Susan Staron Sanders, the Christmas belle whose enthusiasm lit up Monongah’s streets for Christmas, got a much-deserved kudos in a Fairmont Times article about her fundraising.

For those who came in late to this story, Thomas Street’s #1 elf, Susan, Class of 1971, an administrative assistant at Personnel, is the driving force behind the erection and installation of Christmas lights in Monongah this year.

White Hall donated its old lights when that town got new ones. Susan beat the holly and mistletoe bushes to raise money to pay for erecting the lights.

And she’s working on purchasing more lights for the 2016 Christmas. The Times articles says $2,000, including my donation, has flown in so far.

Her enthusiasm just lights up your heart.

Husband Ron Sanders is a lucky guy. So is the town of Monongah.

The Fairmont Times article:

MONONGAH — If you drive through Monongah, you might notice some festive Christmas light pole decorations.

These decorations were an idea that Susan Sanders had several years ago. The Monongah native had spoken to the town about getting the lights, but she didn’t pursue it.

This year, Sanders and her husband Ron talked about getting getting lights for the town. Sanders felt determined to get the lights in her town, not because she was jealous of other towns, but because she loves the Christmas season.

“I love Christmas,” Sanders said.

Sanders was at work when she called the White Hall Town Hall to find out more information about the lights. The town clerks provided what they knew, which included where the lights were purchased, Mosca Design.

The lights were expensive, but Sanders reassured herself about the idea.

Sanders went to the Monongah Town Council meeting, then went home. White Hall Town Council met on the same night and told Monongah it would be happy to donate the lights.

Sanders was able to speak with Raymond Knight, the maintenance supervisor for White Hall.

“He was wonderful to me,” Sanders said. “He explained what I needed to do, what I needed to have, how to go about purchasing the lights and how to get a hold of the electric company. He taught me so much, which I was so grateful for.”

 

During the next town council meeting, Sanders made sure it was OK for her to fundraise for lights, which the council approved. The council was not allowed to ask for donations.

According to Sanders, the approval to fundraise allowed her to form a committee consisting of Tina Ailstock, Mereca Savonarola, Valerie Aldridge and Connie Warash. Chris Martin contacted Sanders and provided her with letterheads, thank-you notes and other supplies to use when asking for donations.

The fundraising began with hand-delivered letters from Sanders.

“It was overwhelming,” Sanders said. “Everybody that I went to see has donated.”

Sanders has a friend who works for the power company, who explained the power company’s role in installing the fixtures needed prior to the lights being installed.

An additional cost would be charged for preparing the power poles and the town would have to wait several weeks to get the fixtures installed before the lights could even go up.

The needed supplies were sent to Monongah, then purchased. The town had seven lights donated to them by White Hall.

With the supplies in, Sanders was told the power company might be able to get the fixtures up in time for Christmas. This was on a Friday.

A few days later, Susan got a phone call that the lights would be installed. She even stopped by where the power company crews were to say hi to them. The fixtures for the lights were up later on that day.

Sanders thought she only had to call an electrician to come out and install the lights.

“No you don’t,” Sanders’ friend told her. “We hung your lights. First time ever the electric company has ever done that.”

Sanders still smiles when telling that story.

When her shift ended, she drove to Monongah and then around the town to see the new lights.

“Tears just poured down my cheeks because I couldn’t believe it happened so quick and that it actually happened,” Sanders said. “I was real emotional. I couldn’t believe it.”

Sanders is proud to say the Christmas lights committee in Monongah has raised nearly $2,000.

“I knew it was the right thing to do,” Sanders said. “It was meant to be.”

Sanders knows this isn’t the end for getting lights in the town.

“My goal is to do the whole town,” Sanders said. “This is just the beginning. I know there is a lot to do, but whatever is necessary, I will give it my 100 percent to get it done.”

Sanders explained she would run into older people who could no longer decorate their homes. They would often compliment her home which was very much decorated for the season.

“Your lights always make us so happy,” Sanders recalled what she was told, which stuck with her.

“I’m the type of person, I do like to do (things) for others,” Sanders said. “I like to make people smile or laugh or whatever I could do.”

Sanders said people interested in donating or purchasing a light which can be dedicated to someone may contact her at 304-365-2074. She said donations must be given to the Town of Monongah.

Donations for the program are still being collected. If in the form of a check, the memo line should say “Christmas lights” while the check is made out to the “Town of Monongah.”

Sanders said she wants to thank residents and local businesses for for their help in bringing the lights to the town.