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COMMUNITY
Mayor ’ s Motorcade makes spirits bright in Valdosta
by KEVIN TOLIVER
Valdosta does not lack holiday spirit . The city government annually holds many holiday events and celebrations . Mayor Scott Matheson sat down to talk about one of his favorite City of Valdosta community service activities known as The Mayor ’ s Motorcade .
Each year , Valdosta and other cities across Georgia collect and deliver gifts at state behavioral health hospitals through the annual Mayor ’ s Christmas Motorcade , sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association .
“ It used to be a different mayor from each city would host it , but all he was really doing was hosting a toy drive and then they would go to one of the institutions in Thomasville ,” Matheson explained .
However , due to the closure of the Southwestern State Hospital in Thomasville several years ago , the nearest state hospital serving Valdosta patients was all the way in Columbus . Instead of collecting and transporting the gifts to a remote community , former Mayor John Gayle had the idea to bring it to Valdosta ’ s own backyard .
He chose the Parkwood Developmental Center to donate all items to and has since brought cheer year after year .
Mayor Scott Matheson
32 Valdosta Scene | December 2023