12/27/07
Yanagawa employees create Christmas for three families
By Chris Bullard

CHRIS BULLARD/Manning Times

Representatives from the Clarendon County Disabilities Board, Belinda Flowers, Cynthia Mack and Gordon Shephard, accept gifts from the employees of Yanagawa S.C. for three families served by the DSNB.

A smiling group of Yanagawa employees met on Dec. 19 to donate their gifts to three families in need through the Clarendon County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.

Yanagawa has been adopting families in the Clarendon community around the holiday season for several years now.

Employees began raising money on Dec. 10 to buy gifts for the families.

Lists from the families were posted in the break rooms for employees to see and each department was asked for a donation.

In a matter of a little over a week they were able to raise over $1,000.

“We were able to buy almost everything on the three lists we received,” said Gloria Sims.

Sims spearheaded the organizing and fundraising for the gift giving throughout the company.

Three employees involved, Stephanie Williams, Sandra James and Geneva Felder, did all of the gift shopping.

“It was a lot of fun. We shipped like it was for our own kids,” said Williams.

Employees volunteered to wrap, present and load gifts while meeting CCDSN representative Cynthia Mack, Belinda Flowers and Gordon Shephard.

“It’s the time of year to come together. It’s good to see the Christmas spirit at work,” said Geoff Heinsen.

“It’s part of our philosophy not only to provide jobs, but to support our community and be a good corporate citizen,” said Serleaf Barry.

Barry has been involved with the gift giving for three out of his four years of employment at Yanagawa.

The employees gathered around a Christmas tree with the gifts as Sims officially presented their donation to Mack, Flowers and Shephard.

“Thank you to Yanagawa and employees for providing Christmas for our children in need,” said Mack and Flowers.

The gifts were happily received and employees cheerfully returned to work knowing they helped make a Merry Christmas for three families in the community.