Volunteering at the Christmas Shop

Many Vermonters find ways to help others, especially at this time of year. One volunteer is Marguerite Holden, who’s a native of Middlebury. She’s worked in the Christmas Shop at the Addison County Community Action Group for many years.

Santa Claus’ helpers

Santa Claus and his helpers are a familiar sight this time of year. Practically every shopping mall features a Santa who poses with children and listens to their Christmas wishes. One recent Saturday, VPR’s Steve Zind visited the Diamond Run Mall in Rutland and spent time with a man who, every year at this time, takes time off from work and dons a red suit.

The Loudest Voice

Vermont author Grace Paley returns with one of our favorite seasonal stories. Read by the author from her collection of short stories published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, “The Loudest Voice,” celebrates both Chanukah and Christmas through the experience of a young girl, narrator of the neighborhood school holiday pageant.