The Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office donates stockings
Published 8:05 pm Thursday, December 10, 2020
- Joan Turner, community outreach coordinator; C. Phillips “Phil” Ferguson, Commonwealth’s Attorney; T. Marie Walls, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney; and Michelle Hearn, Victim/Witness Program Assistant, stand with the 35 stockings the office donated to the Salvation Army in Suffolk. (submitted photo)
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Despite COVID-19 restrictions keeping people apart, community outreach initiatives have done their best to keep giving to those in need.
The Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office donated 35 stockings to the Salvation Army of Suffolk to give out to youth or elderly that have a need.
“This is one part of many other things we do,” said C. Phillips Ferguson, commonwealth’s attorney. “It felt like a good way to give back to those in greatest need. The stockings bring joy and smiles to young people who live in not the best of circumstances or to the elderly who may not have any family to help take care of them.”
Ferguson has been donating stockings to the Salvation Army for the past 20 years. The stockings are filled with puzzles, toys, games, balls and other goodies for the recipient to enjoy.
“For the past eight years, we have tried to increase the number of stockings we do for the youth,” said Joan Turner, the community outreach coordinator. “Last year, we did 30 stockings, but we gave 35 this year.”
To put together these stockings, everyone from the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office comes together to fill the stockings. Some take the stockings and fill them, while others donate items or money to buy more items. When the office workers fill the stockings, they do not come out of the community outreach budget but are gifts.
“I think all the people in the office are mindful of the community and the less fortunate,” said Ferguson. “We try to do anything we can to give back in a positive way. It’s the right thing to do and shows what we’re about.”
The Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office hosts many community outreach events throughout the year. In a typical year, the office can do around 130 events. With many of them typically being face-to-face, COVID-19 has curtailed those activities.
“The stockings are one exception we can do,” said Ferguson. “We give the stockings to the Salvation Army, and they are able to hand them out and will give to those truly in need.”
