Santa and Mrs. Claus make a stop by B&L Jewelers Wednesday afternoon to do some early planning for Christmas this year. Downtown Business Association President Brandt Scholt, left, poses with Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson, center, and D.A.R.E. Deputy Eric Latza. Downtown businesses are planning to help the sheriff with his annual Christmas Fund, which provides gifts for needy children across the county.
Brandt Scholz, owner of B&L Custom Jewelers, greeted the Clauses along with Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson and D.A.R.E. Deputy Eric Latza Wednesday to see how they could work together to make sure every needy child has a wonderful Christmas this year.
“We heard that some children didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas last year, so we wanted to help out this year,” Scholz said.
The Surry County Sheriff’s Office provided presents for 300 children last year in addition to food boxes that were provided for needy families through the Sheriff’s Office Christmas Fund.
Scholz, who is president of the Downtown Business Association, said he wanted to start planning and getting the word out now because after the HOG Rally, Labor Day, Mayberry Days, the Autumn Leaves Festival and the Donna Fargo Highway Dedication set for Oct. 29, the Christmas Parade set for Dec. 6 “will be here before you know it.”
“We want to get people thinking about shopping downtown instead of going to the mall,” Scholz said.
Many downtown stores will have boxes set up for those who want to drop off an unwrapped gift for infants to teenagers. Those who wish to give monetary donations can give participating merchants a check made out to “Sheriff’s Office Christmas Fund,” or cash will be accepted.
“I’m tickled to death,” said Atkinson about the DBA’s early efforts to contribute to his Christmas campaign.
Scholz said the DBA has themed the downtown area, “The Happiest Downtown in the Whole U.S.A.” in honor of Donna Fargo’s hit song “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.” and the upcoming highway dedication.
He said many businesses are going to stay open late on Thursday nights and music is being planned at different locations to help draw people to the downtown area.
The toys and money collected from now until Dec. 6 will go to provide toys and clothes for needy children throughout the county.
Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.
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