Eight months of volunteer work culminates with month of holiday giving
By Eli Lamport
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Nov. 10, 2024
Assigment objective: Tell a hard news story in ten photos, paying extra attention to ordering and narrative flow of the photos.
As holiday season approaches, volunteers at the Montgomery County Christmas Store gear up for what is their most important month of the year, December. On select days next month, they will give away upwards of $100,000 worth of goods to local low income familes. Accumulating the goods and preparing for this month of giving is a nearly year-round process.
Christiansburg, VA, Nov 8, 2024 – Montgomery County Christmas Store is an all volunteer organization that gives away donated goods during the holiday season to eligible low income families in Montgomery County. They rely on donations from individuals as well as donations from local businesses.
Photo: Eli Lamport/JMC 4144
Christiansburg, VA, Nov 8, 2024 – Volunteer coordinator Vicky Dierckx is an adjunct professor in Virginia Tech’s marketing program. She has volunteered at the Christmas store for the past nine holiday seasons. “It’s such a gratifying way to spend your time” says Dierckx. Photo: Eli Lamport/JMC 4144
Christiansburg, VA, Nov 8, 2024 – A wide array of goods are available at the Christmas store. From books, children's toys to food and clothing. The store has also established relationships with businesses like Kroger to allow families to receive gift cards to purchase perishable items not available at the store itself. Photo: Eli Lamport/JMC 4144
Christiansburg, VA, Nov 8, 2024 – Families must meet several criteria in order to shop at the Christmas store. They must reside in Montgomery County, prove their household income is below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, and have either children or a disabled adult living in the household. Photo: Eli Lamport/JMC 4144
