We all met at the Chamber of Commerce building. I was handed a plastic milk jug with the words, "No child without a Christmas" written on it. I knew what I had to do, and because I believed in the cause, I volunteered my time to help my town and the families who lived in it that were having tough times.
The parade started and I followed the parade route. People began dropping coins and bills into the milk jug I carried. It began to snow more heavily, and I again tightened my scarf around my neck. I walked a good two miles that day, my feet about half frozen, but still......it was worth the cause.
When the parade ended, I went back to the Chamber building. My milk jug was dumped onto a table and a team counting the jug money, smiled at me and said, "You did good!" I'd brought in over $250.00. There were several of us, but most were the police department. They laughed and said I'd brought in almost as much as they did in their individual jugs and I didn't have a uniform on. I went home, happy that I had helped in some way.
An hour later my phone rang and it was the President of the group who was helping folks in our town. "Do you think you and your husband could give us a hand down at the fire hall tonight and all week?" he asked. "Sure," I said. For the next week, my husband and I stacked and sorted thousands of canned goods. I sorted clothing. We sorted toys. We had rows and rows of peas, corn, beans, tomatoes, macaroni and cheese boxes, cereal, flour, sugar and many more items. We had boxes to fill and plenty of them.
I was asked if I could go with another person from the organization and help buy Christmas toys and things for families. I said sure. I will never forget that night. We took a crew with us and had twenty-six shopping carts filled with toys, perfumes, clothing, coats, hats, mittens and so many other things. We had a check with us in the amount of $3600.00 to spend on families. We had been given the number of people in the household and their ages and sex, and that's how we shopped. And always, there was something for mom and dad.
You see, many of these families were poor. Very poor. They were working mom's or dad's who had hit hardships that year and couldn't afford a Christmas for their children. They were divorced mother's who had no extra money to spend.
We made sure each and everyone of those kids got something from Santa. What a site we were in the store with all the shopping carts filled. I had Barbie dolls in one of my carts. Another had winter coats, another had blue jeans, and so on.
I will always remember an elderly lady named Mildred. Widowed, she lived alone at the age of 83. I was asked if I could deliver her gift to her. I was handed an address and told what day to deliver.
It was once again snowing that day when I started out for Mildred's house. I passed some real nice homes, and then the neighborhood began to dwindle down to small houses, houses that needed repairs. I found the address on the mailbox, then got out of my car and walked up to the door. I rang the bell. Mildred opened the door.
"Hi," I said. "I'm one of Santa's helpers and Santa wanted me to deliver something to you this year." She just stared at me. I said, "Is that ok with you?" She looked at me, her eyes turning watery and said, "I haven't had a gift in years, who would give me something now?" "Oh, you never know what the Elves are up to, and I've been asked to deliver a box to you." I turned and said, "I'll be right back."
I went to my car and lifted the heavy box out. She was still standing in the doorway when I walked back up her sidewalk. "Can I come in with this?" I asked. She opened the door wider for me and softly said, "Yes."
"Where would you like me to put the box?" I asked. "In the kitchen," she replied. And that is where I sat it down on an old wooden table. I opened the box and told her she needed to get some things in her refrigerator.
She watched as I opened the box. The first item was a ham. Her eyes opened wider and she put both her hands up to her face and said, "Oh MY!" I pulled out celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, can goods. She began to cry. "Now, now, don't you go getting upset," I said. "I've got one more box for you." I went back to my car and brought in the second box. I set it on the table and told her to open it. I watched as she lifted the cardboard flaps. She broke out sobbing. "How could you know I didn't have a winter coat this year?" "How did you know I didn't have any boots to wear?" I hugged her and said, "It's Christmas, and Santa knows EVERYTHING."
For two days I delivered boxes like that to houses. Houses with people who were bedridden with cancer or heart trouble. People who had so little. It breaks your heart to see a family so down, so ill, and children who have so little. But due to the wonderful organization in Michigan called the GOODFELLOWS, we made sure that year that 381 families were helped.
I got more hugs that year than ever before. And since I love doing things like that for Christmas for anyone who really needs help, it lifts my spirits to be able to be a part of the giving to others.
My mom used to bring home Air Force guys from our local base every Christmas just so some of the boys would have a good hot meal as she always said. Dad and mom always made sure no one elderly in our neighborhood went without a Christmas dinner. And naturally, since this was always something in my life, when I was little, I tagged along. When I got big enough to help, I pitched in. And today........I still do it.
There is nothing on this earth more rewarding than to know you have touched a life. And what more beautiful time of the year than Christmas.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Sharon Bryant
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