Walker comes through for families in need

When Dean Sutton's doorbell rang several days ago, he and his two young children received a holiday gift that surpassed their wildest dreams.

"This is wonderful. I don't know what to say except thank you. I just wish my wife could be here to see this," said Sutton, as Walker Furniture deliverymen unloaded a houseful of brand-new furniture for the family.

The Suttons were the first of 26 recipients of a houseful of furniture in Walker Furniture's ninth annual "Home for the Holidays" program. This year, public response to the program was larger than ever, with thousands of letters received from friends of families in need in Clark County. Many of the letters were written by teachers and area students on behalf of other students' families. Others came from health care professionals, police and fire personnel, social service workers, neighbors, children and grandchildren.

Cori Wulz, an educator with the Clark County School District, wrote the letter on behalf of the Sutton family, which includes Dean, his wife, Kelly, and their children, Austin and Kara. In her letter, Wulz described the Suttons as "a hard-working family that merely survives -- even when things are going well."

Wulz said the couple worked multiple jobs and tried their best to spend as much time as possible with their children. Then, in early November, while on lunch break from her evening job as a clerk for a convenience store, Kelly Sutton was struck by a car. She suffered severe head and body injuries and remains at University Medical Center. Dean Sutton says it may be two to three years before she begins to fully recover. The couple had no health insurance, so the financial burden has been tremendous. The tragedy has taken a toll on the children as well.

"They've lost Kelly's income and Dean continues to work, while trying to cope with the situation," Wulz wrote. "He's even trying to prepare the home for her return. I can't imagine a greater gift than having Kelly arrive home to a house with furniture. The last time I visited their home, they only had a TV, a small kitchen table and two chairs."

Over the years, more than 170 families have been assisted by the "Home for the Holidays" program, which began in 1994 with 12 families and has expanded each successive year. Trying to decide which families are most in need was a difficult task for independent panels that included many members of the local business community, including Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

At a luncheon held on Dec. 17, Goodman praised the program and thanked the many community-based organizations and individuals involved in making it the largest and most successful its history.

"This is the fourth time that I'm participating in this program and it just gets bigger and better each year," Goodman said. "This is one of the nicest events I attend each year and I wouldn't miss it for the world. This entire group -- everyone involved in this program -- is very special and what you've accomplished is really appreciated by those you have touched."

Sonio's Cafe provided a holiday dinner to each recipient family. Additionally, Walker Furniture employees organized a gift and food drive for the families.

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