Brian Chamberlin at Christmas Connection of Jackson County. Photo by Kaitlyn Brown.
Story co-reported with Cameron Huffman
You look up at this bland brick building, not sure what is waiting behind the old walls. You reach forward to push open Christmas Connection’s door located in Sylva, North Carolina, on Westcare Drive and step inside. The slight chill in the air fades as you walk inside and pause. A stuffed bear with a Santa hat greets you with a big grin on his face and little beady eyes with a sparkle of joy as you walk to the front desk.
It’s a different kind of feeling when you look around seeing the walls lined with toys, wrapping paper and gifts, waiting to be handed out to children all around. You can just imagine the smiles that will light up their faces when they tear off the wrapping paper to see what’s hiding inside.
December 2019, Jackson County’s Christmas Connection is a highlight for the organization and what they do – helping children and families in poverty have an amazing Christmas. Unlike Operation Christmas Child or The Salvation Army, this organization is hands-on and lets the parent(s) or guardian of each family handpick what gifts their children will be receiving.
Broken into over 10 different sections of toys, clothes, goodies and more, Christmas Connection brings much delight to children all throughout Jackson County. The Jackson County Christmas Store has existed since 1989, and in 2014 after coordinators Wanda Kidd and Elaine White retired, Western Carolina faculty member Brian Chamberlin with help from his family, took over and renamed it Christmas Connection of Jackson County. Christmas Connection of Jackson County serves about 1,000 each holiday season with Chamberlin as the president treasurer of the nonprofit organization.
“We allow the parents to fill out a form with information on it with their kids’ ages, size, preferred colors and everything else. Then we pack it all into a bag, with the toys and other gifts unwrapped. This allows the parent(s) to come in and review what their kid(s) will be getting. The child receives one outfit and one to three items of interest depending on how much it costs for a total value of about $75,” Chamberlin said.
In Jackson County as a whole, Christmas gifts are not a reality for everyone. According to Christmas Connection of Jackson County’s website, 25 percent of Jackson County children fall under the poverty line. Through this organization, they stand by: “together, we can change that.” Taking on this task is a strength brought on by its volunteers in hopes to give every family “a truly Merry Christmas.” The organization has around 50 volunteers who work for the organization throughout the year, but most of the work is done at Christmas thanks to donors and volunteers from the area.
“Volunteering here is important to me because I believe that no child should go without a gift on Christmas,” volunteer Hannah Gonzalez, senior at Western Carolina University, said.
Christmas Connection of Jackson County will continue to pack and distribute gifts until December 20. If you are interested in helping out you have few options. You can sign up for a shift as a volunteer at their website, donate new toys and clothing, or offer financial support directly to the organization. Another way you can be apart of this heart-warming experience is to sponsor a child through Christmas Connection!
See video for more from president treasurer, Brian Chamberlin.
