Beach woman still helping others, despite hardship

VIRGINIA BEACH

Each year, Arlette Johnson sees harder and harder times, but that only feeds her desire to make the annual W.A.L.K.I.N. Christmas party happen.

After 14 years with Horizons Unlimited, Johnson was laid off from her position as director in late September, when the facility lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal funding and shut down its Kempsville day care.

Horizons Unlimited is affiliated with Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP), a regional community-action agency that works to end poverty.

“I’m unemployed, volun-teering and trying to have this party,” said Johnson, a mother of four and grandmother of 13. “I can’t let what’s going on in my personal life interfere with the children.” W.A.L.K.I.N. stands for We All Love Kids in Need. It goes back more than 20 years, when Rob Amos, a former Virginia Beach resident, set out to help abused, handicapped, terminally ill and disadvantaged children.

Johnson, of Lake Edward, volunteered with the party and became its organizer more than 10 years ago when Amos moved.

Johnson organizes everything from start to finish, ensuring that 500 children, ages 3 to 12, from low-income housing and homeless shelters in Hampton Roads will have a Christmas.

This year’s party is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 18 at Blakely’s, 440 South Battlefield Blvd. in Chesapeake. Attendees, who are referred by local agencies and organizations, will have lunch with Santa, receive two gifts and enjoy craft-making, face-painting, dancing, games and more.

“A lot of people have said that they guess we’re not going to have the party this year,” Johnson said. “I tell them I lost my job, but I haven’t lost my mind.”

But in order to pull off this year’s party, Johnson still needs plenty of help. Her daughter, Kashaun Williams, 31, mentioned the party to her motorcycle club, K9 Too, and they’ve all stepped in to spread the word.

“We’re helping with volunteering, security, gift getting and more,” Williams said. “We want to be sure that they can still have the party and see those smiling faces.”

Operation Blessing donated some toys, PODS donated a storage unit and Halloween Express donated the use of several cartoon character costumes.

There are still plenty of donations Johnson needs in order to make this year’s party a success.

“I need new, unwrapped, nonviolent toys and kid-friendly food donations,” said Johnson, who prays that other companies, businesses or individuals will see it in their hearts to contribute. “It’s all for the children. They need fun in their lives at Christmastime,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of unemployment going on, and I’m trying to give them a little joy in their lives.”