THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170652
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 169 lines
A COW, A DOORKNOB and a popsicle-stick structure were among the Christmas gifts early shoppers bought at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church last Sunday.
The church was the site of an alternative gift-giving fair called ``Gracious Gifts.'' The cow represented food for the hungry. The doorknob represented a house for the homeless. And the frame represented shelter for those in need.
The idea was for gift-givers to make a donation to a charity in honor of a friend or family member. No amount was too small to give as a holiday gift.
Joan and Burr Sheely participated in the ``Gracious Gifts'' program in their former church in Pennsylvania. Last year, Joan shared the idea with the Evangelism, Service and Mission Committee at their Cedar Road Church.
It wasn't long before Joan Sheely and Jim Lewis co-chaired a ``Gracious Gifts'' committee. For almost a year, the group talked to local charities, shared information with other church members, promoted mission awareness and organized the details.
``Joan's enthusiasm was contagious, but we didn't know what to expect,'' Lewis said. ``But now I think we have a new holiday tradition for our church and for our community.''
Ann Hubbard, a committee member, said most of the church's membership became involved with the project as groups decorated, shared information, made posters and exchanged ideas. Hubbard and Lewis even presented a skit to the congregation to illustrate the plans.
Claire Burk designed Christmas cards, which can be mailed or wrapped to announce that blessings were shared with the recipient by the donation of a gift in their honor to the named charity.
The church goal was to raise $2,000 during the one-day shopping spree for charity.
Various church members, families and clubs staffed display tables in the fellowship hall for Chesapeake Care Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, H.E.R. (Help and Emergency Response) Shelter, Our House and the Zuni Presbyterian Center.
As any good holiday shopping day should, Sunday rolled in crisp and cold. Decorated trees, sleigh bells, cookies and whiffs of cinnamon spiked the air as people checked their lists.
Guests were given shopping cards and invited to browse through the exhibits and learn more about the organizations. No money changed hands at the display tables. Each shopper listed the name and the gift amount on his card, and then received a small item, such as a gingerbread cookie or a stick house, as a memento.
At the accounting table, Jane Burkelman and Maxine and Chuck Cornelius tallied each card so the shopper could write one check for all contributions. Later, the funds would be distributed to the charities.
``It's great that we can come together to help people in our own community as well as around the world,'' Chuck Cornelius said.
For each donation at the accounting table, the shopper received a Christmas card, which they were invited to take to the calligraphy table. There Susan Moerschell and Susan Cupitt carefully penned a name on each card.
Each donation was a two-fold gift.
First, it was given in someone's memory. This year, one local grandmother will not receive the usual note cards and hand lotion. Instead her grandchildren made a donation to the Chesapeake Care Clinic in her honor.
Secondly, the money became a gift for medical care, food, shelter, clothing and education for those in need.
``Everyone is going to get a gracious gift this year,'' said Hubbard as she scanned her list of nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters.
Lesli Britt and Kathy Borchers manned the table for the Our House shelter. A banner read, ``As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.''
Rosalyn Eller, a church deacon, said she was doing most of her gift-giving for friends by giving to Our House.
``It's a wonderful organization and, sadly, we need it here in Chesapeake,'' Eller said.
Little, block houses were the token gifts for a $10 or larger donation to the South Norfolk homeless shelter.
At Our House, three families or up to 10 residents can stay for four weeks. The shelter also provides counseling, crisis intervention, job interviewing, nutrition and parenting classes, a food closet and transportation to assist some of the immediate needs.
Individual and business contributions keep the shelter open. They also receive about $1,200 a month from the city.
The State of Virginia allows a 50 percent tax credit for donations to the shelter.
A gingerbread heart was the reward for helping the Chesapeake Care Clinic.
The clinic was founded by Dr. Juan Montero in 1992 to help those he called the ``working poor,'' those who had jobs, but not enough money for health care or adequate insurance.
``Teachers, neighbors, best friends . . . this is such a beautiful way to remember someone,'' Debbie Smith said as she worked at the clinic table. ``All the money collected will go entirely to the organization. No money will be used for administrative costs.''
Caroline Vaughan had a different list. She was shopping for thank-you gifts.
``I have so many people to thank,'' Vaughan said, as she juggled 3-month-old Sarah in her arms. ``I tried to write notes, but I couldn't find the right words.''
Shortly after Sarah's birth, Vaughan's sister died unexpectedly.
``No one knew her, but the cards, prayers, help and support poured in for me,'' Vaughan said.
Friends cleaned her house, took care of her children and stocked her freezer with meals for a month.
``Today, when I filled out a card at Chesapeake Care, Our House and H.E.R. Shelter, the right words were there,'' Vaughan said.
Choir members Peggy Miller and Joyce Wrestler took their turn working the Heifer Project International table. They handed out animal crackers and cow ornaments for donations.
The Heifer Project was started in 1944 when heifers were given to families in Puerto Rico because their malnourished children had never tasted cows' milk.
The project also provides training for health care, community leadership and resource assistance. Today, the organization teaches people in 35 states and 110 countries to become self-reliant.
A $20 contribution buys a flock of chickens, $60 gets rabbits and $150 will purchase a llama.
Jeanne Thompson made several donations to the Heifer Project in memory of her father-in-law, Edwin Thompson. He had been a cattle rancher. The ornaments and cards will be given to her husband and family and the livestock will help others.
Paul Moeschell, 13, Taylor Youmans, 14, Owen Hubbard, 12, Phillip Lewis, 13, and Thomas Wall, 13, aggressively worked the table for Zuni Presbyterian Center.
``Ten more dollars can make more difference to them than to you,'' Youmans told Joan Sheely as he encouraged her to give a $20 gift.
``I'll do it,'' Sheely challenged. ``If everyone at the table will pitch in and purchase something at another table.''
Five heads nodded in agreement to the pact.
The Zuni Presbyterian Center is a residential, vocational training center for young, mentally retarded adults.
The center teaches independent living skills, leisure time activities and job training. Many students process and sell Zuni Gourmet Peanuts.
Alene Bowen, Cindy Mittalko and Reade Rowe stacked clay pots at the H.E.R. Shelter table.
Bowen said they started out with 90 pots, which were given out for a $5 or more donation. In a short time, they were down to the last 10 pots. Jeff Turverey chose to give here for his grandmother's Christmas.
``I never know what to get my grandmother,'' Turverey said. ``This year, I think she will be pleased. She likes helping other people.''
H.E.R is a 24-hour emergency shelter for victims of violence or domestic abuse. The Portsmouth shelter provides counseling, referrals, programs for children and lots of support. All the services are free.
Rick Goldmeyer wanted people to buy a piece of a house. Goldmeyer and other men of the church staffed the display for the South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity Inc.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 as an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry. Its mission is to help eliminate poverty housing and make affordable homes available for low-income working families.
Some of the items and prices on the list for Habitat for Humanity were $5 telephone jacks, $6 concrete blocks and $38 kitchen sinks. For the very generous giver, a total house would cost about $37,500 in the United States, or $500 to $3,000 in a developing country.
The charge for the hot soup fellowship lunch at the ``Gracious Gifts'' event was one can or dry food item per person. The food collection was for the Community Resource Network Food Pantry and the Great Bridge Food Closet.
By early afternoon, most shopping lists were complete, and more than $5,000 had been raised to help others. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Manning a table at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church's gift-giving
fair were, from left: Ann Hubbarg, Chuck Cornelius, Jane Burkelman
and Maxine Cornelius.
Susan Passero talks with people at the Our House table.
Clare Burk, working with a shelter for battered women, talks to
Debbie Smith and Kelly Schick about the program.
by CNB