Kotila's work to be featured on Christmas Store card

By Rose Hooper

Artist Linda Kotila, left, shares her sketch of a young girl hugging a doll on Christmas morning with Florence Sumner. Kotila donated her talents for Jackson County's Christmas Store project. Sumner and Beverly Jackson used Kotila's drawing for the cover of gift cards to be mailed on behalf of the Christmas Store.

As she lay there in the quiet of the night she could hear the laughter of children in her head. Last year, the Christmas Store provided a merrier Christmas to 557 children in Jackson County. Jackson replayed in her memory the sight and sound of many of those happy children who received new toys and clothing, thanks to the Christmas Store.

But how would they get the word out this year? Sponsors were needed again this year so these same children -and more -would not be disappointed on Christmas morning.

She drifted off to sleep, not counting sheep, but counting the $50 contribution needed for each child. As she slept, visions of happy children played in her mind. She saw them stringing popcorn around a Christmas tree... popcorn from a Christmas tin decorated with children frolicking in yuletide merriment.

"Linda Kotila! That's it!" she thought. Webster artist Linda Kotila would be the perfect one to design gift cards for the Christmas Store. Jackson thought perhaps Kotila would let them use one of those delightful children from her popular Christmas tins that sold out in stores last holiday season.

Excitedly, she called her friend Florence Sumner.

"Florence," she said breathlessly over the phone. "What do you think about Linda Kotila designing a gift card for the Christmas Store?"

Barely awake, Sumner replied, "That's good idea, Bev. But she's such an important artist. I just don't know if we can afford her."

"Well, Florence, you know her, don't you? So why don't you call her up and ask if she would do it and what she would charge."

Sumner knew she couldn't "stew about it," so the best thing to do was call the artist right away. Kotila surprised her.

"Oh, of course, I would love to design the card for you, but I wouldn't think of charging anything. It would be my gift to the Christmas Store," Kotila said.

Sumner and Jackson couldn't believe their good fortune as Kotila took over the project.

"I prayed about it," said Kotila as she began her design conception. "Then I just put the idea in my mind to let it form. It's a process I can never force. I just have to think about what the piece needs to be when it is finished... what it needs to say."

In this case, Kotila wanted the picture to illustrate the joyful feeling of a young girl receiving a gift from a loved one.

"I remembered how I felt when someone gave me a gift in love," she said. "The feeling was like a warm hug."

That's the thought she kept in her mind -a warm hug.

"I never know how long it will take before I get the inspiration," the artist said. "That's a scary feeling. But in my life, the inspiration has always come. Luckily, this time it came quickly."

Jackson and Sumner were enchanted with Kotila's completed creation. Clad in a floor-length nightgown trimmed in holly and a ruffle, a young, pigtailed girl gently hugs her new Christmas baby doll. The warm bunny slippers on the young girl's face matches the warmth of her contented smile.

Dropped on the floor, a Christmas gift card lingers next to her slippers. The dropped card and attached flowing ribbon give you the feeling the child has just opened the gift and is instantly pleased with her new doll baby.

"An artist moves feelings from inside herself to feelings inside another person. Otherwise, it's just a pretty picture," said Kotila, who believes strongly that if God gives you a gift, you need to share it.

Now her illustration graces the cover of the Christmas Store gift cards. Inside is the message: "Your message at this Holy Season is The smile of a child on Christmas morning Through the support of the ministry of The Jackson County Christmas Store."

Soon volunteers will mail these cards seeking contributions for this year's fund-raising effort.

Already wondering what to give that special person for Christmas who has everything? How about a smile on a happy child's face? For $50, you can make a contribution in his or her name to the Christmas Store.

Christmas Store sponsorships now being accepted

"We don't want even one left out," said organizer Wanda Kidd.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a child may do so for $50. You may choose a boy or girl the age of your child, which gives your child the opportunity to experience the shopping and joy of giving, she said. Each child receives $30 worth of new toys and $20 worth of new clothing. Many local companies contribute gifts of clothing, such as jackets from the Ashely Co.

Children are referred by the Department of Social Services, Head Start, the Jackson County Department of Health, United Christian Ministries, and by the teachers, counselors, principals and social workers in the county schools. Parents of these children are contacted and asked if they would like to participate.

"We do it this way because many families would never apply on their own," said Kidd. "The store is not just for people on welfare, but it is for anyone who is having a hard time at Christmas."

The $50 contribution may be given in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Not one penny of the $50 goes for anything other than gifts for children. All workers are volunteers, and all expenses are met in other ways.

"The best idea in the world won't work if you don't have support," said Kidd. "We are only as strong as we are willing to reach out and help those who need the help."

For more information, call 293-9030 or 586-8228.

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