Christmas came early on Pine Ridge Circle.
The Elizabethton Housing Development Agency was the scene for smiles and laughter as the facility hosted their annual Christmas party Monday afternoon. With hundreds of children and families filing inside the EHDA’s main building, the day was one to remember, according to EHDA Executive Director Kelly Geagley.
“It is standing room only,” Geagley said with a smile. “We ran out of seats and that’s the best problem we could have. We’ve had some people that couldn’t make it today so we’ll deliver those this evening and through the rest of the week. The Ghost Riders wanted to be sure that every child has a gift. Every child will have a bag of toys.”
Families were greeted inside the community with drinks and refreshments before taking in the bulk of festivities with Jolly Old Saint Nick.
“I’m so tickled about this,” Geagley said as a group of children left from “Santa’s Room.” “You see all the children come out and they’ve got a bag with about five or six toys. It’s been a great day.”
The work couldn’t have been accomplished without the graciousness of the community, the director added.
“We’ve been so blessed,” Geagley said. “So many people from the community have come out and helped. They’ve shown a real interest in the children and we couldn’t be any more blessed.”
The local women’s club, along with a handful of churches, assisted throughout the day along with EHDA staff, according to Geagley. Anonymous donors also did their part to make sure “the children have a smile on their faces,” he added.
One of the key partnerships formed over the years has been between the EHDA and Ghost Riders motorcycle group.
Since coming into the forte nearly 10 years ago, the local chapter of Ghost Riders have taken time out during the first two weekends of November to raise funds to purchase toys for children.
While citing previous years as successful, the Ghost Riders hit a new high in 2016 by purchasing over $10,000 worth of gifts to be distributed throughout the EHDA.
During Monday’s ceremony, the EHDA provided a plaque to thank the group for their efforts this year.
“That’s a small token compared to what they’ve done for us,” Geagley said. “It is great to see how happy they make our kids. That’s the only glory they want … to be able to see the kids smile. Toys are great but I’m pretty sure just about every child here will have a coat, toboggan, gloves … it’s great. We have a lobby full of bicycles to give out, too. We’d love to give everybody one. But we’ll remember the ones for next year.  I’ll never be able to thank them enough.”