Community Notebook: Adopt a Family for Holidays, Eat Breakfast with Santa

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The holiday spirit is upon us! Give back this season by adopting a family in need through Avalon: A Center for Women and Children. Families can enjoy breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10 and 17 at the Williamsburg Lodge. Read on for more details.

Avalon Invites Citizens to Adopt Families for Christmas

Avalon: A Center for Women and Children is seeking participants for its “Adopt-a-Family Program.”

The program matches participants with a family or individual currently utilizing Avalon’s services.

Avalon’s clients have prepared “wish lists” for each member of their family. Once volunteers are matched with clients, they will receive the wish lists and be able to purchase items. Gift cards are also welcome, because they allow mothers to purchase gifts for their children.

Unwrapped gifts must be received by Avalon by Dec. 16. Additional supplies needed include tape, gift bags, gift tags and ribbon. A maximum dollar amount of $50 per item and $100 per family is suggested.

Interested donors should contact Avalon at (757) 258-5022 or email Catherine@avaloncenter.org.

Breakfast with Santa in Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg will host a breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. Dec. 10 and 17 at the Williamsburg Lodge.

Families can enjoy the Lodge decorations, which include folk art, greenery and a gingerbread village created by the Lodge’s pastry chefs.

The breakfast costs $25, including tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 1-800-404-3389.

Colonial National Historical Park Honors Volunteers

The Colonial National Historical Park recognized individual adult volunteers at its recent recognition dinner. The volunteers received the George B. Hartzog Award.

Richard Houston received the Individual Service Award. He has been a volunteer with the park since 1996, accumulating more than 2,000 volunteer hours. He mans the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center information desk.

Barbara Shepherd was recognized with the Enduring Service Award and is the longest-tenured volunteer in the park. She has logged more than 5,000 volunteer hours over more than 20 years, contributing 254 hours in 2010.

CW Offers Holiday Civil War Tour

Colonial Williamsburg is offering special holiday Civil War programming, including a concert and walking tour.

“An Un-Civil Christmas: Holiday Music of the Civil War” will feature music that gave soldiers on both sides comfort during the Civil War. The concert will be offered at 7:30 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 3, 8, 16, 21, 24, 28, 30 and Jan. 1 at the Courthouse. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children under six.

CW’s Civil War Tour gives guests a chance to learn Williamsburg’s role in the American Civil War, visiting major Civil War sites in the town. Tours are offered at 7, 7:20, 7:40, 8:20, 8:40 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 15 and Dec. 26 at the Courthouse. Tickets are $15 for adults and youth ages six to 17 and $7.50 for children under six.

Aging Workshop Aimed at Caregivers

Adult children and caregivers of aging relatives are invited to “Staying Sharp, Staying Independent” on Dec. 10.

The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Keswick Place Assisted Living on the Warwick Forest campus in Newport News. The seminar is presented by Warwick Forest in partnership with the Williamsburg-based The Center for Excellence in Aging & Geriatric Health (CEAGH).

CEAGH will discuss how their safe driver course provides an assessment of an individual’s ability to drive. CEAGH will also provide information about geriatric assessments, which evaluate balance, cognitive function and memory. Additional resources will be available for rehabilitation services, clinical drug trials and caregiver support.

For more information, call (757) 220-4751 or click here.