Bartholet's Send Toys to West NC Kids, and More

CONROE, TX -- For the people of western North Carolina, it has been a rather rough 2024, but the ladies who led the Montgomery County effort to send supplies to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene relief in October, started a toy drive like they do every year; but this year, the hurricane victims were chosen as recipients. Sarah Bartholet Gwin, of Bartholet Home Furnishings, along with her mother Kim Bartholet, have done yeoman's work in helping the area where their furniture suppliers live and practice their craft. The store sources many of their products from the area where the hurricane struck.

It was in early October when Sarah Bartholet Gwin, the daughter of the store owner Todd, realized that the trucks coming to the Conroe store weekly from North Carolina could be used to ferry supplies back to the hurricane victims in the western part of the storm ravaged state. So she put the word out via social media, and stuff started rolling into their shop. The response was so extraordinary that two whole tractor trailers were filled and shipped before mid-October. Since then another half trailer of supplies have been sent. It was around that time, when an idea for a toy drive was being drafted. The toy drive, which ended December 7th, resulted in a large collection of toys being sent to North Carolina

“The toys have been delivered to North Carolina,” said Gwin. “It’s not as much as our relief drive, but we are confident at least some kids in the state can salvage some Christmas joy from our efforts.”

The family matriarch, Robin Bartholet, Todd’s mother, has long been retired from the furniture business, but still volunteers in her own right. She delivers meals-on-wheels to clients each week. She made the acquaintance of Alana Monroe’s 5th Grade Art Class at Sacred Heart school in Conroe, who were looking for a project to help brighten the lives of Montgomery County Meals-on-Wheels clients. Bartholet, a member of Sacred Heart Church, agreed to deliver the greeting cards made by Mrs. Monroe’s students this fall to her clients.

“The clients were very receptive of the kids’ cards,” said Robin, who converses with her clients on a weekly basis. “Alana and her kids did a great job.”

Robin Bartholet is just one of several hundred volunteers for Meals-on-Wheels in Montgomery County and she delivers meals to her small group. Altogether there are over 3,500 seniors in the county that have signed up for the service, with over 200 volunteers that deliver meals weekly.