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Editor's note: During the course of a week, issues are covered that might not lend themselves to full editorial comment, but they are worthy of The Inter-Mountain weighing in -- pro, con or neutral.
Applause to the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which brought joy to more than 200 children during its annual Christmas Party at the Phil Gainer Community Center Saturday. For the past 30 years, the Seneca Trail Lodge No. 104 has gone above and beyond to put together the annual party for less fortunate children hailing from Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Pocahontas, Pendleton and Grant counties. Over the weekend, the organization brought smiles to local children's faces by providing them with a gift of their choice. The organization was able to raise a record amount of money this holiday season, which led to it being able to invite more children to the Christmas Party. In 2022 the FOP spent $18,000 for gifts, while this year that total exceeded the $30,000 mark.
Applause to the Salvation Army for its Christmas distribution event in Elkins in which the organization distributed gifts and food items. Each year the Salvation Army provides assistance to the less fortunate by conducting several initiatives during Christmas, including its Angel Tree Program that concluded when volunteers distributed gifts during the event at the Tygart Valley Mall. Not only were parents provided with Christmas presents for their children, but the Salvation Army also distributed complete meals for Christmas Day to those who qualified. The dinners included a $20 gift card for meat, along with a host of perishable food items that included canned goods, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and more.
Applause to the Highland Adventist School, which recently presented its annual student Christmas play at the Randolph County Arts Center. Nearly 30 students from the school participated in the play, which was titled "Christmas at Bethlehem Gulch." The play is an Old West musical based around a group of kids who arrive at Bethlehem Gulch for their annual Christmas Party and while there, they learn the true meaning of the season. Officials said the school's students handled the entire production of the play themselves.
Applause to the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Ladies Missionary Society for keeping a longtime holiday tradition alive by distributing holiday fruit baskets to community members. "Our Ladies Group has been doing this tradition for years now," said Trish Thomason, president of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Ladies Missionary Society. "Every year we ask church members if they know of anyone in our community that might need a little cheering up, having a rough year or just to let people know that we care. We also give to all the patients at Lavender Fields in Beverly." Each basket is filled with apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, candy, raisins and candy canes. The baskets are made by employees at the Beverly Five-Lane Shop-n-Save.
Applause to the "Feed the City" outreach program, through which the Summit Church continues to provide assistance for less fortunate residents in the area, especially during the holidays. The church provides free dinners on the final Tuesday of each month and also serves up hearty meals for those in need during the holidays, including on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most recently, the program's annual Thanksgiving dinner served up 300 meals. The upcoming "Feed the City" dinner will be Tuesday, Dec. 26, and will once again be at the Railroad Restaurant. The free dinners will be served