Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 16, 1994 TAG: 9401170227
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
To accommodate the Elf Shelf, volunteers transformed the School Administration Building into Santa's toy store with an archway from Northside Flower Shop and decorations designed by Jeanie Henley and painted by the Radford High School art department. Mangled Christmas trees rescued from a closed department store by Ken Maurer were brought back to life by volunteers. Ken also found and refurbished enough used bikes for every child who wanted one.
In a separate area, children made gifts for their parents, while the parents shopped for their children. Red shelves were piled with presents donated by 10 local churches, Radford Women's Club, Radford Newcomers Club, and the Greek system of Radford University. We also used cash donations from several sources including Christian Travel and the Kent Street Branch of Crestar Bank, and financial backing from the Empty Stocking Fund.
As expected in the first year, the store did not operate without a few glitches. By noon of the first day, we had distributed gifts to more than 200 children - already more than had been projected to show up. Santa's shelves were looking thin and the volunteers were wondering where to find a lot of toys quickly.
Word spreads fast in a small town like Radford and soon help arrived in a big way. The First Baptist Church quickly provided funds for a much needed toy shopping trip. Private citizens arrived with bagloads of gifts at a steady pace. Shortly after noon, a tall young man appeared at the door. ``We're the Marines,'' he said, ``and we have a truckload of toys for the store.''
Shortly thereafter, a Santa Claus, looking suspiciously like Erv Strauss of Simmons Cable, appeared with several large bags of gifts. Unlike the real Santa, he reappeared over the next few days with more and more toys. The Elf Shelf was saved and the volunteers stood there feeling like George Bailey in the final scene of ``It's a Wonderful Life.'' The donations continued through the next three days. Thirty minutes before closing on the last day a beautiful brand-new mountain bike was dropped off by an anonymous donor.
The citizens of Radford and local organizations have much to be proud of. With the recession in the local economy and the numerous layoffs, many of our people have been forced to cut back. Families had to cut Christmas toys in favor of food and housing.
One man had been hanging around the store during setup and the first day, helping out where needed. He finally approached me and explained that, while not unemployed, through work cutbacks he was down to making about $600 a month. He was a single father with a child who needed constant medical help. He refused public assistance, but when he saw the Elf Shelf he couldn't help but want his child to have at least one toy for Christmas. Needless to say, he left with several.
One of our customers was shocked. She was shopping for her little girl and had spotted an EX-Bake oven on the shelves. ``My daughter has been asking for this for years and I have had to tell her that we can't afford it,'' she told her volunteer elf who was helping her shop. This year she got it.
The mechanical expertise of the many laid-off arsenal workers was a surprising help with used electronic toys. A father who had been working at the arsenal spotted a pile of toys that needed work. An obvious partnership soon developed where we unloaded our frustrations on fathers far more qualified than we were to fix them.
For 360 Radford children, Christmas was made happier by the Elf Shelf, and the Elf Shelf happened because of you. Special thanks also to the more than 75 volunteer elves who donated time. The important message is to the kids whose Christmas was made more joyous. The message to these children is that we, the community of Radford, love you and wish the best to you for the holiday season and throughout your lives.
Happy New Year.
Lori Spanjers and Kent Taylor
Radford
Praise for medical care
Have you praised our volunteer Rescue Squad at Christiansburg lately? Have you seen the new Montgomery Regional Hospital? New, you say - it's not new at all. I beg to differ and am going to be the first to ``eat crow'' in my opinion of our local hospital and its staff.
Far too often we (myself included) have been quick to criticize the long waits in an emergency room, the indifference of hospital staff or the abruptness of doctors who seem to be unfeeling at our time of need. What we failed to realize was that without proper equipment, sufficient staff and adequate facilities, no one would be on their best behavior! I have witnessed first hand just what the new emergency room facilities, more modern equipment and sufficient staff can accomplish in ny hospital, and especially at Montgomery Regional.
On Dec. 11, my husband had a stroke. The Rescue Squad was in our home giving aid to my husband within minutes and in 15 minutes, he was at the emergency room of Montgomery Regional receiving care. By the time I got to the hospital, tests were already being given, blood work was done and medication was being given through an IV.
I was amazed at the new facilities, the swiftness with which the nurses and staff tended to my husband, and the caring attitudes of the staff - not only for my husband but also for his family waiting anxiously for results of tests. Although we had a three-hour wait in the emergency room until my husband was taken to a room in one of the intensive units, this wait was productively used for several examinations by doctors, for X-rays, blood work and constant monitoring of my husband's condition by the nurses working in the Emergency Room.
This was very much unlike the wait a few years back when I was there for X-rays following a fall where I laid there for hours hoping to be seen by anyone. What an overall improvement in just a few short years. It made me wonder how many people are under the old opinions of that hospital just as I had been. This is the reason for my letter - to praise not only our wonderful volunteer Rescue Squad for their quick response and actions but the ``new'' Montgomery Regional Hospital that I witnessed the day of my husband's stroke.
From the day my husband was admitted, not only did my he receive the best care possible but the staff went above and beyond in so many ways to make the family feel at ease and keep them informed of his treatment.
Recently, many of you may have read in the Current of my daughter Becky's wedding that took place in the hospital chapel on Dec. 20. What was not discussed nearly enough was the staff's participation and the many things they did to make this day special for our family. From nurses who gave their free time to bake a beautiful wedding cake, make punch, and decorate a classroom for a reception, to the physical therapist, Reed, who volunteered his time after hours to dress my husband, get him in a wheelchair and accompany him to the wedding and see him back safely to his room, to the staff in administration who contacted us constantly for days before the wedding offering to do anything needed, I give my heartfelt ``thank you.''
The caring and kindness shown to our family was overwhelming. Due to their efforts to help in any way needed, a very emotional time was turned into a beautiful wedding day!
My eyes have been opened to the wonderful volunteer Rescue Squad we have available and to the changes making Montgomery Regional a better hospital for the people it serves. Maybe with a little less criticism and a whole lot more praise and support, Montgomery Regional will not only become even better in time for our area, but one of the better hospitals in the state.
Lorraine Blackert
Christiansburg
by CNB