All is Well
Eric and Lily Lutz visit with Santa. Photo by Kelly Gerlach
Kelly Gerlach and Gina Hoke - Copper River Basin Child Advocacy Center
This year I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Anchorage for a conference. I found myself unwinding in my hotel room after work chain watching Hallmark Christmas movies.
In these fictional, peaceful towns of holiday cheer, I noticed that they almost always share an event we have right here in the Copper River Valley: a small town tree lighting. It is something I look forward to each year in our little northern town as our fresh cut Alaskan spruce contrasts the darkness of a December night and young and old voices rouse with words of hope and cheer.
On Thursday, December 1st, the Copper River Basin Child Advocacy Center (CAC) co-sponsored our 13th Annual Tree Lighting. The American Legion once again generously provided the space, time, effort and electricity for this occasion. A BIG thank you to Terry Keizer and all the Legion members for annually supporting this special community event and to Crowley Fuel and employees for donating their time (and their extra tall ladder) to set up and light our community Christmas tree.
Another shout out to Zane and Brynna Gerlach for helping transport and set up the tree and to our decorating elf extraordinaire, Mia Ranck, for volunteering to help make the Legion look especially festive. As always, we so appreciate our CAC Director, Gina Hoke, for her dedication to this event and to the safety of our community’s children.
We’d also like to thank our Special Guest who snuck through the back door to bring delight to our holiday merrymakers. Our jolly old Santa bustled in with holiday cheer and did a wonderful job conveying the spirit of the season to Copper River Basin’s children. Santa smiled for many photos while cheery children assured St. Nick that they had earned a place on the Nice List this year.
Gracie and Mercy Korth and Hosanna Morse visit with Santa. Photo by Kelly Gerlach
After the tree lighting and community caroling, Terry Keizer led more music inside on his guitar. The crowd then enjoyed hot chili, cornbread and brownies while exchanging ideas and dreams of what the holiday would bring this year.
It was heart-warming to see this annual joyous event draw so many together. The CAC staff and Board of Directors would like to extend their appreciation to everyone who made the time to join us on this special occasion. The bright smiles and gleaming eyes of all the children brought in the holiday and lit up the spirit of the season again this year.
While this festive time isn’t always marked by happiness and cheer, we are grateful for those who continually give of themselves to keep kids safe in the Copper River Region. As a community, we are thankful for warm-hearted people and a place to celebrate the many blessings in our lives.
Here is to hope for a season that finds you and those you love safe and well, and for all of us to seek ways to lighten the burdens and bring joy to those around us.
Even in the winter darkness and often excessively busy holiday bustle, may we all find moments where, as we sang together in one of our holiday songs, “All is calm. All is well.”
