UPDATE - Last of 2016

Christina and Julia are sharing the Christmas love

The Last Few Days

The Fellows ended 2016 with a flourish. 

The men used their brawn over at the Shepherd's Center. 

Greg Camacho, Reese, Ned, and Sean

As you may know, the Shepherd's Center is known for its Used Book Sale Fundraiser (as well as its hard core bridge tournaments). Every year, this senior center sells thousands of used books. Well, last year, after having their best sale yet, they still had stacks and stacks of books left over - so many books that they had to rent out a P.O.D. 

Unfortunately, the P.O.D. costs money so every month they had to pay for the books that were just sitting there. Fortunately, the Shepherd's Center heard of a used book company in Atlanta that picks up people's used books for free and shares the profits with them. All the Shepherd's Center needed to do was get all the books out of the P.O.D. and onto pallets. Unfortunately, books are heavy. But fortunately, there are Fellows in Winston-Salem.

So there we were last Wednesday, using our brawn for a good cause. (Thanks Greg Camacho for sharing your brawn as well!)

Getting there slowly but surely

Sean was in book heaven

Nine pallets later

It was back breaking I'm not going to lie.

But I did manage to score a couple gems - nothing compared to the sweet note Drea Parker shared with me.

Ned,

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you, to you and your team.  The mission of WS Fellows is a beautiful one, and I will let everyone know how great you all are.

Attached are the pics captured from your work today.  I’m SO EXCITED that we’ll be able to send that Pod on off instead of paying for monthly rental.
Have a wonderful rest of 2016. Happy Holidays.

Drea

Drea Parker

Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator

The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem

1700 Ebert Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27103

The Day Wasn't Over!

From there, the Fellows headed over to Christmas For the City for one of my favorite holiday events of the season. 

Helping out at the gift mart

 I love Christmas for the City - so much I forgot to take pictures! Ugh. This is the only one.

I promise it was more fun than Maggie and my kids are making it look!

We made crafts, listened to music, played with magic snow, ate dinner, sang Christmas carols, made necklaces and shoebox cards for charity, ran into lots of friends old and new, drank hot chocolate, ate Christmas cookies, and got filled up with about as much Christmas Spirit as one can get filled up with. 

A FEW MORE HIGHLIGHTS

Dave Dave and Lucy

 David and I made a special delivery to the Erickson's adopted grandmother, Lucy Coats.

Dakota shared his present from his Host Family!

 Jessica and Christina shared pictures from their epic train ride from North Carolina to Chicago.

Land of Lincoln Girls

 I didn't know Washington DC was on the way to Chicago!

Maybe it is on the Polar Express!

As for the Ericksons, we headed to Columbus to celebrate Christmas with Lia's family.

We got to watch my niece Evy dance as a Page in Columbus Ballet's Nutcracker!

 We went to a Columbus Blue Jacket's game. (They have the most points in hockey this year!)

the Simpsons put on their Black and Gold Letter Jackets

Anna Rose wrote me emails:

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you for your enthusiasm for this program!

Thank you for your financial support!

Thank you for your prayers!

Thank you for cheering us on!

Thank you for opening doors!

Thank you for joining us on this crazy wonderful journey!

- Pray for the Fellows while they are on break

- Pray for college seniors who are thinking about what they might want to do next year

- Pray for good family time

- Pray for year end giving. 

http://www.wsfellows.com/give/

Or send checks to 

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Or contact me about other options. 

Thanks everyone! My heart is full!