Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 10, 2008, edition 1 / Page 26
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1 1 * ESR staffers show off some of the toys that were presented to families . A look at the enormity of the holiday project. Agency's partners help make holidays special for families SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The Holiday Season 2007 was filled with joy and giving at the Experiment in Self Reliance (ESR). The agency's clients were the recipients of the community's generosity dur ing the days and weeks leading up rto Christmas. ? Faith-based organizations, corporations, the armed services, and individual donors and contributors came forth as they do so faithful ly each year with financial and in-kind dona tions of toys, food, clothing and other gifts for children and their families. "On behalf of our clients, staff and board members, I would like to per sonally thank each and every person and organization that contributed to providirig our ESR families and children with a brighter holiday," said , Executive Director Twana Wellman. "We feel extremely blessed to have such a caring, giving community here in Winston-Salem and forsyth County. The agency says it owes a ' special debt of gratitude to St. Leo's Catholic Church, which Wellman provides a holiday meal for many of ESR's client families each Christmas. The agency is also grateful to the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program which donates things such as toys, games, stuffed animals, electronics, baby items and more during the holiday season each year.' o "The clients we serve would often go without a special holi day family meal or toys from Santa, if it were not for the gen erosity of our churches, business es, and others," Wellman continued. "We thank all our community partners for remem bering ESR and our client families during this season of the year." ESR is also greatly appreciative to Family Services/Hegdstart, YWCA's Hawley House/Project Fresh Start, Step One/Insight, Fellowship Home, Exchange/SCAN, Imprints, Youth Opportunities, Triad First in Families, United Way, Sims Recreation Center, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Lining Witness Baptist Church and Open Arms Community, all of whom assisted with the distribution of toys that were left over after the distribution to ESR families. Ball from page B7 V - famed singer who per formed at the ball . Locals believe that Winston-Salem was the only Triad city last year that con ducted a Kwanzaa event on each night of the holiday. Free events were staged at church es and recreation centers. The addition of the Kwanzaa Ball to thT usual, annual events is a sign that interest in Kwanzaa is growing, say TCA board members. "The ball is a way to cap ture the spirit of the Kwanzaa celebration and allow individ uals to really get involved and to be uplifted by African American cultOre," said TCA Executive Director Cheryl Harry. "A lot of times people don't see the beauty -m African American culture because of so many negative stereotypes that have been handed down through the years. Kwanzaa keeps a posi tive light shining on our her itage and inspires us to keep moving forward." At $25 per person, the ball served as a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which will host the Triad Juneteenth festival this coming summer. State Kep. Larry Womble was instrumental in getting the Juneteenth started three years ago, and has supported local Kwanzaa celebrations since they began. He looks forward to the hand TCA will play in the next Juneteenth. another African American holiday, which celebrates the day the last slaves in the nation learned about their freedom. Womble said events like Juneteenth and Kwanzaa not only educated blacks about their history, but others about African American culture as well. "I think it's important to have this ... so we can have an outlet to let other nationalities and ethnic groups know more a"6out" the'-Afncan American experience," he said. WSSU student Roci^ Jerry was among those in atten dance at the ball. At 20, the psychology major represents a segment of the population that the TCA wants to see more of \at its events". ^ Terry says it is unaware ness not apathy that keeps her peers away. "A lot of (?ople on cam pus are not aware of what's going on in the community," she commented. The ball was an enjoyable experience for Terry who attended at the urging of her mother, Vernita Terry, and she says she will likely return next year. "I knew it was going to be beautiful; I knew it was going to be nice," she said. "(And) if it's about my culture and anything dealing with, my cul ture, I support it all the way." Shirley Mosley spent most 4 Photos by Layla Farmer Lucy Vaughn with Cheryl Harry and Larry Womble. of her adult life in New York City before making Winston Salem her new home. Praising the ball, the lively senior says she was nothing short of thrilled to stumble across an event so decidedly urban in the Twin City. "Being in the art world, this is just home to me - get ting a chance to see all of this artwork and then seeing the ladies and the men with thei( African wear on - it just puts TichinaVaughn me right backui New York," she said with a p"'n "And I love it." Mezzo soprano Vaughn has traveled internationally performing in operas and con certs throughout Europe. For the ball, Vaughn switched gears, singing R & B and jazz for the eager audience. "I came home for the holi days and my mother and her organization were planning this extravagant event and asked if I'd participate and I said great because I haven't been able to do anything at home in a long, time," she remarked. "It was an oppor tunity to so something inti mate with family, with friends, fun, you know; who could say no?" Local musician Keith Byrd joined Vaughn on stage, just as he had years before when the two performed at a local venue known as the Louisiana Purchase. "Everything that comes with Kwanzaa I guess, peace and love ... and all the differ ent disciplines of wha^ Kwanzaa stands for is kind of like music; kind of like the eclectic blends of styles that I play," Byrd said of his moti vation to participate in the event. "It fits in my persona, you know? What I'm all about." The event also fit in with th& mission of the gallery itself, according to Marlon Hubbard who co-owns WhiteSpace with0 wife Che vara Orrin. - "If you are familiar with the seven principles of Kwanzaa, it's in essence how we live our lives on a daily basis in terms of how we sup port other businesses; how we promote unity within the com munity," he said. "It's just a reaffirmation and a perfect way to end the year in terms of supporting the community at large." ? Prices Good JANUARY 2008 I Sun Moo 13 14115 Tub Th Frl St ? 121 10 11 ft WWW HXVr%s/fXX/^ fcb&neless ?chuck roast Sera at lm?t $2.00 lb baby back pork ribs all natural strawberries 1 lb product of USA We welcome your calls on our toll-free Custofner Hotline: 1 (686) 537-8646 or on the internet at wecare lov/esfoods com X 9 'i mm r- vpu/s
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