HALIFAX — Michael Felt, director of the Halifax Department of Social Services, is helping to support American troops overseas by collecting donations through his office for Operation Christmas, a program sponsored by the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union, to gather food and other items for men and women in uniform serving in the war during Christmas. Felt is also trying to win a bet offered by his counterpart in Northampton County, Dr. D. Albert Wentzy.

This full bag is indicative of the success of collection efforts by the Halifax Department of Social Services for Operation Christmas, an effort by the State Employees Credit Union to gather donations for troops serving overseas during the holiday season. Roger Bell | The Daily Herald Advertisement

“He (Dr. Wentzy) called me up and offered a friendly wager,” Felt says. “And the wager was, whoever collects the most pieces takes the other DSS Director to dinner.”

Like any good manager, Felt knew the best person for the job, for the purposes of collecting the material to benefit the troops and to win the wager. He turned to Toni Outland, whose son Jamie is currently serving in Iraq with the National Guard.

“When I gave this to Toni I knew she would fly with it.”

Fly with it she did.  With the help of fellow DSS staffer Stacy Pittard, and spearheaded by Program Manager for Employment Services Tammy Bohannon, Outland began to collect for DSS — some 5,000 items so far with a couple of days left to go.

“I already had people who knew I’ve got a son over there,” Outland says. “People have just come up and handed me items.”

Outland, whose part-time job working at Texas Steakhouse helps her connect with the community for donations as much as working for DSS does, has thus far received material and money from businesses and members of the community. She’s seen generosity during this campaign and outside of it.

“All through the year people have brought me things,” Outland says. “I have literally had people get up and go to Wal-Mart after a meal and come back with bags of groceries. I’ll send it to my son and tell him ‘share.’ ”

For their part, the staff doesn’t mind helping the boss win a wager. “It really is satisfying,” says Bohannon. “Mike was challenged and the self-satisfaction (of helping the troops) is reward enough.”

“It really isn’t fair,” Felt added. “We have 168 employees ... Al have a much smaller operation. But I’ll take dinner; I’m not dumb.”

Though Felt appears to be considering the wager won, Dr. Wentzy isn’t convinced he’s lost or will lose. “Tell him I want a recount,” Wentzy states after hearing of his friend’s progress. “I will demand a recount, but the obvious winners are the troops.”

While the wager is certainly a nice incentive, Wentzy keeps in mind the real purpose of the collection. “We need to, bottom line, remember they’ve been in combat nearly nine years,” Wentzy says. “I’m just so heartfelt aware of that and thanks to our SECU for sponsoring this event.”

“Right now all citizens of this great country need to get together and support our troops,” Wentzy added. “I’ll be glad to take donations from anybody.”

Wentzy also wanted his friend and wager opponent to know “he’s going to have to go some to beat us,” and expressed faith in his community to put him over the top.

“Everybody knows,” Wentzy said, “Northampton DSS, county government, churches and citizens are better.”

People wishing to help Felt and Halifax County DSS collect for Operation Christmas and win the wager can call 252-536-6444.

People wishing to help Wentzy and Northampton County DSS collect for Operation Christmas and win the wager can call 252-534-1983.