These photos were taken by and provided for our use by Peg Flood. They provide a good insight in what it is we do.
Our Christmas begins with a call for help. A family will find itself near financial ruin. Someone has fallen ill or has had an accident, and every asset a family has at hand is put into making that person better. It is debilitating when a child is ill, but devastating when it is a parent or the bread winner is taken ill. Fires happen, as does floods, job loss and other catastrophes. We can't pay a person's rent or mortgage, but we can free up a family's resources by providing help with food, clothing, or other needs. We draw on resources donated by others, break them down by need and place them where they are needed most. We do most of this work at Christmas time.
First we pick out our facilities, which are donated, and clean them up. This year we had two small rooms. In one we sorted clothing and other Christmas gifts. In the second we sorted food from all of our canned food drives. We also stored a number of toys there as well.
Asked what we will take in donations, I explain that if a normal family uses something in a given week, we can use it as well. This means food, clothing, laundry detergent, toilet paper, shampoo, tooth paste, paper towels, dish soap, cleaning supplies. You name it, we can probably use it. Many of the photos are of people working, sorting and packing, clothing, food and gifts, as well as all the other items listed above.
Once resources are assigned to a family and packed, we move out. Our first delivery takes place on the second or third Saturday each December. This year delivery began on December 15th. Above are photos of volunteers as they form a chain of cars, and travel from one home to another, delivering Christmas cheer.
A very big thank you to Peg for use of the photos.
