Henrico Christmas Mother program brings 'a lot of hope and comfort during the holidays'
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For families that have filled a cart with books, clothing, toiletries and toys at the Henrico Christmas Mother warehouse during the past two weeks, the gifts they receive makes this time of year happier and more festive.
But it is the gift cards to grocery stores as well, along with a box and bag of food, that makes a crucial impact by providing needed food for the recipients.
Forty percent of the Henrico Christmas Mother's expenditures helping needy families, seniors and adults with disabilities go toward food and gift cards.
“For these families, we are filling a crucial gap as well as their food needs during the holidays,” said Ann McGee, the 2025 Christmas Mother, a longtime volunteer with the organization.
Before she retired, McGee worked in many business management roles, including as the former director of the NOVA of Virginia Aquatics.
Recipients of the Christmas Mother gifts submitted documentation to demonstrate their need back in October. The organization reaches out to families in need, specifically through the Henrico County Public Schools Family Advocates staff.
“We work all year for these five days,” McGee said.
Five hundred volunteers like McGee work to fundraise the $320,000 it takes to assemble the needed items to distribute. Students in many Henrico schools conduct food drives, contributing about 80,000 food items.
Organizations and individuals give donations. In the summer, swim teams collect toiletries. Residents of senior living facilities knit caps and lap blankets. Companies provide shelving, boxes, bags and food stuffs that will help fill the shelves of Henrico County's needy residents during the holiday.
The Rotary Club of West Richmond is sponsoring a number of families who did not make the application deadline but who expressed a great need for the Henrico Christmas Mother support. The date, location and the theme of the Henrico Christmas Mother July benefit is already set.
'People don't expect to be down on their luck'
McGee is the identifiable face of the organization, representing generosity of the Christmas Mother around the county, often giving talks, accepting donation checks and inspiring others to get involved in the impactful efforts that uplifts Henrico residents in need.
“It's a tremendous honor,” McGee said of her role.
The Henrico Christmas Mother effort split in 1942 from the Richmond Christmas Mother, which was started 90 years ago and is closely aligned with the Richmond Times Dispatch and the Salvation Army. The Henrico Christmas Mother is unique in that its direct donations to those in need are distributed out of the warehouse located at 361 Dabbs House Road.
Volunteer companions walk through the warehouse with the recipients to help them collect the donations. Spanish, Arabic and Dari speakers help newcomers who need someone who understands them to help guide them to find the right size items for each member of their families.
In 2024 the Henrico Christmas Mother effort served 4,657 people, including 2,514 children and 842 seniors and adults with disabilities.
On Dec. 12, a steady stream of volunteers and recipients entered and left the warehouse. Many recipients had been rescheduled from earlier in the week, when two snow days shut the operation down. In total, 300 families, from 1 to 12 members in size, received books, clothing, toiletries, toys and food.
Volunteers described the mood as jubilant and festive but also emotional because they know the items they are providing are crucial for the recipients. Many volunteers have become good friends. And for many, it gives meaning to the holiday.
Volunteers at the Henrico Christmas Mother Warehouse described the mood as jubilant and festive but also emotional because they know the items they are providing are crucial for the recipients. Clockwise from upper left: Ann Ragland co-chairs the food committee; Angela Harper stands by a table of children's clothing; Gloria Barber worked as a librarian for years and heads the book committee; Linda Cobb volunteers at a book table featuring donated cookbooks. (Dina Weinstein/Henrico Citizen)
“The holiday period is challenging for families who face food insecurity,” said McGee. “The donations enable us to provide grocery gift cards, and it allows kids to have warm clothing as well as toys that stimulate the mind. This brings a lot of hope and comfort during the holidays. Besides the tangible goods, people receive the items in a loving environment.”
The guests, as McGee calls the recipients, often tell the volunteer guides the hardships they are going through. She often tears up to witness the kindness of the volunteers, when she goes to schools to hear students sing about the importance of giving or when she accepts financial donations.
She is touched by some volunteers who were themselves recipients for years as children or single mothers and now can organize their workplaces to donate.
“They told me 'I don't think we would have had a Christmas dinner or we would not have had anything under the tree if it hadn't been for the Henrico Christmas Mother,'” McGee said.
This Monday and Tuesday are the last two days of distribution at the Henrico Christmas Mother warehouse, with more than 600 families expected to pick up their hauls.
“People don't expect to be down on their luck. They are. It happens. And yet, they turn around and they haven't forgotten what it's like to receive.” McGee said, as she headed out into the warehouse to greet more volunteers and guests.
Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.
