To the editor:
Over-sized Christmas elves from many local churches and organizations worked cheerfully for four days to sort and distribute donated food and other items provided by you and your neighbors for the assistance of families who are struggling through hard times. One hundred and seventy-one families (750 individuals) received a total of 13,200 items, not including gifts. The number of gifts, including gift cards, was 1,400. These gifts were specifically requested by the families and mostly consisted of clothing and special needs rather than toys. Gift cards have been very popular, since that enables the recipient to choose the size, color, etc., of the item. The gift cards may be saved for after-Christmas sales, too.
Parents signed up to ‘shop? at the OCEF Toy Store for games, books, toys, etc. All these items came from donation boxes set up by local merchants. These items were sorted age-appropriately and escorts took parents through the store, helping them find choices for their children up to age 12. These items are not included in the 13,200 mentioned previously. Also served with requested needs were 11 group homes.
An important part of this four-day event is the understanding that comes about on the part of volunteers. Just seeing the rooms and halls of the Church of Saint Anne full to bursting with colorful donations fills everyone with the Christmas spirit. Here’s one typical story: A teenage volunteer returned after helping a client take food and gifts to her car. With tears in her eyes, she said the woman, who also had tears in her eyes, thanked and hugged her. ‘I didn’t know what to do,? she said, ‘That never happened to me before.?
The OCEF board thanks the entire community for making the largest distribution we have ever done a real success.
Sue Howard, OCEF President