STRASBURG,VA - Christmas came early for drivers pulling up to the gas station and they all got a little help paying for gas.
"We approach people as they get out of their car to pump their gas and we give them some money and we just simply say 'we'd like to help you with your gas, we've been blessed and we'd like to pay it forward' and so we offer money for their gas," says Sharon Hollar, executive director of The Shenandoah Valley Coalition Christian Chamber of Commerce.
To help out needy children during this holiday season, the coalition received toy donations from the public. As an additional way to share their blessing, they handed out $5 to $10 to gas station customers.
"We have a way to give back. People that are fortunate have a way to donate whether it's monetary donations for food or whether it's food itself or whether it's gifts they bring; it's a way to give back," says Timothy Carter, sheriff of Shenandoah County.
"Our company is particularly in children. We do not only this but we do Christmas shopping tours for the needy, children and we entertain them and we help an orphanage in Winchester with Christmas," says Bill Holtzman, gasoline business owner and rotary club member.
The coalition is made up of churches, Christian businesses and non-profit organizations.
Hollar has always referred the Friday before Christmas as the "real" Black Friday.
"Today is the day that the people had been out of work or down on their luck and they have that knot in their stomach because they realize it's the Friday before Christmas and they have no gifts for their children," adds Hollar.
Hollar says there has been years where her children did not have a Christmas and it has given her a reason to lend a helping hand to the community.
The Woodstock Fire Department will deliver the toys to the children on Christmas Eve.
"We approach people as they get out of their car to pump their gas and we give them some money and we just simply say 'we'd like to help you with your gas, we've been blessed and we'd like to pay it forward' and so we offer money for their gas," says Sharon Hollar, executive director of The Shenandoah Valley Coalition Christian Chamber of Commerce.
To help out needy children during this holiday season, the coalition received toy donations from the public. As an additional way to share their blessing, they handed out $5 to $10 to gas station customers.
"We have a way to give back. People that are fortunate have a way to donate whether it's monetary donations for food or whether it's food itself or whether it's gifts they bring; it's a way to give back," says Timothy Carter, sheriff of Shenandoah County.
"Our company is particularly in children. We do not only this but we do Christmas shopping tours for the needy, children and we entertain them and we help an orphanage in Winchester with Christmas," says Bill Holtzman, gasoline business owner and rotary club member.
The coalition is made up of churches, Christian businesses and non-profit organizations.
Hollar has always referred the Friday before Christmas as the "real" Black Friday.
"Today is the day that the people had been out of work or down on their luck and they have that knot in their stomach because they realize it's the Friday before Christmas and they have no gifts for their children," adds Hollar.
Hollar says there has been years where her children did not have a Christmas and it has given her a reason to lend a helping hand to the community.
The Woodstock Fire Department will deliver the toys to the children on Christmas Eve.
