‘Tis the season to be jolly, and the Nansemond River Pilot Club will be doing just that with community activities and celebrations.

From 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 in Hillcrest Baptist Church on Holland Road, club members will help out with the Winter Celebration Party. At 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, the club will be at Autumn Care Nursing Home on Pruden Boulevard.

Judith Hasty, community relations coordinator with The Children’s Center, said the club has been wonderful rendering their service as volunteers, wrapping gifts and serving refreshments.

&uot;This is the one time that all of our children from all of the different programs that are offered at the center can come together as a group in celebration of the season,&uot; said Hasty.

The different programs are Early Head Start, Early Intervention, Community Daycare, and Rehab.

Activities that take place during this time are gift-giving, a light dinner, and a game called a gift walk, which Hasty described as being similar to a cake walk.

She said that along with the children who attend the center only supporters of the institution are invited to participate.

&uot;Hundreds of children usually attend this party. The Nansemond River Pilot Club is a big asset to the success of these parties,&uot; said Hasty.

Tameika Allen, activities director at Autumn Care, said that the Nansemond River Pilot Club is a welcome sight whenever they visit.

&uot;They come to us during each holiday to help residents decorate their room. When residents do this, they are proud because they actually do the decorating themselves and the NRPC assists them,&uot; said Allen.

In addition, the NRPC will have its annual Tea Cup Auction and 10th Birthday Party on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Constantia House behind R.W. Baker Funeral Home on West Washington Street. Members are reminded to bring their items for the auction as well as their refreshment chosen which were at last month’s meeting.

Club members also dressed bears and dolls for the Salvation Army to be distributed to underprivileged children at Christmas.

Thanksgiving did not go unnoticed by club members. They had their hands deep into sweet potatoes, lemon and chocolate for their annual pies. Not only could you smell peanuts cooking in Suffolk on Nov. 25, but also you could smell fresh pies cooking at Bethlehem Christian Church on Holland Road.

The money received from this sale will go a long way in helping the community in projects such as the ones that include Autumn Care and The Children’s Center.