Wherever you spent your Christmas, rather it be at home with family or on the road somewhere, we at the City hope it was a good one. As the holidays begin to wind down, let’s look back at all Christmas activities undertaken by the City of Columbia, during the month of December.
For starters, beginning right after Thanksgiving the City was glad to offer the largest Christmas lights display in our history by lighting up Veterans Park, Citizens Park, The Trabue Russell House, Joe Johnson Little League Park, and Downtown Columbia. The City was also extremely pleased to have the City Police have their latest running of Operation Christmas Spirit, which in cooperation with several local businesses and organizations, was able to collect and give out gifts to residents at our local nursing home and children all across our community. On the topic of our local nursing home, Signature Health Summit Manor, the City, in conjunction with Lance Burton, was able to host a magic and variety show for residents, as well as give them donated presents. We were also able to give all 90 residents stockings full of goods contributed by local businesses. The City of Columbia also worked with the international student program at Lindsey Wilson University, to provide presents for all students remaining on campus at LWU over Christmas. Another exciting event that went on over this Christmas season that the City was glad to assist in was the Columbia Christmas Parade, where the City assisted with traffic control and security. We were also fortunate to see many of our blessing boxes around greater Columbia, restocked to assist those in need around this holiday season. Further, City Hall hosted a drive for animal food and cleaning supplies, which were donated to the Green River Animal Shelter and Sugarfoot Farm. Lastly, as far as Christmas time activities go, the City of Columbia hosted an appreciation Christmas breakfast for all of our staff to show our appreciation to our incredible staff.
One final note on Christmas time for the City of Columbia is that we would like to send a large thank you to the great staff of our City Police and Sanitation Department for working throughout the holidays, including on Christmas Day, to keep essential services running for the residents of the City of Columbia.
From Mayor Hoots and all of us at the City of Columbia we hope you had a great Christmas and we wish you a happy New Year!
(Trey Stephens, Assistant to the Mayor – City of Columbia)