Amelia Christmas Mother: Sylvia Reid

AMELIA

Sylvia Reid

For more than three decades, Sylvia Reid worked as a teacher in Amelia County.

Her experience taught her that simple gestures can make a child happy, and as the 2009 Amelia County Christmas Mother, her main goal is to ensure a smile on the face of as many county children as possible this Christmas.

"I look at what's going on with the economy and the number of people who have lost their jobs since last Christmas," said Reid, who retired in 2008 from the county schools after 33 years. "It has been a very difficult year for many families, but my personal belief is that children are innocent and . . . deserve to feel that joy that comes from getting a gift."

Despite the bad economy, the program aims to serve 900 children this year. Last year they served about 400 children.

The Roanoke native started teaching English at Amelia County High School fresh out of college. She has volunteered with the Christmas Mother program for six years, helping to distribute toys and clothes at the program's annual Toy Shop.

The deadline to submit requests for help: Dec. 11, the day set for the Toy Shop.

Send requests for help to: Amelia County Christmas Mother, c/o The Amelia Bulletin Monitor, P.O. Box 123, Amelia, VA 23002.

The address to send donations is: The Amelia County Christmas Mothers Fund, c/o The Amelia Bulletin Monitor, P.O. Box 123, Amelia, VA 23002 or drop them at The Monitor, 16311 Goodes Bridge Road. -- Luz Lazo