Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Mathews County Social Services would like to thank the many individuals, churches, civic and community organizations for their donations and their support for the 2017 Christmas Store.

Many citizens volunteered with setting up, working in the store and cleaning up when it was all over. Without the countless efforts of such extraordinary volunteers, the success of the Christmas Store would not be possible.

We would also like to recognize the Mathews High School Beta Club for assisting with the setup of the Christmas Store and Boy Scout Troop 124 who assist with the cleanup. Additionally, our agency would like to thank the Mathews County Public Schools for the use of the school bus to transport the items and Kingston Parish for allowing us to use their facility.

In 2017, the Christmas Store served 504 people which included 315 adults and 189 children plus 49 children came to the Elf Shop where they shopped for their parent or guardian. We are already looking ...