The Christmas Store has lost one of our beloved, original founders of the Store.
A "Celebration of Life and Legacy" service will be held on Saturday, June 13 at 1pm at Blacksburg UMC.
A reception will be held immediately following at the Wesley Foundation at Virginia Tech. Glenn Tyndall Glenn Tyndall passed away March 5, 2026.
See obituary here… https://www.adamsgreen.com/obituaries/Leslie-Glenn-Tyndall?obId=47500253
Glenn Tyndall passed away on March 5, 2026, in Ashburn, Virginia. He had moved there several years before to be near family.
Glenn was one of the five original members who created the Christmas Store in 1982. At that time, Glenn led the Pairs and Spares class at Blacksburg United Methodist Church, and he longed for a more dignified way to help families in need at Christmas, rather than just handing them baskets the class had bought.
Glenn and his wife, LaVina, saw an article in a Family Circle magazine highlighting a Christmas Store in Norman, Oklahoma. Sally and Jim Bohland had moved from there and were familiar with the Store. Sally was a social worker in rural Montgomery County and knew the need that our local Social Services could not meet. So Glenn, with the help of LaVina, Jim, Sally Bohland, and Nancy Bowman, formed a group to create a Christmas Store in Montgomery County. Glenn, with the help of Voluntary Action, called a meeting of churches, civic organizations, and the community to explain their dream. The original five members began holding meetings explaining the concept of the Store and giving speeches throughout the area. With the help of residents of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, the first Christmas Store began here in 1982. The Store served 267 families with a budget of less than $20,000 that they raised for their mission. In 2025, the Store served over 1,200 families, comprising around 4,000 individuals, with a budget that has grown to over $500,000 in annual operations since 1982!
For years, the Christmas Store opened each year in donated, empty buildings. Then everything had to be packed up and stored. Glenn was instrumental in recruiting businesses to contribute to the purchase of the current building. Now everything in the Store stays set up, and volunteers can work year-round to get ready for Store Week.
As a founder and leader of the Montgomery County Christmas Store, Glenn served in many roles-board president, chairperson, fund-raising, volunteer during Store Week, and so much more. He was well known and would “work the phones,” calling past or prospective donors to explain the need for funds to stock the Christmas Store.
The Christmas Store Board and thousands of shoppers over the years owe so much to this kind, compassionate man whose dream of a “more dignified way to help others at Christmas” became a reality. “The Christmas Store was one of his greatest things in life”, stated his daughter.
Donations to honor this beloved visionary can be made to the Montgomery County Christmas Store (https://www.mcchristmasstore.org/fundraising
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND DONATING AUCTION ITEMS FOR OUR ANNUAL PINT NIGHT SILENT AUCTION!
Virginia Tech Athletics Toy Drives
Thank you for supporting the Hokies and The Christmas Store!
VT Athletics reminds fans that the Annual Toy Drives to benefit the Montgomery County Christmas Store are happening in November. Every year, fans have the opportunity to bring unwrapped toys to the games. Volunteers from the Toy Department will be at entrances with huge, decorated boxes ready to take your toy donations for the Christmas Store.
VIRGINIA TECH BASKETBALL NOVEMBER 2021
Come to Cassell Coliseum to see some great sports action and help the Christmas Store stock the shelves of the Toy Department so children have a wonderful Christmas. Remember to bring an unwrapped toy or stuffed animal. Go Hokies!
