IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE
“Feliz Navidad,!” we chanted over and over in our cheeriest voices as we carried the colorful Christmas packages into their tiny, crowded apartment. Since I couldn’t speak Spanish, daughter Stacey had come with me delighting that her fluency in Spanish could help out. The children’s caretakers knew when we would be by. As the door opened we were overwhelmed by 9 small children, the offspring of parents in prison, who had sent in their child’s name for 2 gifts each to be donated by an organization called, Angel Tree. The kids danced around us and helped carry the packages from the car. I was almost ashamed of my late model car and a little frightened driving into the shabby neighborhoods even in broad daylight. But the kids shining eyes and giggles swept away any doubts we had about coming. Inside the one bedroom apartment, smaller than my living room, we saw a kitchen smaller than my pantry, no gifts anywhere and colorful attempts to decorate, even without a tree. We remarked, “Oh, how pretty!” about the decorations. Hidden behind my mask of sunglasses and frozen smile, I choked up, grateful for Stacey’s upbeat playful attitude with the kids swarming around us. Quickly, we gave each child one wrapped requested toy and one article of clothing. The size and details had all been taken care of by Angel Tree. With hugs and giggles we said goodbye to get on with our 9 other deliveries that day. We were only one car of many out delivering gifts to over 550 kids. That’s over 1100 gifts shopped for, labeled, wrapped with love, separated into zip codes, called and delivered. But I get ahead of myself.
We got back in the car trailed by other children in the neighborhood who wondered what was going on. Safe in the driver’s seat as we drove away, I dropped my cheery mask and simply wept. These innocent kids, through no fault of their own, what chance did they have in life, how will they make it, who will be their role models, do they get enough to eat, are they warm enough at night, where will they end up? And how do their “caretakers” deal with the day to day? They are grandmothers, 70, 80 years old, sisters, aunts, whoever, who have taken in these kids. Some of these prisoners will never see the light of day, their crimes being so severe. The greeting taped to the gift was from the prisoner. “Mommy (or Daddy) loves you and misses you.” What were they thinking? Did they not know what would happen if they got caught and went to jail? They were in prisons all over the country and the gift request had been sent through Prison Ministry to Angel Tree to our area. To think that a little child would be so needy that his parents need help to buy him a toy or a pair of pajamas was simply more than I could bear. And all the deliveries that Stacey and I did were right here in fluent Huntington Beach within a mile or two of our home. Of course, our group also delivered to many surrounding areas too. And, in fairness, they weren’t all Spanish families. We took those names because Stacey is fluent in the language. My heart ached as I thought of the emails and phone calls we had exchanged in our family to get just the right gift for our own kids and grandkids..…who already have rooms full of toys and closets full of stylish clothes.
Angel Tree puts a limit of $20 per gift, making it easily affordable for any of us to help out. Any organization can participate in helping Angel Tree. In our area a real angel named Penny Hoffman and her kindly husband Bill, our friends, have given their entire month of December for over 10 years to give this project wings through the umbrella of the First Christian Church at Main and Adams. Wally and I are only one of dozens of volunteer who have already donated 100’s of hours just gathering the information and calling caretakers. On a designated Sunday Angel Tree first names, ages and sizes will be laid out at the church so volunteers can pick up a name, shop, wrap, and return it to the church where more volunteers will separate the gifts into family packages, bags, and maps to the area. And then delivery volunteers will show up that blessed morning to deliver.
As usual, the joke is on us. We helped last year thinking it was the right thing to do.
We had forgotten that blessing others would in turn bless us. It truly was the highlight of our entire season because it put everything in perspective. I shall never forget the 3 year old girl rushing to our car for fear there would be no gift for her after 8 older brothers and sisters carry in gifts for themselves. Tears streamed down her tired little face as she said, “Where’s mine? What about me?” As Stacey quickly handed her her 2 packages she burst into instant giggles and smiles. We realized a simple little gift can give a child a little hope in her difficult world. We can hardly wait to help deliver this year and get the double blessing. One for the kids and one for us.
In fairness, there are other spectacular opportunities to be blessed, er, I mean, to give. The Toys for Tots” program where you can drop off a gift at any fire
Station, goes to kids all over the county and, of course, is greatly helped by our beloved Marines. Call 714-825-3159 for more information.
