Take a Bow: Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club gift-wrappers a reliable Christmas presence
Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club members, from left, Christie Jones, Peggy Ahlborn and Barbara Payne sort through bows at the club’s gift-wrapping station Sunday afternoon at Grand Central Mall in Vienna. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club member Peggy Ahlborn wraps a gift Sunday afternoon at the club’s gift-wrapping station at Grand Central Mall in Vienna. The service, which is a fundraiser for the club, will be available during regular mall hours through Dec. 24. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Donations to the Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club’s gift-wrapping service are based on the size of the present. Proceeds support the club’s service projects in the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club members, from left, Christie Jones, Peggy Ahlborn and Barbara Payne sort through bows at the club’s gift-wrapping station Sunday afternoon at Grand Central Mall in Vienna. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club member Peggy Ahlborn wraps a gift Sunday afternoon at the club’s gift-wrapping station at Grand Central Mall in Vienna. The service, which is a fundraiser for the club, will be available during regular mall hours through Dec. 24. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Donations to the Greater Parkersburg Woman’s Club’s gift-wrapping service are based on the size of the present. Proceeds support the club’s service projects in the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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VIENNA -- Wrapping presents is not a highlight of the holiday season for some people.
"I'd rather somebody else do it for me," Parkersburg resident Clyde Rowe said.
Fortunately for Rowe and others in that boat, folks like Christie Jones, Barbara Payne and Peggy Ahlborn do enjoy wrapping gifts for friends, family and a good cause.
The women were working the Greater Parkersburg Woman's Club gift-wrapping station Sunday afternoon at Grand Central Mall. Ahlborn elaborately wrapped a gift for Rowe for a donation to the club, which will use the funds it raises for various service projects and scholarships.
"It is a great service activity, but it's kind of our favorite event," Jones said. "We enjoy the creativity of it all."
In addition, the retired teachers appreciate the social aspect - getting to see former students, past wrapping customers and folks with whom their paths might not otherwise cross.
"You meet people you didn't know, and they're just happy you're here," Jones said.
Club members will be set up outside the inside Belk entrance during regular mall hours through Christmas Eve.
"We're going to work this coming Thursday, and we expect it to be very busy," Payne said.
Donation amounts are based on the size of the gift to be wrapped. Sometimes that means customers will try to get their items into the smallest box possible, Jones said. In other cases, people have brought gifts that the wrappers struggle to fit in a standard-sized box.
Ahlborn recalled a coat that was particularly tough to corral.
"It took two of us to hold the box closed," she said.
"Sometimes it's challenging, but it's a good challenge," Jones said. And the money raised "goes back to the community in some project or another."
The Club is also raffling off a one-year membership to WVU Medicine Camden Clark's Health and Wellness Center, with tickets $10 apiece and the drawing on Wednesday.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.