Williamsburg City School agriculture teacher Toraleah Shelley has been selected to volunteer as a White House decorator during the upcoming holiday season.
Shelley initially saw a Facebook ad asking for those qualified to fill out an application.
“I thought it was fake at first,” said Shelley. “It was advertising that the First Lady was looking for volunteers to decorate the White House for the holiday season.”
After checking the official White House website, she found an application.
Shelley said she applied in late July of this year, initially applying because the time requirements aligned with her teaching job.
“It happens during WISD’s fall break, fortunately,” said Shelley, sharing that she chose to decorate the first three days of the week.
For her application, Shelley wrote about her background in floral design and holiday decorating. “I’m an ag teacher at Williamsburg City School, and we have a floral design class,” Shelley said. “In addition to that, the main reason is that we do a Christmas light show. I’m one of the co-owners at Shelley Ridge Farms, where we do a mile-long drive-through Christmas light show.”
When she learned she had been selected, Shelley said she was sitting at her desk at school.
“I gasped, and my students were like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and I told them I couldn’t believe it,” said Shelley.
Selected volunteers will be assigned to various decorating teams inside the White House. Volunteers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses, though breakfast and lunch are provided. They will be there from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. for all three days.
“I’ve never been to D.C., so I’ve never seen any of the monuments or the heritage of D.C., so I’m excited about that,” said Shelley. “It’s not really heard of that you get to visit the White House. It’s very limited.”
If all goes as planned, Shelley will be invited back for a private White House holiday party on Dec. 1.
Shelley Ridge Farms’ Christmas in the Country light show opens on Black Friday and runs every weekend through Christmas. The farm also hosts Santa visits, a petting zoo, and Christmas-themed photo backdrops. More information is available on their Facebook page, Shelley Ridge Farms, or by contacting Shelley directly at (606) 344-0907.
