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ISAIAH SALTERS, recreation center director at G.O. Development Corp., gets the music started during the organization’s 19th annual Christmas Party in Ashtabula
ASHTABULA — Area residents gathered Saturday afternoon to celebrate Christmas and reach out a hand to those in need.“We probably have 400 people. We have an overflow crowd,” said John Salters, co-founder of G.O. Development Corp.“This might be the biggest ever,” Salters said as he guided volunteers to bring more chairs to the gymnasium so people could sit down to eat their meal.Chairs were getting scarce because of the large turnout that wound through the western side of the building to pick up hot dogs and holiday treats.Salters said it was the 19th edition of the Christmas party that he founded with his wife Mae almost two decades ago.After visitors ate their fill, Salters rose to the stage and thanked those who made the day possible and reminded people that the birthday of Jesus Christ is the reason for Christmas.“Let’s give Jesus a hand,” Salters said before handing the microphone to his son Isaiah to lead a music portion of the program.Anna Cothrum, of Ashtabula, said she enjoys coming to the party to provide something special to her granddaughter and children.Two dozen volunteers helped make the event possible, according to several people involved in the planning of the event.“I love being around people … I love seeing kids grow up and I love giving,” said LIllie Lathan who was one of the volunteers.Isaiah Salters said the day is especially meaningful to him. “It’s special to me because it is something that my mother started,” he said of Mae Salters who died earlier this year.Isaiah said there were several guests that attended the event to reach out to area residents.“It’s (the party) so important. There are a lot of families that don’t get to celebrate Christmas like other families,” he said. Isaiah Salters said each of the children would receive a gift.When the Salters asked for five children to volunteer to come on stage there was almost a stampede.Two different sets of children got to participate through wishing guests a Merry Christmas and singing Christmas carols.
2014 Christmas Party Statistics Revised
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ASHTABULA — Shae Ballard is pumped up for Saturday’s G.O. Community Development Christmas party.The party will include a free meal, gifts for the children, fellowship and a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season, said Ballard, a board member.This will be the 19th year G.O. Community Development celebrates Christmas, helping families who are struggling to have a merry Christmas. It has grown each year, Ballard said.It will take place at the G.O. Community Development building at 3703 Station Ave. (the former Thurgood Marshall Elementary School).Volunteers, young and old, will bring in gifts, prepare and serve the food.“All of the children will get a gift, a good gift,” Ballard said. “A lot of children don’t get Christmas presents. We have had many gifts donated by Ashtabula County residents and Toys for Tots.”Last year, the Rev. John Salters, board member and co-founder of G.O. Community Development, took the children on stage to sing Christmas carols as about 300 party-goers sang along.“It’s wonderful,” Salters said. “We always have an enthusiastic crowd.”Santa is expected to arrive with candy canes, Ballard said.Hot dogs, sloppy joes and chips will be served.“We always have 250 to 300 kids,” she said. “It’s such fun.”Salters credits the board of directors for the annual party’s success.
ASHTABULA — Some city residents are asking city council to rename Station Avenue after the late Mae Salters.Salters, 61, died Nov. 6 at Ashtabula County Medical Center.She was a founder of Ghana Outreach Ministries and GO Community Development Corp., she established a soup kitchen and food pantry at their facility, as well as organized the annual Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas party for the needy.City Manager Jim Timonere informed the council that the request came from many people who use the facility.Salters and her husband, Bishop John Salters, are respected in the community and have done great things for the city’s residents, Timonere said.Council Vice President Chris McClure said Salters will long be remembered for her giving nature, but renaming a long and highly populated street is tough.“It’s not easy to rename a street,” he said. “There are a lot of addresses.”In addition to the many houses on Station Avenue, its also the site of an apartment complex and the city’s homeless shelter, The Samaritan House.After some discussion, the council decided to suggest renaming the building that houses G.O. Ministries — the old Thurgood Marshall Elementary School on Station Ave.Council President J.P. Ducro IV said he was thinking of something like “The Mae Salters Community Center.”Council decided to present that idea to Salters’ supporters.
MILDRED TOMBLIN (left) and Shauna Blizzard, both of Ashtabula, serve guests at the G.O. Development Corp. Thanksgiving Dinner in Ashtabula on Thursday.
More than 125 volunteers gave time from their holiday to make Thanksgiving just a little better for others on Thursday at five different sites throughout the county.One of the citizens most noticed by her absence was Mae Salters who started a Thanksgiving dinner for the needy, and those without a place to go, 16 years ago.Salters died earlier this month but was not forgotten as several pictures of her dotted the G.O. Development Corp. stage while her son Isaiah jammed with another musician while area residents ate a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.“We dedicated this to my wife who was the author of this,” John Salters said of the event.John Slimmer, of Saybrook Township, said he is not able to help on a weekly basis but was more than happy to come out on Thanksgiving.“Just trying to help,” he said while directing people through the food line. He was one of 40 volunteers assisting at G.O. Development Corp.
