Written by Heather Hymas
I am sure you are aware if you use Facebook at all, that there is a group to join for just about anything you can think of doing. Some are business oriented, some are just for fun, some are to connect with like minds, and some are used for the greater good. One such group here locally is called Mom’s Helping Mom’s.
It’s an exchange group that is here to help families in need. I joined the group some time ago thinking it was a good cause and something I could both benefit from and also maybe help other moms through. I thought I could donate items I do not need any more to someone who does, and found it is also to be a great place to post questions and receive support.
This month, watching the activity within the group, I have been able to witness a Christmas Miracle.
One of the group’s members, Sabrina, had a vision of helping as many families as she could for the holidays. She asked the administrator of the group if she could create an event so that people who needed help this Christmas and people who wanted to help others, could join. They called it the Christmas Wish List and everyone in the group was invited.
She had an overwhelming response of people who wanted to be a part of her Christmas vision. When asked how many people volunteered to give donations Sabrina said, “We had too many to count. There were 12 families that someone adopted and bought gifts for everyone on their list, and then there were 13 other families that we took donations for and were able to purchase gifts for them.”
Donations ranged from large to small, new and gently used. Sabrina also stated that many of the families receiving gifts donated their own gently used clothes or toys to give to someone else. This truly an example of paying it forward.
Jane volunteered her home to be the drop off point for all of the donations, and her and her daughter spent the time to sort and get the gifts ready to be delivered. Sabrina’s employer even donated $250 in cash to help out, and that money was used to buy gifts for the families that did not get adopted.
Sabrina explained her inspiration like this, “These moms groups are awesome. They help each other out all year long. I just saw people posting on how they needed anything anyone could give them for their kids for Christmas, and I thought if I could just get this organized and get a list of those in need and find people to help, I knew we could get everyone, and sure enough we did!” In the end, over 25 families were helped to receive the miracle of Christmas, but I believe the true gift was for the people who were able to donate their time or a monetary donation. The gift we receive ourselves, in giving to others, far outweighs the cost of any donation; it is priceless.
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