THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412200132
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
When members of the Virginia Beach Jaycees went Christmas shopping Saturday, they weren't picking out gifts for their own families and friends.
Instead, they were helping needy children pick out gifts for their families and friends.
The Virginia Beach Jaycees recently sponsored its 12th annual shopping trip for needy children. It's a chance for the kids, 6 to 12, to pick out gifts not for themselves but for their parents, siblings, grandparents and others who share their homes.
The Holiday Project of Virginia Beach Social Services supplied the names to the Jaycees. Tidewater Regional Transit Corp. furnished a bus and driver. Manager Joe McQueen of WalMart on Lynnhaven Parkway arranged for the kids to visit his store, providing a pancake and bacon breakfast, a cashier to ring up their purchases and a room for wrapping the gifts.
Such altruism is contagious. The children of an employee working in the snack bar had benefited from a similar program, the Angel Tree, last year.
This year she wanted to repay the kindness. After asking if it would be OK, she gave a small gift to each child brought in by the Jaycees.
``It really gets you in the Christmas spirit,'' said Beth McOsker, Jaycees chapter president, ``when you see these kids' faces light up, shopping for their families. The kids are so excited. Plus they get to see Santa. Chapter members love to get involved; they walk around for months talking about this project.''
It was still dark, under skies spitting cold rain, when bus driver Barry Jones wheeled his bus away from the Jaycees' chapter house near Mount Trashmore. Onboard were event co-chairperson Miriam Duran and Jaycee Tom Shenk, a third-grade teacher from Portsmouth. Gliding through deserted streets the bus rolled up to Windsor Woods Elementary School a few minutes after 7 a.m. At 7:12, Dereka James, a first-grader who just turned 7, arrived and climbed aboard. Two others boarded a few moments later. When no more turned up by 7:30, it was on to the next stop.
Dereka, who has three brothers, announced she was planning to shop for ``my brothers and me.''
At the Holland Elementary stop, kids began pouring out of waiting cars as Jones guided the bus into the parking lot. Sixteen more piled on.
Shenk began passing out name tags as the bus eased back into ever-increasing traffic.
Three more climbed on at Plaza Elementary.
The bus pulled in at WalMart, where seven more children were waiting, and in a flash, the kids were inside, shepherded into the snack bar by the 35 so Jaycees who were ready to escort them on their shopping expeditions.
Co-chairperson Lisa Bristow was among those waiting at WalMart, getting things ready. Patty Pence, in charge of the Jaycees' assignments, was also staying very busy. As the kids finished eating, they set off with their ``Jaycee Elves.''
Dereka's ``Jaycee Elf'' was Kimberly Clough, a teacher who skillfully guided her through the toy section. Selections for her brothers, ages 5 and 3, were easy - Power Ranger stuff. It was a little harder shopping for her youngest brother, age 2. With some coaching from Clough, Dereka picked out a voice activated truck. She then wanted to pick out something for herself.
After confirming with another Jaycee that this was a ``no, no,'' Clough's teaching experience came in handy in persuading her young charge to look instead for something for her mother. They picked out a set of earrings in the jewelry department. Clough had learned from Dereka that her grandparents lived with them, and they decided to get them something, too.
A powder set for grandma and a cologne set for grandpa were soon added. Shopping was over except for a visit to the check-out line.
Each child was allowed approximately $45 for his or her purchases. The money was donated by area businesses and friends of the Jaycees. Dereka and Clough stayed within the budgeted amount. The total on the register when they came through was over $741 with just over half of the kids checked out.
Clough and Dereka pushed the cart back through the store, past the lay-away counter and into a back room where yet another group of Jaycees wrapped each child's gifts. Santa stopped in and gave Dereka a present so she wouldn't go home empty-handed. The Santa gifts were donated to the Jaycees by Lillian Vernon.
Her packages wrapped, her gift in hand, Dereka's shopping was done. Clough led her back to the front of the store, clutching her parcels, to wait for the bus to depart.
``We're finished,'' beamed Clough, with a twinkle in her eye.
Dereka was smiling, too. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by DAWSON MILLS
Clifton Latham, Ashley Latham, center, and Dereka James enjoy a bus
ride as part of their shopping spree for families and friends.
Dereka James, 7, gets shopping advice on buying gifts for her three
brothers from Kimberly Clough, her ``Jaycee Elf.''
by CNB