seeing “Chief” Jim Dent, Eugenia Hancock, and other long-time regulars working.

That tall guy gave us more fun than he knew and while we miss him, we are thankful we had him in our midst among the “other” children for so many years.

Larry Hypes is a teacher at Tazewell High School and a columnist for the Daily Telegraph.

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