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.
