Especially at this time of year, it’s not difficult to envision the glory of the Lord that shepherds witnessed as they were abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

The angel that came unto them brought good tidings of great joy, spreading news of the greatest gift the world has ever received.

Volunteers In Service To America — VISTA — stepped up this year in an effort to provide great joy for Sequoyah County children who were included in the Angel Tree holiday assistance program. When not enough individuals or groups sponsored a child “angel,” VISTA stepped up to adopt the county’s 28 remaining angels, purchasing new toys, clothing, shoes or gift cards as part of the Christmas wish lists for children ages 12 and younger.

According to VISTA volunteer Bill Nowlin, donations and sponsorships received enabled VISTA to spend about $110 per child, children who would not have received gifts because their families cannot afford the expense.

“It’s a priceless opportunity, and thank you for caring and making differences in 28 young kids’ Christmas,” Nowlin told donors recently at a holiday gathering.

“This is not what our VISTA people are supposed to do, necessarily,” said VISTA sponsor representative Ed Kennedy from Carl Albert State College (CASC) and AmeriCorps. “But as [retired Muldrow superintendent] Clifta [Fugett] and I would say in the grant world, it’s a positive unintended outcome or consequence, and anytime you can do that, that’s icing on the cake for what you purposely do.”

Nowlin explained that VISTA became involved in the Angel Tree program after he saw on social media that “a bunch of angels hadn’t been adopted. So I called Eddie and said, ‘We need to do this,’ and then, obviously, everybody stepped up.”

Among the donors who helped fulfill the Christmas wishes for Angel Tree children were Aesthetic Dental Institute, Agent & Mallory-Martin Funeral Home, Randall Baker Shelter Insurance, Blue Ribbon Auto Group, Mazzio’s Pizza, Millison Castings Technology, Mosby Group Real Estate & Development, Sallisaw Lumber Company, Sallisaw Public Schools, former state representative Bud Smithson, and retirees A.J. Henshaw, Dr. Robert Nowlin and Ray Whitmire.

What is VISTA?

For those who recall the Peace Corps program from the early 1960s that trained and sent volunteers to developing countries to help with international development, Kennedy says VISTA “is kind of like Peace Corps on American soil.”

VISTA encourages people to serve in their community and do things in the region where they live.

Kennedy has a background in VISTA, having been involved with VISTA for more than 15 years, and spearheaded a grant application for VISTA through CASC. The grant provides direction for real-life alternatives, because “kids and parents need to understand and know the resources they have to get a college degree, to get a vo-tech opportunity, a CareerTech opportunity, to go to a place like Oklahoma State University Okmulgee Tech and/ or to get internships at a place like Millison or a Ford dealership or whatever the case may be.”

Kennedy recalls that the conversation about launching VISTA in Sequoyah County began more than 18 months ago.

“This project to Carl Albert, and/or to schools in LeFlore and Sequoyah counties, is worth over $300,000 a year, based on the fact that we’ve got people like Bill and Clifta and Deb Phillips and Nan Stites. Those are the four VISTA workers we currently have, and we’re bringing a marketing person on board in January. Those people are able to go out and help and do the things,” Kennedy says.

Kennedy, a retired teacher and superintendent himself, notes the invaluable experience Fugett and Phillips bring as retired superintendent and retired principal, respectively. In addition, he lauds Stites as a business education teacher, along with her connection to the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Sallisaw programs.

Both Kennedy and Fugett have worked with federal grant programs in Oklahoma, and are utilizing their experience to benefit VISTA.