A Special Volunteer. . .
For the past four years this special voluteer, a retired man, has helped the Salvation Army here with its Christmas hampers and toy center. For three weeks during Christmas he comes to the church to help from 8:30 to 4:30 each day. This man is not Salvation Army, he is someone from the community but he has a special story and he shared it with me today as he said his Good-Byes to me. (I just thought he was the Santa Claus Incarnate).
Well this is his story:) In the 1930s his grandparents moved here from the USA. Once they arrived his grandparents were having a hard time. His grandparents were not well off, they were struggling financially. Christmas was approaching and the grandparents knew that their kids would not have an enjoyable Christmas: they could not afford to buy anything for them. On Christmas Eve, they had a surprise knock come on their door. When they answered it was THe Salvation Army with a hamper and a few items for the kids. Somehow the Salvation Army had become aware of the Families situation and helped the family. The family was very thankful especially the kids. The kids remembered it and told their children.
As this special volunteer was growing up after hearing this story from his parents and grandparents, he realized the importance of helping others. From a very young age, this man would save all of his spare change throughout the year and when Christmas time came he would find a KETTLE and put his change in it. He learned the importance of giving and he has been that way ever since.
When he retired four years ago, he decided that it was time to volunteer with The Salvation Army for its Christmas Campaign and so for the past four years he has been there to volunteer. He said he loves to fill the toy bags with as much as possible to make all the kids happy. And something I have heard him say repeatedly... "Christmas is for the kids. Whatever I can do, I will do."
I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to meet this special volunteer.
May we have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of Christ!
God Bless,
Rebecca
For the past four years this special voluteer, a retired man, has helped the Salvation Army here with its Christmas hampers and toy center. For three weeks during Christmas he comes to the church to help from 8:30 to 4:30 each day. This man is not Salvation Army, he is someone from the community but he has a special story and he shared it with me today as he said his Good-Byes to me. (I just thought he was the Santa Claus Incarnate).
Well this is his story:) In the 1930s his grandparents moved here from the USA. Once they arrived his grandparents were having a hard time. His grandparents were not well off, they were struggling financially. Christmas was approaching and the grandparents knew that their kids would not have an enjoyable Christmas: they could not afford to buy anything for them. On Christmas Eve, they had a surprise knock come on their door. When they answered it was THe Salvation Army with a hamper and a few items for the kids. Somehow the Salvation Army had become aware of the Families situation and helped the family. The family was very thankful especially the kids. The kids remembered it and told their children.
As this special volunteer was growing up after hearing this story from his parents and grandparents, he realized the importance of helping others. From a very young age, this man would save all of his spare change throughout the year and when Christmas time came he would find a KETTLE and put his change in it. He learned the importance of giving and he has been that way ever since.
When he retired four years ago, he decided that it was time to volunteer with The Salvation Army for its Christmas Campaign and so for the past four years he has been there to volunteer. He said he loves to fill the toy bags with as much as possible to make all the kids happy. And something I have heard him say repeatedly... "Christmas is for the kids. Whatever I can do, I will do."
I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to meet this special volunteer.
May we have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of Christ!
God Bless,
Rebecca
posted by Rebecca @ 5:00 PM
1 Comments:
At 8:28 PM,
Anonymous said…
That is really cool! I met him there last year and just figured, like you, that he was Santa incarnate :) What a great story that is!
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