Editor’s note: The Suffolk News-Herald is sharing Christmas memories of local people throughout the holiday season to promote the Cheer Fund, which collects donations to purchase toys for local children on Christmas.

For Believers Church Senior Pastor Jamey Stuart — like for many people — Christmas brings a mixed bag of emotions.

Stuart has Christmas memories both good and bad from his childhood, and those are some of the things he thinks about when his church is serving others at Christmas.

“The fondest memories I have of Christmas are the little kid catalog. You would circle dozens and dozens of things you hoped your parents or Santa would bring for you,” he recalled.

He remembers one Christmas where G.I. Joe action figures, cars, helicopters and more created an entire scene in the downstairs of his home.

“Those were good memories,” Stuart said.

But he also comes from what he described as a “broken family,” and that yielded its share of bad memories.

“There’s the memory of lots of family turmoil that happened to occur right around Christmas, too,” he said. “There are some good memories, but just like everybody, the holidays are such a mixed bag — and it doesn’t much matter what holiday it is.”

That’s part of the reason Stuart and his church pay special attention at Christmastime to those who may be suffering.

“A kid who would otherwise have it be super traumatic, we can alleviate some of that and inject a little happiness into a situation that’s otherwise maybe not spectacular,” he said.

Stuart, now 50, has been married for 30 years and has two grown children, ages 25 and 23. Many of their Christmas memories have revolved around the church.

“We do a staff and spouse and kid Christmas Eve breakfast every year,” he said. “It started when our staff was just a few people, so there were eight or 10 of us, and now the house is packed. It’s definitely one of the highlights of our Christmas tradition.”

The Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund helps provide toys for underprivileged children in Suffolk so that they can find a little cheer under the tree.

To donate to the Cheer Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439, or bring it to our office, 130 S. Saratoga St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit the Suffolk Cheer Fund on Facebook to find an online giving link.

We will list your donation in the newspaper, but it can be marked “anonymous” if you like. Donations may be made in honor of or in memory of someone. If you bring the check to our office, we’ll even take your photo as you hand it to one of our staff.

For more information on the Cheer Fund, call 934-9609.