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Volume 48, Number 16
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W I N S TO N - S A L E M , N . C .
THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
Yard sale find turns into holiday tradition
BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE
Just before the holidays in 2001, Claudette Cannady came across a miniature holiday village at a yard sale. Although she didn’t know it at the time, those figurines started a holiday tradition for Cannady and her family. “I went to a yard sale and they had about four or five and they caught my eye,” Cannady said. “So I got those and I came home and fixed them up. Well my daughter - if she finds out I like something, that’s what she gets - so she went out and got me about 10 houses for Christmas that year and ever since then I’ve just been collecting.” Today, Cannady has over 100 figurines and she had to have a storage space built just to hold her collection. About half of Cannady’s inventory, inPhotos by Tevin Stinson cluding houses, churches, Claudette Cannady has collected well over 100 holiday figurines. The tradition that started at a yard sale has continued for over 20 years. stores, museums, and a miniature replica of Bank holidays. Once when Can- though it can be tiring of America Stadium, made nady was unable to set up playing host, Cannady said the cut this year. She said the displays, her family she wouldn’t have it any it takes about a week to set stepped in. other way. up the displays throughout “One year when I had “Now that I think about the house. “I think what I knee surgery and I noticed it, my family, including enjoy most is setting them for about two or three days my grandchildren, have up,” said Cannady during a they wouldn’t let me come never had Christmas and recent interview with The up front and when I came Thanksgiving anywhere Chronicle. in, they had put the display else. We’ve always been Over the years, Can- up,” Cannady said. “It re- right here for 42 years. nady’s family has joined in ally surprised me; it almost “They all come here the fun as well. Cannady made me cry.” and we spend the entire helps her daughter decoAs you could expect, day together and I just love rate her home and she has Cannady’s house is where it,’ Cannady said. traveled as far as Rocky her family meets for holiMount to decorate for the day gatherings and alCannady has a miniature Bank of America Stadium in her collection of figurines.
Boss Lady’s Toy Drive brings joy to more than 100 families THE CHRONICLE
Anita “Boss Lady” Dean-Arnette, the voice of The Light Christian radio station, has a saying: “Love isn’t love until you give it away,” and last week she bestowed that
love upon more than 100 families during her 21st annual Toy Drive. Dean-Arnette said the toy drive began as a small event with only about five or six families, but every year since she started in 2000, the number of letters she receives from listeners seems to grow and this year was no exception. “We’re noticing that families are pulling together to make Christmas happen for their babies,” Dean-Arnette said. “We’ve received letters where several grandparents are the official guardians and caregivers for their grandchildren, and even siblings who have taken in their nieces and nephews due to medical illness that has
restricted ability to properly care for children and in some instances, because the children’s parents are incarcerated.” Letters started arriving before Thanksgiving and with donations from corporate sponsors, local churches, and loyal listeners, Boss Lady made sure all requests were met. “This is really a ministry and it has been since day one. All of this is because we saw a need in the community,” DeanArnette continued. “That’s just who I am. Everything I do is for the community and my boss gives me the leeway to help my babies.” In addition to bags filled with gifts, 50 lucky children also received a
Photo by Tevin Stinson
Anita “Boss Lady” Dean-Arnette during her 21st Annual Toy Drive held last week. brand new bike. According to Dean-Arnette, the bikes have been donated by an anonymous donor for the
past eight years. “He pulled up with a trailer and he said, ‘I don’t want anyone to know who
SCAN
Happy Holidays
I am, I just want to help the babies,’ and that’s a blessing,” Dean-Arnette said. 6 89076 32439 7
BY TEVIN STINSON