Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412120071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For the 47 children who crammed into Joanne Palmer's living room on Saturday afternoon, though, that home could well have been Santa's workshop itself.
The tables were filled with plates of ginger cookies, bags of sweets and cups of punch. The towering tree was decorated with blinking white lights, countless ornaments and gold streamers.
The presents - one for every child - were neatly wrapped and ready to go under the tree, and the young visitors were revved up with excitement and anticipation.
"We have all the magical ingredients for a special Christmas right here in this room," Palmer said. "My favorite thing about Christmas is the love, and this house is busting at the seams with that today."
Welcome to a very special celebration, a party that brings gifts and joy to children who need it most. Welcome to the Palmer family Christmas, where sharing and holiday hoopla come together.
For four years, Joanne Palmer, her sisters, her mother and her in-laws have invited children from low-income families into their home. There they sing Christmas carols, talk about what the holiday means and give out gifts - lots of gifts: a Sesame Street Camper, Baby Walk and Roll, a Pro Circuit Speedway, Magic Trolls Styling Salons and more.
The tradition started after Palmer attended a leadership class hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, where a Voluntary Action Center representative spoke of ways to help the community.
"I came home crying and begged my husband to let me do this," Palmer recalled.
She gets the names of the children from the Montgomery County Christmas Store and mails out invitations to the parents.
"We tell them about us and make sure they understand that we aren't just trying to show we have more than others," Palmer said. "We do this to share the spirit and spread the love."
Thirty-five children came the first year, but as word spread, the invitation list grew. This year, the Palmers were expecting 53 guests.
Rosie Duncan of Christiansburg and her 14-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter were a few of them.
"It's so nice to have other people who care about the children," Duncan said, as she watched the festivities from the back of the room.
As child after child arrived, they shared their thoughts about what makes the holiday special. Some said Santa Claus. Others said spending time with family and a few said Jesus' birthday.
Then there was 3-year-old Elizabeth Hicks, who cut right to the chase.
"I'm Elizabeth,'' she said, "and my favorite thing is the presents."
She wasn't disappointed. Hicks opened her gift, a tub of Tyco building blocks, and a smile came across her face.
"I'm going to play with mine and build a house. It's Big Bird stuff," she said, pointing to a picture of Sesame Street character Elmo on the label.
Amanda Edwards, 6, was a few minutes late.
"What's something special about Christmas?" she was asked as she joined the crowd. "I just love it," she said, as she threw out her arms.
Amanda, who received a Magic Troll Styling Salon, knows the routine well. This is her second year at the Palmers' Christmas celebration.
"I like to get the presents, and they have my favorite kinds of cookies, gingerbread and sugar," she said. "I have friends here."
Nothing, not even a few spills, could spoil the mood for Palmer.
"I don't have any children, so this makes my Christmas," she said.
Linda Palmer, Joanne's mother, watched as the presents were handed out.
"You can't beat the kids' reactions," she said. "One year we gave a boy a remote-control car. He pushed the button to make that car go and when it did, `Whoa,' he said, `I bet this thing cost $1,000.'''
Joanne Palmer won't reveal how much she spends to make the season merry for others.
"I have no idea," she said, smiling mischievously. "We don't write it off as tax-deductible, so I don't keep a tally.
``It wouldn't make a difference anyway. It's just something we do."
by CNB