THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050190
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Holiday spirit lives on through the acts of kindness
I'd like to tell you how proud I am of my daughter, Brittany Hart. She is a 7-year-old who attends second grade at Princess Anne Elementary.
She picked a name out of our gift boxes at church. I'm sure this name wasn't picked knowingly, because this child wanted a 24-inch bike for Christmas.
Well, my daughter picked it up with no second thoughts and said, ``I'm going to get her this bike.'' I asked her how she would pay for it and she said, ``I'll work for it.''
Well, work she did. She came up with the idea to make and sell pine cone bird feeders.
She met her goals in less than two weeks and bought this girl a blue 24-inch, 10-speed for $93. And, of course, my daughter said, ``She has to have a helmet, so she can ride this bike - it is the law, you know.''
I'm very proud of my daughter. I truly can see the true spirit of Christmas in her.
Janice Hart
Virginia Beach
After seeing your article (Dec. 20 Beacon) on Rockafeller's, I felt compelled to write you about my employers at Harpoon Larry's Oyster Bar, 24th Street and Pacific Avenue. Every year now for three years they have picked a needy family with the help of local teachers.
All of the employees sell paper Christmas trees to our customers for $1 to $5 each. The customers then sign the trees, and we hang them throughout the restaurant. With the help of the owners, customers and employees, we have been able to provide a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, a nice Christmas tree, toys and clothes for a needy family for the third year in a row.
Kenny Stamey
Virginia Beach
The Virginia Beach Police Department should be commended for the recent efforts of some members to help an apparently needy family in crisis (Dec. 20 Virginian-Pilot).
This department, as well as other area police and fire departments, routinely provide invaluable assistance to people in need. The extraordinary efforts of the Virginia Beach Police in this situation, however, were above and beyond the ``routine'' job requirements of any individual in the department. The outpouring of giving from within the ranks of the department seems to demonstrate a tremendous amount of compassion which exists among our local police toward those who are less fortunate or are perhaps down on their luck. Unfortunately, it appears that in this particular instance, the department and numerous other well-wishers may have been duped by an individual who was being less than honest about her situation.
Let us hope that this will not diminish the generous spirit of those who showed genuine concern for what appeared to be a family in dire straits. The reality of our society is that the holiday season often brings out the very best in some people. Unfortunately, it also brings out the very worst in others.
Timothy P. Dayton
Chesapeake by CNB