Just believe in the magic of the holiday season! Stop and think ... what does that magic of the season mean to you? Is it your little one’s face when they see Santa? Is it the twinkling of those lights when you first plug in your Christmas tree? Or, is it that unexpected Christmas card that brings a smile to your face?
Sometimes we often forget that this magic is not just between Thanksgiving night and Christmas morning. It can truly be a 365-day experience, if we stop and reflect on the wonderful memories that have been made throughout the year. At CARE, we have so many memorable events that happened throughout the past year, and we continue to be very thankful for our donors, volunteers, artists, instructors and community members who have been a part of making these things happen.
In 2023, Ladies’ Paint Night continued to be a monthly tradition. New faces joined our group each month and always left with a beautiful painting. Watching hard- working moms enter the CARE building with a smile on their face for an evening of fun and art lessons was rewarding. Throw in some guilty-pleasure snacks and the fun antics of instructor Gay-Lynn Haynes, and you have a fun-filled night.
It is also hard to reflect on our children’s summer camps and not smile! We were very fortunate to have an amazing team of instructors and volunteers that made our camps a success for art, karate and dance. The addition of teen camps, sculpting classes and so much more packed the month of July at CARE. Hearing all the laughter as our children rushed up three flights of stairs in the morning and again in the afternoon for camp was rewarding. Almost as rewarding as watching the excitement of sharing their new creations with their family!
And, then there was Gateway. At midnight on Oct. 14, every part of my body hurt, but it was worth every ounce of pain and minute of stress. It was truly a time when volunteers from all over the community came together for one special event, one special day. By far, a favorite part of the day is always the presentation of the Caring Heart, Volunteer of the Year, and Home Town Hero Awards. Three very deserving, yet humble souls have no idea that they are about to receive these awards.
Now, the month of November has always been revered as the time of the year to be thankful, but the term “thankful” falls somewhat short when you think of our CARE members, CARE Board of Directors and our sponsors. Attending events, cooking desserts and just stopping by to chat are only a few of the reasons we were and continue to be thankful for our CARE members.
Our CARE Board of Directors spent their time in 2023 attending monthly meetings, assisting with building maintenance and working CARE events. It can aways be said that this group worked to “Serve with a Smile!”
However, these were not our only blessings that we were fortunate to have during this past year. CARE was blessed with a group of sponsors and donors that continue to support the organization financially each year. Our local businesses, foundations and grant-funding organizations allowed us to continue to offer our programs to our community and continue to grow.
Finally, it was the magic of Christmas at CARE! December festivities are second only to Gateway in the planning and delivery. Hanging wreaths, displaying garland, playing Christmas carols and decorating a two-story Christmas tree always set the tone for the month. Holiday market, Cookies with Santa and special after-school crafts helped to get anyone in the holiday spirit. Yet again, it is those families that came into our arts center just to take a picture of their children in front of the tree that made it all even more special.
Well, I guess it is the true meaning of the holiday season and its magic that continued to bless CARE in 2023.
Thank you again for supporting CARE, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in 2024!
