Flipping the switch to turn on our traditional Christmas star — a bright beacon of faith during the darkest part of winter, sitting atop our FM transmitter tower in downtown Nome — requires a bit of a reach; it’s nestled in a small corner of one of our studios.
But a few weeks ago, just for fun, all four of our volunteers — Laura, Mitch, Maddie, and Emily — managed to fit into that small space to help turn on the star and, in a larger way, to greet the arrival of Advent in Western Alaska. In doing so, they’re continuing a trend of selfless service — of cheer, even amid challenge — that’s marked their tenure at KNOM since this summer.
As some newsletter readers may know, our volunteer program demands a lot of those accepted into it. Because of both logistics and finances, our Nome-based volunteers are asked to commit to a continuous year of service, which means there’s typically no way to make it back home for the holidays.
For our ’15-16 team, however, it’s clear that they’re finding joyful ways to mark the winter season, to celebrate Christmas, and to embrace new traditions, whether within the confines of KNOM or the community of Nome, even amid the challenges of living in remote, rural Alaska.
As 2015 turns over into 2016, we offer our thanks both to our outstanding volunteers and to you, for making their service possible, and we invite you to join us in thoughts and prayers for all those away from home for the holidays, whether in Western Alaska or anywhere else.