To the Editor:
Employees of Anderson County government, as well as many local families and citizens, recently provided Christmas gifts to 34 children in Anderson County Schools through the Courthouse employees’ Angel Tree. It was truly a team effort, from our Maintenance Department helping to erect the tree and haul the gifts, to Mayor Terry Frank having the office serve as headquarters to organize the generosity, to David Crowley helping to deliver the gifts.
I am humbled by the generosity of the local community and the employees in making sure the children had a wonderful Christmas this year. And, I was endlessly blessed to see the precious smiles from youngsters and see the tears and hear words of thankfulness from their mothers, grandmothers, and fathers while delivering the Christmas gifts late last week. It was equally moving to see the smiles on the faces of those employees and citizens who contributed as they brought gifts to the Mayor’s Office. Each person gave so willingly while knowing very little about the child—beyond his or her first name and age—for whom they had purchased gifts.
It’s so much more wonderful to give than to receive, and a lot of people made 2013 a great Christmas for so many children. I want to thank many people, both named and unnamed (since we had no way of identifying everyone who took a child’s name from the Courthouse Angel Tree). A BIG THANK YOU goes to: David and Gale Crowley, Heidi Miller, Saprina Williams, Terry Frank, Virginia Irwin, Richard Burroughs, Lorie Brummett, Tiffany Lively and members of her church, employees in the Anderson County Clerk and Master’s Office, the Anderson County Clerk’s Office, the Anderson County Election Commission office, Linda Russell and Kayla Lawson, Kristin and Scott Chambers, Lauren Biloski, Daniel Ellis of Ellis and Ellis, and staff members from several area attorneys’ offices, and other local citizens. If you contributed and your name or office isn’t listed, please know that your contribution was greatly appreciated by the child or children for whom you purchased gifts.
And, another BIG THANK YOU goes to the following school guidance counselors: Ashley Sutton from Norwood Elementary School, Rhonda Cross from Dutch Valley Elementary School, Debbie Phillips from Claxton Elementary School, and Marcia Wasson from Norris Middle School, as well as Vicki Massey from Lake City, who all helped coordinate names for the Courthouse Angel Tree. It all wouldn’t have been possible without your willingness to provide children’s names and gift information to me.
Wishing you all the best for a successful 2014,
Leean Tupper
Anderson County Government
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