A delivery of Christmas cheer

Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry collects toys for annual Johnny Raines program

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 2, 2020

With sub-freezing temperatures and snow flurries floating through the air, the scene in the south parking lot of First Baptist Church of Black Mountain conjured images of the North Pole, even before the arrival of a truckload of toys. 

But, it wasn’t Santa and his elves spreading joy for the holidays, it was the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry with the help of community partners like Mountain Ridge Health & Rehabilitation. 

A truckload of toys collected by Mountain Ridge Health & Rehab in November for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry’s Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program arrives at First Baptist Church of Black Mountain on Dec. 1. Photo by Fred McCormick

The Ridgecrest-based skilled nursing facility delivered boxes of toys on Dec. 1 for the Ministry’s annual Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program, which helps Swannanoa Valley families provide gifts for children. The initiative was created in 1993 by Johnny Raines, who served as the auxiliary police chief of the Black Mountain Police Department for 40 years before he passed away in 2015. SVCM took over the program seven years ago and distributed gifts to nearly 400 children in 2019. 

“As of today we have 146 families signed up this year with around 333 children,” said SVCM Administrative Assistant Ally Wilson, who received the delivery from Mountain Ridge. “Our deadline is technically Dec. 4, but we will continue to accept families because sometimes last-minute things come up and make the holidays difficult. But, we’re going to help as many families as we can.”

The ministry partners with local churches, businesses and residents who support the program in a variety of ways, according to Wilson. 

Longtime SVCM volunteer Bill Walker carries a box of toys for the Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program through the doors of First Baptist Church of Black Mountain. The initiative will provide Christmas gifts for more than 300 local children this year. Photo by Fred McCormick

“They can give monetary donations, collect toys or sponsor a family,” she said. “When you sponsor a family you get to shop for them based on their specific requests, and bring the items to us to get them to the families.”

Mountain Ridge organized its “Act of Kindness” initiative which included a toy drive and culminated in a November motorcycle toy run in support of the Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program. 

The Mountain Ridge Toy Run, which was held Nov. 21, collected toys for the SVCM Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program. Photo courtesy of Mountain Ridge Health & Rehabilitation

“Last year we sponsored a few families and shopped for specific items on their lists, but this year we wanted to find a way to figure out a way to have a greater impact,” said Mountain Ridge Admissions and Marketing Director Stephanie Brendell, who delivered the toys with facility administrator Ashley Smithey. “This year we hosted the toy drive through the month to allow our residents and families to support an important need in the community, and the toy run to collect as many toys as possible.”

The Mountain Ridge initiative exemplifies the generosity of the community partners that has helped the program grow through the years, according to Wilson. 

Mountain Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Admissions and Marketing Director Stephanie Brendell, left, and SVCM Administrative Assistant Ally Wilson unload toys for the annual Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program on Dec. 1. Photo by Fred McCormick

“The community makes the Ministry,” she said. “We help people all year long with food, clothes, heat and things like that, but Christmas is a very special time. Kids have such strong memories related to Christmas and whatever we can do to help strengthen those family bonds that are created around that is important.”

Sponsorship and donation opportunities are available through mid-December. More information on the Johnny Raines Christmas Cheer program, including donation information and sponsorship forms, can be found at svcmblackmountain.org/johnny-raines-program.html.