Community Leaders Share Christmas Wishes

(Editor’s Note: Jasper County children have written letters to Santa Claus, asking him for specific items and for surprises. These letters are published in a special section inside today’s paper and on page 5. In the spirit of Christmas, community leaders were asked to submit their letters to Santa. A few responded in time for this paper, and they are published here and on page 13. A copy of the paper will be express mailed to the North Pole to be sure Santa gets the word so he can load his sleigh and head south for Christmas.)

Dear Santa,
First, I want all our city employees and the many volunteers who have helped beautify our city square and Stephen Cargile who has volunteered many days in our front office, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Secondly, I want all the citizens of Monticello to become more engaged in their community in 2011 and become members of what Pastor William Gibson calls the C.I.A. (Citizens In Action) so we can all work together to make Monticello the very best place to live.
Glenn Newsome,
Mayor of Monticello
P.S. Enough revenue to balance our 2011 budget would also be appreciated!!
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Dear Santa,
Please bring a warm and loving environment to every mentee this Christmas, and see that they are well fed and cared for. For the children who need mentors (and we have at least 15 who do!), please bring us some elves (or grown ups even!) who are willing to serve and meet with kids one day a week for about one hour during the academic year.
And when you bring your presents to every house, can you please tell the grown ups that the next mentor training is Tuesday, January 4, at 5 p.m.? The kids sure do need them.
Also, Santa, if you know of any local businesses, civic organizations or individuals who might be willing to give a tax deductible donation, please let us know. Many of our kids went to the Nutcracker and our mentee/mentor families also enjoyed a holiday dinner with an exciting program, so we’d really appreciate any donation that folks might be able to give this holiday season.
Oh, and Santa, thanks for coming by Monticello for the ML&J fund, so our mentees could meet with you last Saturday! You’re the best!
With love,
Jehan, Shawne, Otis, Johnny, Shannon, Jason, Preston and Sage
Dear Santa,
I wish for all of our children to be cared about as evidenced by each struggling child having a caring mentor, having a place for indoor recreational and after school activities, a place for 4-H programs to flourish, and having a parent read age-appropriate books to them daily.
I wish for all of our students that they learn to care about their future by making it a goal to complete high school and more.
Tracy Norton
Dear Santa,
My Christmas wish is “That for every minute we spend criticizing another person we would spend a minute praying for that person.”
John Brown
First United Methodist Church, Monticello
Dear Santa:
Please bring us a renewed spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm and may we always remember how blessed we are to live in this community and in the USA.
Merry Christmas.
Susan Holmes
State Representative
Dear Santa,
My wish for Christmas is that all fathers would love their families with unconditional love.
Bobby Jacobs
Monticello
City Councilman

Dear Santa:
First we at the JCCFB would like to give thanks to all of those who have supported the Food Bank with their financial contributions and to our dedicated volunteers who have given so much of their time and talents.
Please know that without you the last eight months would not have been possible!
For Christmas the Jasper County Community Food Bank would like for individuals, families, groups, churches, businesses, and civic organizations to become involved in supporting the food bank and our future endeavors of bringing forth change in our community. We would like everyone in Jasper County to be a part of healing those who are hurting during these challenging times.
We ask that you come out and see what we are doing before making judgment. We would like for you to help us embody the true meaning of Christmas, which is to love thy neighbor as we love thy self. Today I ask the citizens of Jasper County to be a beacon of hope to your fellow man.
We ask that you consider adopting the JCCFB for Christmas, a specific month, quarterly, but hopefully for the year 2011.
We are a 100 percent volunteer run, non-profit organization with over 80 volunteers, which consist of 90 percent of those which we’ve helped since our inception in May 2010 (monthly food distribution).
We’ve opened our Distribution Center (133-B W. Washington Street) on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 and to date we’ve served over 100 individuals/families and 4500 seniors/families with our monthly food distribution.
We are asking Santa for the following:
•Financial Contributions/Support
•Food/In-kind Donations
•Volunteers
•Office Supplies
•Office Equipment (computers, copier(s), printers for JCCFB Admin Office & Distribution Center)
•Portable/Electric Heater for our Distribution Center
•Refrigerated Truck (We’re Dreaming Big Santa)
Cookies & Milk will be waiting in the Distribution Center
Warmest Regards,
Juanita T. Davis,
JCCFB Director
Dear Santa
My wish: that local and national media would report the news rather than try to create it.
Jack Bernard
Commissioner
District 3
Dear Santa,
I don’t know if this will all fit under the tree but this is what I’d like:
Greater understanding and support for city workers who come out in all kinds of weather to pick up leaves, repair water lines, maintain gas service, patrol the streets, restore electric outages, and produce drinking water.
A couple new businesses in town and more visitors around the Square.
Thank you.
Bob Schwartz
City Manager
Dear Santa,
AT&T is advertising that the World Wide Web is for everybody. Do you think you could bring it to me at my house?
Thank you.
Kathy Mudd, editor
The Monticello News