Christmas display benefits homeless shelter

The holidays are officially here when one popular Christmas display goes up. It is assembled each year by a Goshen family to help the Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County shelter residents and remember an important loved one, the late Jim Page. 

Jim Page started the family tradition about 50 years ago with a Santa cut out that is still on display each year. Santa waves and is still in his original condition.

The display has grown so large it takes up the entire front yard, backyard and a lower area across the roadway from the home.

The Page family works year-round to keep the display in good condition, adding pieces to it, and spending two to three weeks putting it up in the yard of the family home. They purchase some decorations and make others.

The entire family including Marilyn Page; Shane, Trisha, Brayden (Troyer) and Lucas Page; Tim, Katie, Mattie and Brooke Page; and Matt, Tara and Seth Page all pitch in to help.

The display includes lights, blow molds, wooden characters, and other festive items, and Christmas carols are played.

There is always something new to see.

“We got a couple new wire frame displays, including a happy holiday sign,” Shane Page said. “I added a railroad crossing sign and a wire frame wreath.”

They’ve also added about 50 blow mold decorations, more lights and other decorations. Also added were more candles that line both sides of the roadway.

The food donations greatly help, but there are also special moments created for shelter residents thanks to those who donate at the Page display. Tears came to the eyes of Trisha Page as she remembered how the display’s collection helped a resident create one meaningful moment that makes us all human.

"It was two years ago, we got a doll, and when we dropped it off, there was an older lady living there, and it was her granddaughter's birthday,” Trisha Page said. “She didn't have a gift to give her, so she took the doll, we got her wrapping paper, and she was able to wrap it and give it to her granddaughter."

Of course, the granddaughter loved it, and her grandmother was thrilled to be able to give her a gift.

"We’d like to thank everybody for their donations. It’s greatly appreciated, and it goes to a good cause,” Shane Page said.

For Shane Page, the memories of spending time working together as a family are priceless. He still fondly recalls working with his father when he was just a small child.

“We were out here with the train the most,” Shane Page said. “I'd come out here and help him set the train up. We used to run it and keep the snow off the tracks.”

The Page family has been using the display to support the Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County shelter since 2012 for anyone wishing to donate. Non-perishable foods, toys and toiletry items are accepted. The box is emptied each night. Donations can be dropped off at the large Snoopy doghouse at the end of the driveway.

The display will be lit Dec. 5, Sunday through Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 6-10 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.

The home is located south of New Philadelphia just off state Route 416 at 2200 Goshen Valley Road SE, New Philadelphia. Goshen Valley loops around to state Route 416 so visitors can easily drive back to the highway without having to turn around.