Robbinsville – Graham County’s branch of the Red Hat Society, known as The Lady Dragons – or more informally, as “the Red Hat Ladies” – gave their fourth-annual Gifts from the Heart on Tuesday, Dec. 17, when the group assembled and delivered gifts for senior citizens and shut-ins in both the rural and town areas of the county.
Gathering at the Masonic Lodge at 9 a.m., the 15-member group organized the gifts, then the Sheriff’s Office helped deliver the presents.
The Lady Dragons’ Queen, Deborah Cheney, was in charge of delivering gifts in town, while Vice Queen Joyce Mitchell supervised rural delivery.
The number of recipients has grown every year since the event’s inception in 2016, with this year’s number up to 25. Gifts include Christmas wreaths, lap blankets and non-slip slippers, but perhaps the most important gift is the fellowship that comes with delivering the presents.
“We never leave without a hug,” said Cheney.
The event is a way for the Lady Dragons to “uplift those that need it during the holidays,” but according to Cheney, “if you ask any of my ladies, we are the ones who gain the most from sharing the experience with the recipients.”
Cheney described Gifts from the Heart as “our main community event,” though The Red Hat Society performs a number of other community-service events in every season of the year, with the funds from garage sales fueling many of the group’s endeavors.
Making and delivering Easter baskets to every student at Robbinsville’s Head Start is one example of their work, which was meant to “let the children know how special they are and how much we care.”
The Lady Dragons strive to include both young and old in their efforts. Last winter, they delivered mittens to Headstart students and teamed with the Sheriff’s Office to deliver gifts of food to local seniors.
Past years have seen the ladies ringing bells for The Salvation Army, and this fall the Robbinsville High School Band Boosters requested help running their concession stand. The Lady Dragons came to the rescue, working through the last home football game of the season.
As much as the ladies help the community, Cheney make sure to thank the community for its help, as well. “We could not make this event happen without the assistance of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, the donation of the use of the Masonic Lodge, and the help of others who submit the names of people who we can uplift during the holidays.”