Friday, November 21, 2014

At 102 years old, Peggy Lloyd still sees the value of charity!


At our 68th Annual Charity League Christmas Mart, one of our oldest member stopped by for a photo with Santa.  Peggy Lloyd, 102 years old and a resident of Ocean City, NJ, was President of The Charity League in 1955.  That was a crazy year for Ms. Lloyd -- she was a full time kindergarten teacher and going through a divorce.

In interviewing Ms. Lloyd, we asked her about the status of her ex-husband.  "He's dead now!" she said, with a wicked grin.

Ms. Lloyd recalled the year that she was The Christmas Mart Chair, in 1947.  It was only the second year The Charity League had put on the The Mart.  The pin that year was a green wreath that retailed for -- wait for it -- $1.

"It was great," said Ms. Lloyd.  "No one was doing anything like this, we were the first."

This year is the 68th Annual Christmas Mart and the pin price is $25.  The Mart has been held for the past several years at the Greate Bay Country Club, who continues to be a great partner.

This year’s pin is a beautifully sequined Santa’s Workshop Elf.  This little Santa’s helper has traveled down from the North Pole to delight another generation in Atlantic County.

Designed by long time Charity League members and master sequin artists Roberta Barr and Dot Johnson, this year’s pin features over 200 hundred sequins and beads to complete.  Each of these pieces are hand sewn to the pin.  Charity League members made over 6,000 of the Santa’s Workshop pins this year.  Each pin retails for $25, with a lifetime guarantee.  All of the money is distributed to local nonprofits that support women and children.

“We spent the entire year sewing and finishing this pin,” said member Sue McAfee, chairwoman of the pin committee.  “Because it had so much sequining this year, members spent an average of 1 and ½ to 2 hours on each pin.”

Santa’s Workshop Elf wears a green hat with a red and green brim.  His eyes peek out above his pearly white beard and he sports a snowflake from colder climes.  The tip of his hat is adorned with a red Swarovski crystal, dangling down.

Beneficiaries of The Charity League include Atlantic City Day Nursery, Child Federation of Atlantic County, The Donny Fund, The Women’s Center, Family Services Association, Covenant House and The Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

The proceeds from The Annual Christmas Mart and all Charity League events benefit seven local agencies that support women and children in Atlantic County.  Last year, Charity League members and friends worked together to raise over $150,000 that is distributed to these charities.

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