PHOTO PROVIDED BY GINA HUTCHINSON
It’s year number forty-one since Jim Willey asked for donations of toys or money to provide a Christmas for some families, he knew who might need a bit more help. Willey passed away suddenly in 1989 and his family and friends stepped in to keep his pledge to always help others at Christmas. One of those friends was Ron Perra, then sales manager at Dartmouth Motors. He, his family and the Staff all rallied to provide a location for toys to be dropped off and donations made. Together with Willey’s Mom, Rita, and family, that first Christmas without him happened. Fast forward thirty-three years and his project has developed into a Program with officers and a Board of Directors with an average of three hundred fifteen children each year.
Willey-Perra is the main source of help at Christmas in the Newport area thanks to the support of churches, civic organizations, businesses and above all, volunteers. To shop for, organize, wrap, pack and distribute more than one thousand gifts takes many volunteers. Willey’s family is still very much involved. His sister, Gina, is Vice President, handling Public Relations. Each year, she brings her Red Star Productions Baton Twirlers to the Newport Opera House in December for a holiday gala suited to all ages. This year, The Red Stars, now 2022 National Show Team Champions, will perform Sunday, December 11 for a 2:00 matinee. The show, featuring a cast of fifteen, ages 3-23, is titled “Fire and Ice.” Holiday favorites from “Frozen” to “White Christmas” will get the audience in the holiday spirit. This year’s show will have a new twist., however. If you ever wondered what Santa and the Elves do between January and November. besides making toys, The Red Stars will show you. Set up for this year’s show will have another new twist- table seating to create a dinner- theatre atmosphere. There will still be theatre and balcony seating. With this new time and atmosphere, it is expected to sell out. To get tickets, call 603-432-9116 or email [email protected] to reserve your seats for pick up at the door thirty minutes prior to showtime. Table seating tickets are $15.00 for adults, $5.00 for age 18 and under and Seniors. Open seating is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 under age 18 and seniors. In person tickets can be purchased at The Petal Patch, 2 Main Street, Newport. Limited tickets will be sold at the door thirty minutes prior to showtime.
Hutchinson credits the heavy lifting in Newport to Donna Mahair, owner of the Petal Patch Florist. She is the driving force behind all the details as President of Willey-Perra. This year, Mahair had an unexpected set of circumstances that entailed hours and hours of work. The Willey-Perra donated space on Main Street got flooded when road crews from the Department of Transportation in the area disconnected a drainpipe and did not reconnect it. Water backed up into the basement space and either caused wet or mold damage to thousands of dollars’ worth of inventory. In true Newport fashion a local business has donated space for this year’s program, with hopes high to be able to get back to the original space in January.
Brittney Hamel is another Willey=Perra workhorse elf. It is Brittney who accepts, applications from needy families, organizes the wishes listed for each child and, with her mother, Tammy Hamel, Mahair and others, does the shopping. Hamel also created and maintains the Willey-Perra Facebook page and website.
Among the many volunteers, Sandy Cherry, owner of Universal Physical Therapy, is at the top of the list. Cherry has logged in hundreds of hours with her family over the years wrapping, organizing and packing all the gifts. Another amazing volunteer was Ella Casey, who passed away just a few weeks ago. She told stories of working in the bank when Willey would come asking for a donation. She proudly told that she never turned him down. And she remained on the Board until her passing and will now become a Forever Willey- Perra Director.
It is with great pride that Willey- Perra received the Newport Chamber of Commerce’s “Non-Profit of The Year” in 2021 and, just this week received a $1500 grant form Claremont Savings Bank. Highest on Willey-Perra’s list of donors is Ruger Firearms where the company matches the donation of the employees- last year the match made the donation more than $7000.00. There are many wonderful stories of how the Newport area makes sure that no child is left behind at Christmas. Newport is The Sunshine Town, and it shines its brightest for those in need. More stories of Newport area generosity will be showcased in the coming weeks.
To volunteer your help, make a donation, or purchase show tickets contact Donna Mahair at 2 Main Street, Newport.
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