Cooperative Living November/December 2020 - 16

New Ways to Serve
(continued from page 13)
From delivering thousands of holiday cards into the
grateful hands of veterans to dressing up as Santa Claus
and bringing holiday cheer to people in local hospitals and
retirement homes, the Bryants are true community servants.
Edward, past commander of the American Legion Post
46, has been giving out fruit baskets to local veterans, with
his wife, long before they officially started the " Christmas
Cards for Veterans " program in 2016.
" I go to McGuire veterans hospital in Richmond a lot
for my medical care, and I see veterans over there who have
nobody to visit them. I thought a Christmas card would
brighten their day, " he explains.
After a pause, he says,
" Because, as a Vietnam
veteran, I know how it
feels to have people forget
about you. "
The project, which
started with the distribution
of a couple hundred
cards, has burgeoned into
a full-blown community effort. " It's grown each year since my
wife and I started it. It's a labor of love, " Edward says.
" The first year, we thought we might get a hundred cards,
but we ended up with more than 300 cards, " Kay says. " We
had a cute little mailbox out front that looked like a mini
replica of our house and we had people put their cards in there
- but, my goodness, that little mailbox couldn't even hold
all the cards we collected. We had to upgrade. "
In 2019, more than 5,000 cards went to Hunter Holmes
McGuire VA Medical Center and to local veterans, with
churches and community organizations participating
in the effort.
" Every veteran in that complex gets a card, whether
they're a patient, just visiting, or working there, " Edward says.
Lap blankets, handmade by Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative
member Jane Rodgester and her fellow church members at
Zion Baptist Church, are also distributed to veterans confined
to wheelchairs.
In 2019, the Bryants delivered more than 5,000 holiday cards
to Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center. Above, Edward
Bryant shows off boxes of donated holiday cards in his vehicle
and then poses for a photo while delivering to McGuire.
CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROGRAM POWHATAN CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROGRAM POWHATAN CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROGRAM POWHATAN CHRISTMAS
Co-opPeople | by Laura Emery, Field Editor
Making Wishes Come True
this holiday season.
J
oAnn Woodson is stepping
into the mother of all roles
" I'm excited about being Powhatan's
Christmas Mother of 2020, " the lifelong
resident of Powhatan County says.
A member of Southside Electric
Cooperative, Woodson retired after
33 years as a physical education teacher
at Powhatan Elementary School.
Her husband, Jimmy, was a physical
education teacher, athletic director
and football coach for 40 seasons at
Powhatan High School. Jimmy will
be serving alongside his wife in the
role of Christmas Father.
It's a beloved tradition dating back
more than five decades in Powhatan
14 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2020
County. The Powhatan Christmas
Everyday Committee, which consists
of longtime members and former
Christmas Mothers, selects a Christmas
Mother each year.
Betsy Blandford, outgoing 2019
Powhatan Christmas Mother,
nominated the Woodsons for the
important roles. " We were honored
and very flattered, " JoAnn says.
The Christmas Mother program's
mission is to raise funds to purchase
food and other holiday gift items for
county families who need support.
The Woodsons, who have three kids
and six grandchildren, are excited
about being able to give back to the
community in their year-long positions.
When asked what she loves most
about Christmas, JoAnn noticeably
perks up. " Oh, I love everything about
the Christmas season, " she says.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANN WOODSON

http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living November/December 2020

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