Friday Nov. 23,
2012
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 282
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • Two sections
Giving still alive, well after 24 years
Children can write St. Nick via CT-A BY BOBBY J. SMITH
BY MARK BOEHLER
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
editor@dailycorinthian.com
Members of the Corinth Theatre-Arts Theatre Guild want to hear from those who still believe in Santa. “We want to know if the kids in Corinth and the surrounding area still believe in Santa Claus,” said Theatre Guild member Barbara Rogers. In this holiday fundraiser, the Theatre Guild members are helping get in touch with Santa this Christmas season. First, parents fill out a form to accompany their kids’ letters to Santa Claus. Then they either
Most families gather around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day to give thanks to the many blessings received. For many over the past 24 years, the day represents a day to give of their time to prepare and deliver hot meals to those who might have otherwise gone hungry on the special holiday. Over 100 volunteers gathered inside the Corinth Middle School cafeteria Thursday morning to assemble 800 traditional Thanksgiving dinners, then distribute them throughout Corinth and Alcorn County. First Presbyterian Church spearheads the outreach project, but many other members in the community join hands on this day of giving back. “You will be blessed today as you come forth and serve,” said Dr. Don Elliott, pastor of First Presbyterian as he spoke to the many volunteers. “We are a blessed people.” While giving thanks to the Lord, Dr. Elliott praised those present who every year take part as a way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Entire families participate, some in food preparation, over 60 in packaging the meals in carry-out boxes, then many in delivery. Half of the 800 meals were taken to homes, noted Dr. Elliott. Dick Atkins, in charge of the meal assembly, has been volunteering all 24 years. “It’s church members working together,” said Atkins. “This is a different situation than at church. This is quality time with people. Many people here today are
Please see LETTERS | 12A
Area basket drive seeks funding BY BOBBY J. SMITH
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Oakland volunteers Brian Clausel and Chris Botting get bags of food ready to be delivered during the church’s “Taste of Hope” on Thursday. See additional photo, 3A
Church provides ‘Taste of Hope’
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Rotary Club/ Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Drive is providing a way to pay tribute to someone special while providing a better Christmas for a needy local family this holiday season. The goal of the Christmas Basket Drive is to raise $20,000 to buy 1,000 Christmas meals for qualifying residents of Corinth and Alcorn County. “This holiday season is truly the time of giving and to help others who are truly in need,” said Drive Chairman Steve Icardi. “And we’re asking people to reach deep into their pockets to help out. The level of need is great.” Please see BASKET | 3A
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Thanksgiving Day provided more than just a meal for those who attend Oakland Baptist Church. Church volunteers passed out the love of Jesus along with all the Thanksgiving trimmings to the community's needy during its first “Taste of Hope” Thursday afternoon. “I think we are getting more out of this than they are,” said church pastor Dr. Randy Bostick. “We are just letting the Lord shine through us.” Close to 200 church volunteers put aside their own holiday plans to help. “The church has been so obedient,” said Michal Ann Spencer, who organized the event along
with church member Chris Botting. “I realize we are asking them to give up their holiday, but everything has just fallen into place.” Volunteers delivered around 130 meals before noon as the church planned to serve 400 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. “I wanted to be here and serve today,” said church member Jeannie Blackwelder. “It is good to see willing hearts come out and help those in need because we are all more blessed then we deserve.” Botting said she has been looking forward to the day. “I just want to see what the Lord is going to do,” she said. Thursday was an opportunity for the whole church, according to deacon Truman Stockdale.
“This is a perfect day to share Jesus,” he said. “I would rather be here than home watching football … if it wasn't for Jesus changing my life, I couldn't say that.” The Thanksgiving meal consisted of chicken and dressing with gravy, baked ham and baked turkey and cranberry sauce. Five vegetables -- green beans, cream potatoes, sweet potato yams, macaroni and cheese and cream corn -- were served along with dessert and drink. Noted chef Ben Betts was in charge of cooking the meal. Spencer hopes next year will be even bigger. “I think God can do bigger and better things,” she said. “We are going to pray to untie God's hands and let him work.”
Please see GIVING | 12A
Corinth Area Arts Council kicks off Christmas season BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Talented Corinth singers, instrumentalists and dancers will come together Tuesday to kick off the Christmas season. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the annual Christmas concert organized by the Corinth Area Arts Council, is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Corinth Coliseum Civic Center on Taylor Street. Proceeds benefit upkeep of the historic theater building. Arts Council Chair Cindy Mathis said the concert is the council’s gift of Christmas cheer to the community. “It’s a mix of sacred carols and secular fun Christmas songs,” said Mathis, “from ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ to ‘O Holy Night.’ It’s become a Corinth tradition, and that’s what Chad [Dickerson] and I dreamed of when we first started this. It’s the
first thing to bring in the Christmas season after Thanksgiving.” This is the sixth year for the concert, which has helped raise funds for various building improvements. This year’s proceeds are likely to go toward air conditioning, which is currently not working in the coliseum. The arts council oversees maintenance of the coliseum. The show has been well-attended and is always “a lot of fun,” said Mathis, who will play the harp. This year’s performance is also dedicated to the memory of Carole Spencer in recognition of her dedicated work as a member of the arts council. Tickets cost $10. Participants include:
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Please see CONCERT | 3A
Lauren Walker (from left), Addie Paige Pratt, Chad Dickerson and Nan Green recently gathered around the piano to get in some practice for Tuesday’s annual Christmas concert to be held at the Corinth Coliseum Civic Center.
Index Religion...... 7A Classified......2B Comics....11A Wisdom....10A
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
On this day in history 150 years ago “It will be doubly necessary to guard well our rear — that the enemy may not be enriched by stores which had been first procured at large expense by our government — and afterwards transported at great risk to our present base of operations.” — Pvt. Charles Stephens. His word would prove to be prophetic.
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