“Feliz Navidad!” I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, whatever, from the bottom of my heart! And may our greatest gift be the realization that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
“Feliz Navidad,!” we chanted over and over in our cheeriest voices as we carried the colorful Christmas packages into their tiny, crowded apartment. Since I couldn’t speak Spanish, daughter Stacey had come with me delighting that her fluency in Spanish could help out. The children’s caretakers knew when we would be by. As the door opened we were overwhelmed by 9 small children, the offspring of parents in prison, who had sent in their child’s name for 2 gifts each to be donated by an organization called, Angel Tree. The kids danced around us and helped carry the packages from the car. I was almost ashamed of my late model car and a little frightened driving into the shabby neighborhoods even in broad daylight. But the kids shining eyes and giggles swept away any doubts we had about coming. Inside the one bedroom apartment, smaller than my living room, we saw a kitchen smaller than my pantry, no gifts anywhere and colorful attempts to decorate, even without a tree. We remarked, “Oh, how pretty!” about the decorations. Hidden behind my mask of sunglasses and frozen smile, I choked up, grateful for Stacey’s upbeat playful attitude with the kids swarming around us. Quickly, we gave each child one wrapped requested toy and one article of clothing. The size and details had all been taken care of by Angel Tree. With hugs and giggles we said goodbye to get on with our 9 other deliveries that day. We were only one car of many out delivering gifts to over 550 kids. That’s over 1100 gifts shopped for, labeled, wrapped with love, separated into zip codes, called and delivered. But I get ahead of myself.
We got back in the car trailed by other children in the neighborhood who wondered what was going on. Safe in the driver’s seat as we drove away, I dropped my cheery mask and simply wept. These innocent kids, through no fault of their own, what chance did they have in life, how will they make it, who will be their role models, do they get enough to eat, are they warm enough at night, where will they end up? And how do their “caretakers” deal with the day to day? They are grandmothers, 70, 80 years old, sisters, aunts, whoever, who have taken in these kids. Some of these prisoners will never see the light of day, their crimes being so severe. The greeting taped to the gift was from the prisoner. “Mommy (or Daddy) loves you and misses you.” What were they thinking? Did they not know what would happen if they got caught and went to jail? They were in prisons all over the country and the gift request had been sent through Prison Ministry to Angel Tree to our area. To think that a little child would be so needy that his parents need help to buy him a toy or a pair of pajamas was simply more than I could bear. And all the deliveries that Stacey and I did were right here in fluent Huntington Beach within a mile or two of our home. Of course, our group also delivered to many surrounding areas too. And, in fairness, they weren’t all Spanish families. We took those names because Stacey is fluent in the language. My heart ached as I thought of the emails and phone calls we had exchanged in our family to get just the right gift for our own kids and grandkids..…who already have rooms full of toys and closets full of stylish clothes.
Angel Tree puts a limit of $20 per gift, making it easily affordable for any of us to help out. Any organization can participate in helping Angel Tree. In our area a real angel named Penny Hoffman and her kindly husband Bill, our friends, have given their entire month of December for over 10 years to give this project wings through the umbrella of the First Christian Church at Main and Adams. Wally and I are only one of dozens of volunteer who have already donated 100’s of hours just gathering the information and calling caretakers. On a designated Sunday Angel Tree first names, ages and sizes will be laid out at the church so volunteers can pick up a name, shop, wrap, and return it to the church where more volunteers will separate the gifts into family packages, bags, and maps to the area. And then delivery volunteers will show up that blessed morning to deliver.
As usual, the joke is on us. We helped last year thinking it was the right thing to do.
We had forgotten that blessing others would in turn bless us. It truly was the highlight of our entire season because it put everything in perspective. I shall never forget the 3 year old girl rushing to our car for fear there would be no gift for her after 8 older brothers and sisters carry in gifts for themselves. Tears streamed down her tired little face as she said, “Where’s mine? What about me?” As Stacey quickly handed her her 2 packages she burst into instant giggles and smiles. We realized a simple little gift can give a child a little hope in her difficult world. We can hardly wait to help deliver this year and get the double blessing. One for the kids and one for us.
In fairness, there are other spectacular opportunities to be blessed, er, I mean, to give. The Toys for Tots” program where you can drop off a gift at any fire
Station, goes to kids all over the county and, of course, is greatly helped by our beloved Marines. Call 714-825-3159 for more information.
“Feliz Navidad!” I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, whatever, from the bottom of my heart! And may our greatest gift be the realization that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
posted by Ann Baker, Realtor at
2:21 PM
