HENRY COUNTY, VA – Two local schools were filled with surprises and lots of smiles on Friday morning.
Santa Claus visited Albert Harris Elementary School and Stanleytown Elementary School to deliver over 300 Christmas presents to students.
This was all part of Drake Operation Christmas Shoebox, an annual program where employees collect toys and donate funds to purchase presents that are given to school children.
“It's just a program we started three years ago with some of our employees. We got together and said it would be a nice idea to do something for the children in our community. It has grown into a really, really good program. Our employees really look forward to it every year and they just done an outstanding job with collecting toys for the program this year,” Drake Extrusion Human Resource Manager Tammer Hairston said.
Employees say they help with the program to ensure all children have gifts to open during the holidays.
“This time of year, you wouldn't want any kids to do without and just to show love. I love to see the smiling faces and the excitement of the children. I just have a warm feeling inside,” Drake employee Melissa Trent stated.
Chantelle Moyer, also an employee, helped the effort with a donation.
“I feel like every child should have something to open up on Christmas Day or before. It means a lot because some kids don't have anything or just to look forward to having something at least one toy,” Moyer said.
Hairston thanked Forest Belcher and his team at Scott Insurance and Martinsville Smiles for their contributions for the last two years.