Many to thank for helping Children’s Home Society
To the Editor:
I imagine that you get a number of requests this time of year to pass along reflections, acknowledgements, declarations and even a few resolutions, and here’s hoping that you can find space in your paper to share a few more words of gratitude.  The Children’s Home Society is a private non-profit child welfare agency that has been helping with the needs of children since 1896.  The local CHS office has been open and providing a variety of services to children and families since 1984. This kind of tenure and legacy does not just happen because children and families have needs.  The Children’s Home Society is in our community because the community supports the agency with money, endorsements, volunteers, referrals, all with love and compassion for making life a little better for children. 
During this holiday season, there was a very visible demonstration of support for Children’s Home Society’s Little Red Stocking Campaign.   The money raised through this campaign helps us to care for the children we serve through our Romney office.  Thanks to the following businesses or organizations that helped to make this campaign our most successful one to date.
In the Keyser area, these businesses include: BBT Bank, Boddy's Automotive,  Balloons Because, Campbell Realty Co., Calemine Shoe Repair,  Castiglia's,  Chessie Credit Union, DJ Grocery/Cruise Thru,  DJ Outback,  Doug’s Billiards,  Eagleye Gun Shop, El Jinete, Filibuster Pizza, Fox's Pizza, Grant Co. Bank, KC Salon, Markwood Funeral Home, Mountaineer All Star Café', Mountain State Eye, Oriole Club, Progressive Physical Therapy, Renta Center, Royal Restaurant, Salon Exposure, Shear Image, Skip's Honda, TC Originals, Timbrook Chevrolet(Service Dept.), Wayne's Meats,  David Webb, Wepco and Potomac State College Student Government Association. 
In the Burlington area, the following businesses include:  Van Myra Inn, Burlington Café, and Flying W Farms. 
In the Elk Garden area, the following businesses include: Elk Garden General Store, Jones Store and Mt. Top Recovery
In the Ridgeley- Fort Ashby area, businesses include: Fort Ashby Books, ANW Movies, Adam’s Equipment, J and B Beer and Tobacco, Unique Pet Store, Wayne’s Meats, Sav A Lot Pharmacy, TRIO, Cindi’s Restaurant, Eerie Insurance, Poland’s Furniture, New Mart Grocery, Old Furnace Restaurant and Styling Niche.
 In Maryland, businesses include: Dale’s Pit Stop in Rawlings, Hamburger Haven in Westernport, Dr. Steven Scheermesser and   Hi Rock Animal Hospital in McCoole, CSX Railroad in Cumberland, and the Coal Bucket Café in Kitzmiller.
In Mount Storm, the following businesses include: Mt. Top Garage and Stained Glass Restaurant.
And a big thank you to:
Mt. Storm Power Station IBEW Local 50 for strong support of our Little Red Stocking campaign.
 We look forward to working with each and every business listed in the upcoming 2010 campaign.  If your business or community group would like to participate in our 2010 Little Red Stocking campaign, please call Sally Johnson, Site Manager, at 304-822-4652 and we can get you signed up! 
Finally, we would like to thank all those individuals and/or groups who helped to make Christmas brighter for our children!  Your Christmas gifts were very much enjoyed and appreciated!  Thanks to: Grace United Methodist Youth, Doodles Place, Reverend and Mrs. Don Ertel, the Augusta CEO’s, Brigette Magnetti and her family, Christ Community Church in Augusta, McDonald’s Restaurant, Domino’s Pizza and Chick Fil A. 
Our agency continues to need the help of the community in order to best serve our most at risk children.  We sincerely appreciate all of the support!    We need foster parents, adoptive parents, volunteers.  We also offer employment opportunities.   If you are interested in helping children at risk, please contact Children’s Home Society at 822-4652.  Come help us make the future brighter for our children!       
Sally L. Johnson
 Site Manager
Children’s Home Society