Robin Smith Named 2009 Henrico Christmas Mother

Lifelong Resident and Community volunteer honored

Robin Smith, a lifelong resident of Henrico County and a devoted community volunteer,  has been named 2009 Henrico Christmas Mother. Shelly Poole, president of the Henrico Christmas Mother Council, states: "Robin has been serving Henrico families at the holidays since she was a child helping her parents take care of folks in the Lakeside area. We are very lucky to have her as this year’s Christmas Mother.”  Mrs. Smith has served as a co-chair for the program representing the Brookland District since 2007, recruiting volunteers and serving on its Toy Committee.

Mrs. Smith is married to Robert N. Smith, an Associate Principal Engineer with Altria, and has one son, Reed, who has just begun his first year at the Math and Science Center at Mills E. Godwin High School. She is the daughter of Mary Lois and Wade David, longtime residents of Lakeside who for many, many years helped families in need in their area at Christmastime. Mrs. Smith attended Henrico County schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated from Radford University with a B.S. in Communication Disorders. She worked at Lakeside Elementary School with special needs children from all over the County. After retiring to raise her son, Mrs. Smith became a very active volunteer at her son’s schools and at Lakeside United Methodist Church.

As the sixty-eighth Henrico Christmas Mother, Mrs. Smith will visit schools and civic organizations, appear in local parades, and meet with volunteers and donors throughout the holiday season. She will also lead the efforts of the fifteen volunteer co-chairs who solicit donations from local organizations and recruit volunteers to staff the Henrico Christmas Mother Warehouse in December.

The mission of the Henrico Christmas Mother is to provide new clothes, toys, books and food to qualifying families, elderly, and adults with disabilities during the holiday season. The 501(c)(3) organization is run by an all-volunteer council of former Henrico Christmas Mothers, and over 90% of monies donated go directly to food and gifts for program recipients.

In addition to President Poole, other 2009 Henrico Christmas Mother Council officers are Vice President  Betsy Foster, Treasurer Mary Shaia, Assistant Treasurer Ruth Radzisauskas, Recording Secretary Ethel Jackson, Corresponding Secretary Brenda Gibrall and Member-at- Large Laverne Chapin.

Donations by check may be mailed to Henrico Christmas Mother, P.O. Box 27, Sandston, VA 23150. Information about volunteering, sponsoring a family or applying for assistance can be obtained by visiting the organization’s website at www.henricochristmasmother.org or by calling the Henrico Christmas Mother at 804-236-9741.