"Bedford Community Christmas Station  is set up like a department store, with sections for infants, girls clothing, boys clothing, teen clothing and gifts, toys, household items and food. All merchandise in the Christmas Station is new, with the exception of gently used coats that will be made available to any shopper that needs one. Each family that is accepted to shop at the Christmas Station also receives a box of food."

2012 was such a remarkable year for Bedford Community Christmas Station!  We began the year by packing up our of merchandise and equipment and moving out of the space we had occupied at 206 Washington Street.  It was a difficult decision to give up a space that had been provided free-of-charge by Bedford County Administrators, but the Christmas Station Board of Directors felt that the health and maintenance issues at our former home made it necessary to look for a new location.  We will always be grateful to Bedford County Administration for providing a space from which Bedford Community Christmas Station was able to serve the community for six years. 

During the spring and summer of 2012, our committees continued to meet, plan and prepare to serve families in December.  Purchasers on the Goods Committee hit the sales and began stocking up on popular gift items.  Eligibility Committee members revised forms and made plans to screen applications in October and November.  Community Liaison Committee members reached out to schools, organizations and businesses to ask for help in collecting gift items.  The Fundraising Committee planned several fund raisers, including a spaghetti dinner, yard sale, Christian concert, give-back night at Ruby Tuesday, booths at CenterFest and Gross' Orchard, and a Cowbell Services hosted by Liberty Cowboy Church.  The Public Relations Committee made flyers, submitted community events to local papers, and wrote newspaper articles about our activities.  The Food Committee appealed to local organizations and churches to collect paper products and diapers, while ordering checking the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for good sales.  Meanwhile, the building committee was working to find a new home for our program. 

On September 1, thanks to the generosity of Covington Company and the tireless efforts of Dewey Gunnoe, members of Brookhill Wesleyan Church, The Junior ROTC Program from Bedford Science and Technology Center, and many other wonderful volunteers, we moved into our new home!!!!  Throughout the next several weeks we worked to transform 584 Blue Ridge Avenue in Bedford into Bedford Community Christmas Station, complete with shelves, racks, desks, refrigerators, tables, chairs, and lots of exciting gift items:  infant clothing, girl's clothing, boy's clothing, teen clothing, infant toys, toys for ages 5 - 12, teen gifts, household items and food products.  Lori Moorman decorated our windows and doors while volunteers in each department put up displays and created a festive atmosphere in the building.  Our volunteer coordinator recruited more than 100 helpers to assist with setting up and serving our clients.  On December 6, 7, and 8, we opened our doors to more than 320 low-income households.  It was once again an uplifting and heart-warming experience as heads of household walked through the Christmas Station with a host or hostess and a shopping cart to select gift items and food products for the family.  As has become a tradition at the Christmas Station, we were very pleased to be able to offer bikes that were donated by James Wade and hams that were donated by Dewey Gunnoe.  What a wonderful sight to see all of the smiling faces as clients loaded up their vehicles with lots of goodies to take home for a family Christmas celebration

Each year, we serve a larger number of individuals and families than the previous year.  And, each year, we turn to the community to ask for assistance in making sure that we have enough merchandise on hand to serve all eligible families.  And, every year, the community responds with amazing generosity and kindness.  On behalf of the Bedford Community Christmas Station Board of Directors, I would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to everyone that provided support through collecting items, holding or attending fund raisers, donating merchandise or funds, and/or volunteering with any of our activities or events.  You make our mission possible!  Thanks so much!!!!

Karen Hughes, Board President

Designed and Hosted by One Source Graphics LLC