How did you find out there was no Santa?
Who says there is no Santa? While there might not be a Jolly little fat man with a white beard and a red suit, the spirit of Santa none the less lives in everyone of us. My wife is a volunteer Social Ministries director of a small Mission outside of town in a "Financialy depressed" neighborhood. Each year we have been able to supply a nice Christmas to many children who would otherwise have nothing. The money for this comes from donations through churches within the area and from individuals who know of the needs of these people and who know of our work there. Each year we hunt through the "After Christmas sales" for bargains to use for the next year and store them at the mission. Last year my wife and daughter went shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving sales and stayed out all night. They had to return home a couple of times during the night to unload her truck so they could go back and get more bargains for the kids. If it were not for the spirit of Santa in every one of us this would not be possible to do year after year. I could go on with this forever about the good things I have seen in the past few years while we have been doing this, but I dont want this post to get too long and boring. But I do have one short memory that will be with me forever. While delivering food baskets 3 years ago my son knocked on the door of one of the homes that some one called about needing food. A very old little lady answered and thanked my son many times over and said that she was wondering what she would have to eat that night as she had no food. When he returned to the Mission to pick up more food baskets to deliver he told my wife about this. When I returned to reload my truck she told me about it. When we were done we took several more of the donated whole chickens and several more bags of canned goods and returned to this ladys house. When she opened the door you could smell the chicken boiling. "Santa" had visited a little early this year. So dont tell me there is no Santa. Santa is alive and well and living in everyone. During this holiday season let a little bit of Santa come out in you and volunteer a little bit of time or money to a local charity. Better yet, if you want a really rewarding experience, find a needy family through your church or other organization. Contact them and take them shopping for their kids. You will be glad you did.
If any one would like to see them I have several before and after pictures of our food pantry and of "Santas Workshop" at the mission from last year.
Don
