Hundreds working on Mother's Day Celebration

By Irene Bowers

Correspondent

OCEANFRONT

Danette Crawford throws a Mother's Day Celebration each year that has grown to 1,600 guests.

"This is the day we honor and cherish the single mother," she said of today's event at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. "The single mom; the widow; the military wife whose husband is deployed; the mom keeping the family together with a husband incarcerated or in rehabilitation. On this day, they're our honored guests."

The way Crawford and her hundreds of volunteers see it, Joy Ministries annual Mother's Day Celebration is the equivalent of a wedding feast.

"It's Matthew 22:10," she said, quoting from the New Testament. "The servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find...and the wedding hall was filled with guests."

Now in its eighth year, Mother's Day Celebration gives single mothers the red carpet treatment. They get to enjoy hors d'oeuvres, long-stemmed roses and wrapped gifts during the meal.

In years past, gifts have included framed inspirational messages and books.

Christian musical entertainment will be provided by Daneen Thomas, songwriter and performer.

During the celebration, child-care, meals and activities are provided for younger children.

The event is free and transportation is provided. Joy Ministries is active throughout Hampton Roads. Some 200 volunteers assist at the event.

"We couldn't do it without my hard-working staff and our volunteers," said Crawford. "We also have moms whom we've helped in the past, return to give something back."

Liliana Van Dam has volunteered at the celebration for the past five years, running the day-care and activities for children 4 and under.

"I just thought Danette was wonderful to remember single mothers," she said. "I bring my own daughters to help out because we all come away feeling so positive about it."

Joy Ministries, a nonprofit based in Virginia Beach was founded in 1989. It serves 10 subsidized housing neighborhoods through outreach programs.

Regular community outreach includes summer reading camps, back-to-work program for mothers, after-school kids clubs and back-to-school supplies for students.

"Joy in the Morning" televised programming runs locally at 9 a.m. daily on WSKY-TV 4; and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and nationally on several networks.

While volunteers have filled the ranks this year, Joy Ministries is still in need of sponsors. Sponsorship ranges from $65 for a single mother and her children, including meals for all, transportation, gift and activities, through to table sponsors at $500 and neighborhood sponsorships at $2,500.

"Many sponsors choose to make their gift in memory or honor of a mother," said Crawford. "

For more information on Joy Ministries or sponsorship, visit www.joyministriesonline.org or call 420-2625.

Irene Bowers, bowersi@aol.com