When people work together, the outcome can be very uplifting. I want to offer a huge thank you to the community at Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Middleburg, Virginia, for the beautiful outcome of "Emmanuel's Treasures "Sidewalk Sale in 2020. All the funds received went to benefit the church.

Working together, we the people, brought in our old treasures for donations, gave our time through volunteering, prepared flowers to bring the fragrance of joy to many, helped behind the scene through prayer and hard work to bring everything together for a seamless offering of peace, hope and calm.

Thank you to the anonymous community members who brought donations (even though not members at the church) but have come to concerts, dinners, or the various outreach sessions that the church offers to many. You never know how people find us. As the Bible states.... they will know us by our love. This love reached out to and beyond the community to bring laughter, song, and fun throughout the preparation, activation, and break down for this five-day event.

We are grateful to the merchants in Middleburg who donated quality items to the church....Mark Metzger-Highcliffe Clothiers, Wendy Osborn from Chloe's, Roddy Rigden from Country Classics and Rick and Robin from Richard Allen and Duchessa. Thanks to Karen Jackson, Tully Rector, Elisabeth Plaskitt, Richard Danker, and Loyal Companions. We are thankful for all your help and donations.

We want to thank the volunteers who gave their time: Peggy Kovacs, Linda Platt, Molly Wade, Romey Curtis, Tempe Ives, John Denegre, Viviane Warren, Barbara Deegan, Anne Marstiller, Linda Wine, Maria Bianchi, and Pat Reilly.

Thanks to John Ives, Gene Lecouteur, June, and Dale Thompson for keeping our grounds manicured, beautiful and abundant.

Grateful and massive hugs go to Jill Winter, Norris Beaver, Anita Bown, and Tamara Hayter for all the foundation work that was done in the quiet hours. Thanks to Alan Platt and Jeff Baldwin for "truck runs" when needed.

Thank you to Barbara Sharp and her creative floral art and the "elves" that helped her in preparation.

We need one another and can benefit tremendously when we share our gifts and talents with others.

We are blessed to live in a town where we help, support, and lift one another during unsettling times.....we will get through all of this because of our love, honor, and respect for all people.

Lasting impressions have been given to me by many during this process. This has been a joy-filled time of tremendous laughter and fun.

Working together to build bridges instead of walls will benefit all of us. Let us meet in the middle and keep constructing a solid foundation for respect, caring, and compassion.

I look forward to more of the same during the next year. We are blessed to live in such an abundant place called Middleburg, Virginia.