Hands to Hands brings back popular Sharon Randall to speak at annual fundraiser – Times Record News

The Hands to Hands Community Fund is bringing Sharon Randall back into Wichita Falls Tuesday, March 10, to speak at Grace Church for a fundraiser.

An evening with Randall has been long requested since she previously spoke in Wichita Falls eight years ago, according to Nancy Brown, executive director of the Hands to Hands Community Fund.

“She was wildly popular,” Brown said. “Ever since that time people have just begged me to bring her back.” 

Tickets sold out fast that year. It was held at The Forum which didn’t give them enough space for the crowd that wanted to see Randall.

Brown said they decided it was finally time to get Randall back in Wichita Falls, and they also made sure to get a larger venue at Grace Church.

Of the 800 seats available at the church they are selling 750 of them, and they are almost sold out.

“I think I have 40 tickets left. If people step up and buy those, then we’ll be a packed house,” Brown said.

This won’t be the second time Randall has been in Wichita Falls. She has been a few times over the years and said that it’s always been a pleasure.

“It’s like going to a family reunion — without the fist fights,” Randall said.

Randall said she grew up in the Carolinas and that’s were she learned to be a storyteller. She said the Carolinas are where everybody tells stories about everything and nothing.

“If you wake up and nothing happens, you tell a story about it. I never wrote stories except for school, or later, for work. But I learned to tell them before I learned to walk,” Randall said.

She said what she wanted most was to be a mother and after her children started school she took a job as a file clerk at her local newspaper.

There she wrote a few stories for her paper’s magazine, which lead to her becoming a feature writer.

“In 1991, I began writing a column about life and whatever came along. Three years later, it was syndicated and I got to work at home in my pajamas,” she said.

She never dreamed she’d be a columnist, let alone still be writing one 30 years later.

“I was fortunate to have good people who dreamed it for me. I’m now self-syndicated, still writing about life and whatever comes along, still working at home in my pajamas,” she said.

She still remembers that first column she wrote. She still has it since her editor had it framed. She wrote about her grandmother and her blind brother who taught her to see the world.

“And I promised readers that in future columns, I’d take a good look at whatever came along, and try to tell them about it as honestly as I could. It’s a promise I’ve worked hard to keep,” Randall said.

After writing for more than 30 years, Randall said there are three ways she has grown as a writer.

She learned to trust her voice as it’s the only thing unique about writing. She reads everything she writes out loud.

“If it doesn’t sound like me, I rewrite it until it does,” she said.

She believes all creative work comes, not from those who do the work, but from God, the true Creator.

“I ask him for a story. When it shows up — as it has every week, all these years — I try my best to tell it well,” she said. “When it stops showing up, I’ll know it’s time to retire and chase my grandkids.”

And finally she learned to trust her readers.

“Writing isn’t complete until it’s read. It doesn’t matter what we “mean” to say. What matters is how the words are understood. The best compliment for me as a writer is to hear from readers that my story rings true, and that it is somehow their story, too,” she said.

Many people of different backgrounds are drawn to Randall’s columns. Brown said that the first 20 tickets she sold were to men.

Randall said when she writes she likes to focus on ways that people are alike rather than the differences. 

“I want the column to be a place where everyone is welcome and, when reading it, most everyone will feel at home. I think we’re all a little hungry for that,” she said.

At the fundraiser this year Randall plans to tell a few stories and do her best to make sure everyone is having a good time.

The fundraiser is held every year, typically in March. It’s one of two fundraisers Hands to Hands Community Fund has to pay for their agencies operating costs.

The eight agencies that Hands to Hands supports are The Arc of Wichita County, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of Burkburnett, Camp Fire, Child Advocates (CASA), The Children’s Aid Society of West Texas, Friendly Door and Straight Street.

Brown said the fundraising event is their way of giving back to the community.

“The ticket prices are very inexpensive so that everybody can afford to go,” Brown said.

Randall said it’s an honor and a blessing to be part of the work that Hands to Hands and the agencies it supports are doing in our community to help our neighbors.

The doors will open at 6 p.m. with the event starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $25 and can be purchased by calling (940 691-1903, online at www.hthcf.org or at all Hands to Hands agencies.

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