Secret Santa helped more than 1,000 children

The Washington-Morgan Community Action Agency completed another successful year of the Secret Santa program. In 2009, the program served 1,019 underprivileged children, in Washington County. There are so many contributors, I wish I could publicly thank every one of you here, but that would be impossible.

I would like to thank Bob Kirkbride of Marietta Ventures, for the donation of a space to house the distribution center. Without the use of this comfortable building we would not have a way to store and distribute the gifts. I would also like to thank the Marietta welfare League, Wal-Mart Foundation, Peoples Bancorp and the Dominion Foundation for their contribution. A special thanks for the gift from the Marietta Community Foundation through funds from the J. Francis and Lillian Strecker Smith Fund, Karl D. and Anna Schultheis Marsch Fund, Broughton-Sugden Fund, F. Buchanon, J.H. McCoy, H. Switzer & Mildren Fund and the Betty Markell Hallock Memorial Fund.

I want to thank the special people of the Beverly American Legion Riders for a wonderful job on their toy run. Thank you Kevin Sams, for organizing the event. Also a thank you to all the other riders, and supporters, from the Pioneer Motorcycle Club, Sinner and Saints and Goldwing Riders. It was truly a special event with wonderful people. Another event was put on by the Burning Dawn. Thank you for your support and to Suddenlink for matching funds.

There were many groups who organized toy drives such as Thermo Fisher and AEP, Ohio Power, the CTT of Marietta High School, Harmar Place, WTAP Christmas Zoo, Heartland and the St. Vincent De Paul, of St. Johns. Also the Nazarene Church and St. Vincent De Paul, of St. Mary's, thank you for your distributions. Roy Littleton donated 24 bicycles. Your support was greatly appreciated. Also, a big thanks to Marietta Memorial Hospital for their wonderful job of bringing so many departments together and supporting our cause.

Also to Wal-Mart, Kmart and Big Lots, who have been constant supporters of the program for many years. And a special thanks to Applebee's for the pancake breakfast in which they donated all the supplies and staff. Thanks to Joe from Galaxy Pizza who provided pizza.

Every year we receive the words of appreciation from the parents of the children that you do not hear. We hope that you know how much this means to the families and how much it means to the staff of Secret Santa. You make Christmas a magical time for all of us.

Catherine Rees, coordinator

Secret Santa Program