November-December 2025
As difficult as it is to believe, the holidays are nearly here. Plans are already in the works to visit family and friends with the objective of eating as much as humanly possible. If you are anything like me, you focus on the incredible desserts first. In our combined November-December issue, we share some great recipes along with holiday-related stories to highlight the spirit of the season.
In Our Communities, we feature a Farmville business owner who annually assembles and ships 3,000 boxes filled with toys and other items to underprivileged children worldwide through Operation Christmas Child. It’s an inspiring tale that fits the theme for this time of year.
The holiday theme continues in Cooperative Focus, where we share submitted photos of some of our readers’ pets, along with their owners’ holiday-related stories. We always appreciate our members’ participation, and their Christmas pet photos and experiences truly bring the season to life.
We also feature a story about an impactful community program — Community Matters — that is keeping older adults in Southside Electric Cooperative’s service territory (and beyond) feeling valued, engaged and connected. The program’s coordinator, Jayne Lloyd, has been a member of SEC for the past 15 years and values the co-op’s commitment to community, a guiding principle that aligns with her own passion for community outreach.
We want to wish our wonderful readers a happy Thanksgiving and merry Christmas as we get ready for another year of Cooperative Living featuring your favorite columns, community events and articles spotlighting local families and businesses throughout Virginia and Maryland.
Brian S. Mosier, President & CEO
Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives