Powhatan Christmas mother has faith the county will meet its needs

POWHATAN

Evelyn Kay Mann

Evelyn Kay Mann, a retired Powhatan County nurse, has put her product invention on hold until next year to focus on her unexpected job as the county's Christmas Mother.

"Everything is on hold until after Christmas," she said. "I'm jampacked. Every day."

Also, Mann's husband, Tommy, a military veteran and a retired U.S. Postal Service employee, was named the program's first Christmas Father.

"As the Christmas Father, he has to do what I ask him to do," she chuckled.

More seriously, Mann said, her husband is assisting her with errands and talking to civic organizations to raise money.

"She's working me to death," Tommy Mann said with a laugh. "No, we're having wonderful time working together and doing things."

She's honored to have the job, which comes with a lot of responsibilities to meet the needs of all the children, Mann said.

"I enjoy all of it," she said, "working with the girls in Christmas committee, the volunteers, meeting new people in the different organizations that I speak at."

The goal for donations is $35,000. Last year, 83 families were adopted, and so far this year, 46 have been adopted.

The needs are greater, with the economy the way it is," she said. "But our county will come through to meet the needs."

The deadline for requesting assistance has passed.

The address to send donations is: Powhatan County Christmas Mother, P.O. Box 461, Powhatan VA 23139. Contact Kay Mann at (804) 598-1064 -- Juan Lizama