Last Thursday it looked like the lack of sponsors would mean children in more than 400 Currituck families could wake up Christmas morning to an empty tree. Operation Santa Claus - the Christmas assistance program operated by the Currituck Department of Social Services - had more than six times as many applications for help as it had sponsors giving it.
For Stephanie Bradley, child protective services unit supervisor for Currituck DSS, the need this Christmas is unprecedented.  "This is the highest number of applications we've ever had in our history and it's directly related to our economy," she said. "I think it's everywhere, not just in Currituck."  In 2006, Currituck DSS had only 74 applications for Christmas assistance. This year, Operation Santa Claus has received more than 470 applications for help.  Applicants are still coming."
 
While small children are easier to buy for, teenagers also need the message of love through a gift at Christmas. They're the most difficult to sponsor because they're more expensive to buy for.  "For sponsorship, we'll give (the sponsor) how ever many people they can handle," Stephanie said. "We give them (the kids') ages and their wish list. When they buy (a gift), we ask them to wrap it and we call the family to come pick it up."  Potential donors should not try to do more than they can afford. That way, each child can have the best Christmas possible. "If people want to sponsor, they should only sponsor one or two kids so that child can have a nice Christmas,"

Following announcements in the paper and a piece on Channel 3, sponsorship increased and Channel 3 offered to set up a phone bank.  More than $7,500 was raised.  You can watch the video on line. There still remain about 100 children who need sponsorship. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Operation Santa Claus or to sponsor a family should call the Currituck Department of Social Services at 232-3083 and mention Operation Santa Claus. All funds collected will go directly to meet the needs of children, particularly those in the foster care system.

Holiday Illumination Celebration, Currituck Heritage Park Dec 12
Come to the Whalehead Club, beginning at 3:00 pm for complimentary tours of the house museum festively decorated as the Knights would have done back in the 1920s. Gather on the North Lawn at 4:30 pm for free hot chocolate and seasonal carols sung by the Currituck County High School Choral Ensemble, while Currituck Heritage Park's giant cedar tree and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse are simultaneously illuminated for the holidays! Treat yourself to an old-fashioned horse and carriage ride through the park with Carolina Carriages, starting at 2:00 pm. www.whaleheadclub.org. Currituck Heritage Park is located just past MP 11 on Rt. 12 North in Corolla, NC

Project Linus provides security through the gifts of handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need in the Albemarle Region of Northeastern NC. The Northeastern NC Chapter includes Camden, Chowan, northern Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties. The Outer Banks Chapter includes Dare and Southern Currituck Counties.  For the Northestern Chapter contact contact Cyndy, (252) 331-1699, Northeastern.NC@projectlinus.org.  For the Dare/Currituck Counties contact  Jeanne, (252) 255-5648 or email Jeanne@knittingaddiction.com, or Brittany, (252) 255-5648,  Brittany@knittingaddiction.com. 

• The Foodbank of the Albemarle
• Currituck Law Enforcement Association
• Currituck Animal Lovers Assistance League
• Currituck Christian Womans Club
• Lower Currituck Volunteer Fire Department

November 27 through January 2; Sunday through Thursday: 5:30 - 9:30.  Friday and Saturday: 5:30 - 10:30.  Located at 118 Woodhouse Drive,Water View Shores North in Grandy NC,
Coming from The north: Turn Left onto Poplar Branch RD.(light by Sonic) then third street to the right into Waterview Shores North. Follow almost to the end.

Roanoke Island Festival Park
Celebrates the Holidays the Elizabethan Waye

Come join the merriment of 16th Century England, brought to us by the Guild of St. Andrew of Raleigh, on Saturday, December 19. Be a part of the celebration at Roanoke Island Festival Park where visitors can get a taste of 16th century holiday traditions from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Many events will be held inside and the event will go on, rain or shine! A fun day for the entire family!  Admission is included in the general admission ticket to the Park.
 
 At 12:30 and 3:00 p.m., the royal family will feature a Christmas Pageant in the indoor theatre with audience participation. Enjoy Elizabethan holiday music; a Christmas puppet show; dancing and a masque of Robyn Hood. Also discover food and drink of the season and craft activities.
In the Settlement Site, visitors can join with the interpreters as they "recreate" their celebration in the New World with simple decorations and a roast over the open fire at 2:00 p.m.
 
Experience holiday decorations in all of the Park's venues including the Settlement Site, the Roanoke Adventure Museum and on the Elizabeth II sailing ship.   There may even be a few more surprises of the season.  We'll see you there and wish you Merry Yuletide! For more information call (252) 475-1500.
 
          The mission of Roanoke Island Festival Park is to involve residents and visitors, of all ages, in a creative and stimulating exploration of Roanoke Island's historical, cultural and natural resources.

 
The Hatteras Connection seafood fundraiser to benefit Hatteras Island Food Pantry and Hatteras Meals, Inc. raised $2940.   The money will be divided equally between the two non-profit food organizations.  In addition to the monetary donations, dinner guests contributed enough non-perishable food items and personal care products to fill the back of one pick-up truck and one station wagon.  Those items were delivered to the Food Pantry Wednesday morning.

The Methodist Men's Food Pantry provided 2475 people on Hatteras Island with more than 60,000 meals last year and helped 160 families with medical and housing expenses.  Hatteras Meals, Inc. serves daily lunches to as many as 45 persons.  Volunteers deliver lunches to people who are homebound, convalescing from surgery, or dealing with extenuating medical conditions.