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ELKINS – The Randolph County Commission is increasing the amount of funding it provides to the local Fraternal Order of Police’s annual Christmas party in December.
The charitable event provides gifts for children in Randolph and surrounding counties. The County Commission has historically provided $2,500 in funding for the event, which catered to 420 children in 2025.
At their most recent meeting, Commissioners David Kesling and Cris Siler unanimously approved a request for $5,000 from Seneca Trail Lodge No.104 and treasurer Brian Kilgore, who gave a presentation during the meeting.
“Like everything else, it’s kind of getting scary this year,” Kilgore said. “I’ll be honest, we’ve had businesses who are unable to provide us with the funds this year. Some have provided it, but they have reduced the amount in which they provide. We’re hoping that this year is another good success and we would invite you all to come. It’s really a good experience. It’s a really good event and I think the families and the children benefit from this.”
Kilgore told the Commission this will be the fifth consecutive year that the party will take place at the Phil Gainer Community Center. The party has been part of the Seneca Trail Lodge’s charitable efforts for more 20 years and was held at the lodge before its move to the Gainer Center.
“It’s kind of grown far beyond what we initially imagined, but with the support of people like yourselves and people in the community, it’s continued,” Kilgore said. “We had about 420 children show up last year and a large portion of those, almost 200, were from Randolph County. We have multiple counties, but Randolph County has been very generous to us from the businesses and so forth.”
Kilgore said the FOP spent $24,000 just on the children of Randolph County, and a total of $45,000 for the entire party.
“We contact every family after we get a list of people from school counselors,” Kilgore said. “Once you’re on the list, you remain on the list unless some kind of economic change is made, or something along those lines. But we contact each family and we find out the general likes of the child. We have increased the amount we spend to $125 per child.”
Kilgore explained to the Commission that the party is broken down into two blocks that last 2 1/2 hours each.
“We have bounce houses, Santa Clause, where last year families got to take their picture with Santa and we printed them out right there so they could take them home,” Kilgore said. “We have crafts, we have the Grinch that comes, and we provide refreshments. Kids come, they get to open their gifts, and it’s kind of personalized to them.”
The next Randolph County Commission meeting will be Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m.