UIK k
Yes, Folks,
A Mrs. Sc
BY MAIUOIUK MKG1VF.KN
In the frantic weeks before Christinas, while most
folks are searching the stores for that jierfect gift, or jnst
dreaming of holiday fun, an Ash hairdresser is spending
nearly every free moment brightening the season for
those confined to area nursing homes.
Cat Long, with the help of friends, gives permancnts
or fresh hairdos and Christmas stockings filled with
goodies to residents of rest homes in Whiteville and I-ike
Waccamaw in Columbus County and Shallotte and
Southport in Brunswick County.
This "Mrs. Santa" ministry began eight years ago.
"I had gone witti Mama to sec someone in a rest
home," she said, "and a little old lady across the hall
called out to me. "Money, come over here and talk to me. I
'I ...... f? ?..V 1..
Ixmg said she was so moved by the woman's
loneliness, she said to herself, "If I could, I'd give
everyone here a Christmas gift." At that moment, she
said, "The Lord told mc as plain as I'm talking to you
that I should use my time and talent this way."
She began the next Christmas going into nursing and
rest homes in Southport and Whiteville, offering her hairdressing
skills to anyone who wanted a permanent, a
haircut, or a shampoo and set.
"When I started, it was just me and my sister, (Faye
Simmons i; we did everyone's hair that wanted it, but it
kept getting bigger. It don't get no littler," Pat said.
To keep up with the demand, she recruited the help of
other hairdressers.
The work could only be done in a rest home with
beauty parlor facilities. "You have to have the right sink
and some beauty equipment. Just try washing heads in
the bathtub," said one assistant, Donita Taylor, also of
Ash.
Appreciative residents prompted her to expand her
efforts.
Mrs. Long recalled, "One woman said to me after I'd
given her a permanent, 'You don't know how I appreciate
this. It's the best gift I could get, and it's probably all I'll
get.'
"I began thinking about how many of them received
nothing at Christmas, and decided to fill stockings for
them, loo."
(With donations from individuals and businesses, she
filled stocking made by West Brunswick High School
students with gum, candy, cookies, fruit and socks.
Her husband, Willie, dressed as St. Nick, helped
distribute them.
That first year I did it with just $70," she said. "Now,
airport 1 f
AUTOSRENTAL
& SHUTTLE SERVICE < J
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT THE l'W
BRUNSWICK COUNTY AIRPORT E/
380 LONG BEACH RD . SOUTHPORT
(919)457-9898 WM
WINTER SPECIALS wB
(NOV-FEB.)
DAILY* ML
Compact S29 95 Standard $32 95 MUfi,
WEEKEND* rm
Compact $79 95 Standard $89 95 ..
no. .n,|?.v .rwiy<f c tu,l, W
TRV OUR AIRPORT 'W.
SHUTTLE SERVICE
We'll drive you anywlicre and F,'
pick you up.
Serving all Brunswick County Cj(
Call lor rates ^
t?T US fill TOUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
Kirby's Dep
Main Street tln<l "
\V
t the
There IS
anta Claus
t>vw|>ic mic generous Willi money. but nol so tnuch with
their time."
She remembers one Christmas, however, when she
had received no cash,at all for her stocking fillers. "The
day before I was to go to Whitevillc to give stockings. 1
didn't have any inonev, but tliat night people came to my
door with more tlian $100, a donation from a Baptist
church. It was an answer from the Lord," she said.
Her husband recently relinquished his Santa role to a
neighbor, Malcolm Long (no relation). "He's just too
tender-hearted," his wife said, "and can't stand to see
the condition of some of those people."
Pat doesn't lack tenderness herself, but has a brisk,
cheerful nature that counteracts the sadness and illness
she finds in this ministry.
"The gratitude most folks express is just wonderful,"
she said. "One lady inShallotte always yells when I come
in. 'Whoo! Whoo! Honey, you're the prettiest Sar.ta C'laus
I've ever seen." "
I jst year over HOO stockings were distributed and
more than three dozen permanents, cuts and sets given in
Southport ar.d Whiteville. The Shallotte residential care
facility doesn't have a hair salon.
This year Pat's task Is even bigger, she said. She's
added two rest homes in iake Waccamaw as stops for
Santa and his stockings, and estimates 500 stockings will
be distributed.
The demand for hairdos lias increased, too. Early
t?iuuuu> iiioi mug ai a aoumpori convalescent center, a
dozen women were lined up along a hallway wailing for
their "beauty appointments".
Pat and five assistants were working on several
clients at once, rolling hair tightly for pennanents, shampooing
in two nearby rooms, and giving a haircut to a
distinguished-looking elderly gentleman.
Helpers there included Taylor. Ann Simmons. Lucille
Bright. Loretta Hewett and Faye Simmons, all
volunteers.
They spent the day there, probably leaving long after
dark; Pat will return another day with Santa and a load
of stockings.
Her Whiteville recipients have already been
beautified and visited by Santa. On Sunday, those in the
Shallotte rest home will get their bit of Christmas cheer.
In all of these places. Pat and those who help her
receive plenty of rewards.
She said. "Stupid me. 1 could be in the Bahamas this
Christmas; I got a chance at a trip, but I just can't let
these people down. And if you could just see their eyes,
you'd know it's worth it."
Theri-V no betler
time to say "Thank
jou" for your past patronage!
van's Grocery, Sporting
>ods and Exxon Products
.130 Ash, NC 287 3796 >
nMHnmnnLdro
MJ (^5 May the radiance of
M} Christmas lead you to joy
and peace everlasting,
(gratefully, ive extend
our season's greetings.
mrtment Store
nnklin Variety sho?otte
sun
' aafevw
IiOBBIE LEWIS, right, of Shallottc, gets a permanent
from Pat Long at Ocean Trail Convalescent Center in
,o'<.. y. ,>"J i
'^#9; ft
Best wishes ":?1
to one ana \T^*??Jk }
*\ 'loncj 1 \ "il
w.tn our '* J- *"^1
,nan"' \ J u9h
V.-^-x/s- ui at,
hap
lp|F ; fju
Calabash SHA,
Auto Parts class ?
if; m
{){?}(! \
A wealth of
from our fat
Hi! re P"1
safe and hap
filled with
J ^ delights of ll
RJCKS
North Carolina
Shallotte Calc
_ 754-4345 579I
THE BRUNSWICK&BEACON
Thursday, December 18. 1986
SIAif PmOTOB* MA?)0?ll WICiVIDN
Southport. Id the background. Donita Taylor gives
Skect Gore a haircut.
I iBSjkt .. . "-Sli
I Oeck The Halls
Vour friendship and
iliilfa.ai support mean a lol
1/llAUlUU to us. Have a very,
Merry Christmas!
LOTTE
t MIRROR Holden Beach Outlet
Hwy. 130. Holden Beach
w - --mvlmji
I
Uslws I
, ll
good feeling
nilv to yours.
g von have a
py Christmas
all the rich
ie season!
V >- '
i National Bank
ibash Hoiden Beach
4345 842-4345