100 receive Christmas gifts from Matthew Pannell Foundation

Jean Gordon


100 receive Christmas gifts from Matthew Pannell Foundation

Children living at the Town & Country Inn in Spindale received new bicycles and other toys. Photo contributed.

The Matthew Pannell Shining Star Foundation conducted its annual Christmas gift give-away to over 100 people last week in Rutherford County and also women at the Bethel Colony of Mercy in Lenoir.

Volunteers Annette Jackson and others took the gifts to Lenoir where they visited residents.

The Foundation also bought 31 new bicycles for children living at Town and Country Inn in Spindale. Others toys were also bought for all 51 children living there.

Children at Noah's House in Forest City also received toys and other gifts.

The Foundation was begun following the unexpected death of Matthew Panel on October 2, 2011. He was 24 years old and was the only son of Cosmo and Joni Pannell. After his untimely death family and friends began to talk about ways to honor Matthew's memory.

Hundreds of friends and family have been involved in the Foundation ever since. Due to the pandemic this year, the Foundation volunteers were not able to gather as often and to distribute gifts as a large group.

The Matthew Pannell Shining Star Foundation reaches out to help everyone. In the past they helped the tornado victims in Ellenboro, helped the handicap, fed elderly people, assisted orphans and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Through the efforts of the Matthew Pannell Shining Star Foundation, Matthew's legacy continues to live in the eyes of all those his Foundation helps.