Giving Tree

This year at work we had a Holiday Giving committee. In October we do a lot of fundraising for the United Way, the main charity that my company supports, but our office wanted to do something during the holidays to give back to the community.  This is the first year we have done this in my 5 years, so I was really excited to be a part of it.

We decided on "Adopt a Family" an organization in Cleveland where people apply to have their family adopted for gifts for the holidays. They help out in the community all year long - gathering donations of furniture, food, clothes, books, etc. It is a great organization that really touches a lot of people in Cleveland who need the help.

We chose to adopt 2 families. Our two families ended up being related - 2 single mothers who were cousins, one with 3 kids and the other with 4. The one family had lost their home due to a house fire a few months back, so they were all living together. The families submitted their "wish list" and we got to work raising money and creating our Giving Tree so that people in the office could pick gifts to purchase for the families.

About a week ago, as we were wrapping everything up, I heard someone at the office making a comment about how ridiculous it was that we were helping these people who weren't doing anything to help themselves. I was absolutely disgusted! Keep in mind that we don't know anything about these people except for their ages and the little bit of information I already wrote - that they were cousins and they lived together due to a house fire. I wanted to say something to this person so bad, but I didn't want to cause unnecessary drama at work.

As I was driving home from work, I couldn't stop thinking about what the person had said. The more I thought about it, I could kind of understand where the person was coming from. These are two young women - both in the early 20's, both with more kids than they can take care of, asking for the public for assistance. Some of the gifts on the list were a little questionable - Ipods and electronics - more wants than needs. I almost started to find myself agreeing with the person... Almost...

At the end of the day, I don't know these women. I don't know what their circumstances are or what brought them to this point of needing assistance. What I do know is that there were 7 children who were not going to have much of a Christmas because their mothers couldn't afford it. They were going to wake up on Christmas with no gifts under the tree. Regardless of what their mothers should be or could be doing or aren't doing, those kids deserve a nice Christmas. It isn't their fault that they are in the situation that they are. When I was growing up, there were many years when there were no Christmas gifts under the tree for us and I remember crying and wondering why Santa didn't stop at my house. I was too young to understand that my parents couldn't afford gifts - I just thought it was because I had done something wrong. I don't want any kids to feel that way.

We delivered the gifts today, completely filling the living room of the small home that housed all 9 people. Our gifts were met with tears, thanks and hugs. It made me feel really good to be a part of something so special. It makes my heart happy to know that when I am opening presents on Christmas morning, there will be 7 kids opening their gifts from "Santa" as well. They will be smiling and joyful. That is what Christmas is about.