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Wishing You Joy  

by Jennifer Warren

Lately I have been reading and re-reading the following beautiful poem by Hafiz. It's a reminder, in this season that can often feel too busy, to pause in gratitude. 

The Sacred Dance for Life 

I sometimes forget 

that I was created for Joy.

My mind is too busy.

My Heart is to heavy.

for  me to remember

that I have been

called to dance

the Sacred dance of life.

I was created to smile

To Love

To be lifted up.

And to lift others up. 

O' Sacred One

Untangle my feet

from all that ensnares.

Free my soul.

That we might Dance

and that our dancing 

might be contagious.

Thank you for being a part of the WYN community and for all you do to bring us joy. This holiday season, may you find appreciation for the gift of life and loved ones. May you find joy that causes you to dance, even if just for a moment; even if just in your heart. And may it spread to those around you. 

A Time of Generosity

One of our staff's favorite times of the year is angel tree time. This year, over 90 children were supported by local churches and individuals! Two  highlights of this year's angel tree are: 

A caregiver, as she came to get the gifts for her children, tearily shared that she used to always be a shopper for angel tree gifts but this year she was a recipient of the gifts. We shared a hug and the understanding that we all need to both give and receive help at various times in our life.

One group of supporters drove all the way from Knoxville to deliver gifts for children in our Avery County program, including 10 tablets that we know our kids will be very excited about!

Thank you so much to everyone who came together to ensure that the holidays are happy for our children!  

Goodbye to WYN Way

This month we are bidding a heartfelt farewell to WYN's home of over 30 years. 155 WYN Way has served as office and programming space for Watauga County since 1992. 

This building has seen everything from end-of-summer talent shows to volunteer service projects to WYN staff members' children growing up within its walls. It housed children who were wet and dirty after a day of caving and rafting and it served as a cozy place for movies on rainy days. Homework, holiday parties and many, many transformative conversations took place here. There were games of pool and foosball, meals prepared, laughter and tears. The space has been so important to so many children, yet the time has come to move on. 

WYN is advancing on a vision to create a larger and more visible headquarters in Watauga County and to open the county's only youth center. Our Watauga office has already relocated to Doctors Drive, and now the children in our Watauga afterschool program have relocated there as well as we await construction of the youth center.

More exciting details will be coming about this project in the new year, which just happens to be WYN's 40th anniversary as an agency. We can't wait to share more with you! 

10 Years of Festival of Trees!

Thank you for the part you played in making WYN's 10th annual Festival of Trees fundraiser such a success!

Can you believe there are designers, sponsors and other individuals who have been involved with the event an entire decade? Special thanks to these amazing people for hanging with us for the past 10 years: 

Misfit Toys (friend group tree designers) 
Chetola Resort 
Mast General Store 
Footsloggers
The Mustard Seed

Graphic Design: Leslie Temple

Festival of Trees Committee Members: Erica Lackey and Jenny Koehn

This event provides so much more than monetary support of WYN's programming. It also provides our organization with recognition in the community and exposure to people who are new to WYN's mission. We are so  grateful for everyone who has supported this event year after year! 

A WYNning way to Give 

If you are 70.5 years old and would like to donate your required minimum distribution from your IRA to WYN, not only will our children benefit, but so will you.

You can donate up to $100,000 tax-free each year to non-profit agencies such as WYN. Check out this article for more information or reply to this newsletter and let Jennifer Warren know if you are interested or have any questions. 

You may also make a one-time or recurring donation to WYN by clicking this donate button.

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