How Christmas Happened

There is no secret as to "how Christmas happened" for 39 children and 11 adults.  It's a smattering of volunteers and kind people who give of their time and treasure to help others.

This is my mother.  She is surrounded by gifts and looking like Mrs. Claus because she (along with a number of other volunteers that are called the Nicole Sellers Safe Family Christmas Committee) dedicated their time and energy to providing Christmas gifts to 50 adults and children this holiday season.  

Pam Nevins preparing to deliver Christmas gifts!

Phew!  It's a tough job but somebody has to do it!  

Well…actually that's not true.  No one really has to do it.  

We are fortunate to have a team of people who want to do it.  

 Gift Giving Trees

This 'Christmas Committee' was formed in the spirit of Nicole Sellers who left this earth too early and dedicated her short life to helping children.  This incredible committee consists of Nicole's mother, sister and sister-in-law: Priscilla, Dawn and Vanessa Sellers as well as Jill Keller, Cherie Ritz, Teri Weiss and Pam Nevins (aka Mrs. Claus).  These ladies made adorable trees and acquired all of the names, ages, sizes and requests for each of the families Safe Families has served in the past year, then partnered with 3 local churches and 1 credit union to provide gifts for our families.  These ladies are awesome and we are so VERY thankful for their hearts and their help!  They also made these sweet little trees to display at our partner churches which included Fall Creek Christian, Ovid Community Church and Markleville North Christian Church.

Gift Giving Trees

One such family that was blessed this year was a single mom raising a new baby and 2 young boys on her own.  This mom is starting her life fresh and moved into a new but tiny apartment just a few weeks before Christmas.  Having hardly any furniture to speak of and a 40+ work week didn't leave much time or resources to provide gifts for her children this Christmas.  Along with gifts for herself and each of her children, she was also provided with some furniture, clothing donations, and two tubs full of household items thanks to the Christmas Committee and a random bunch of people who volunteered their time, their trucks, their resources and their hearts to our families in need.

This year our Christmas Committee got some extra help rounding up all those presents.  Safe Families was fortunate to be contacted by the Independent Federal Credit Union in Anderson, asking if they could adopt some of our families for Christmas this year.  

Why, yes!  Yes you can!

Annie is a single mother working full time to support her 5 children.  The space between the bottom of her Christmas tree and her living room floor won't be so empty this year, thanks to our friends at Independent Federal Credit Union in Anderson.  IFCU sponsored three of our families this year, bringing an incredible amount of joy to these kids whose every day lives are a struggle.  After Christmas, Annie said "They absolutely adored the gifts.  Thank you all so much!"

Bobbi, Rita, Carol and many others at IFCU shopped, bought and wrapped gifts for 14 children and 4 adults this year.  This was a huge blessing, thank you for all your help IFCU!

The employees at IFCU, Anderson

That is how Christmas happened for our families in Madison County.  Is God good to us or what?  

Actually, there's one more really great story I have to share with you.  It involves a Grandmother, a 5 year old and cans.

The Friday before Christmas, a friend of mine called saying he had some good news.  I will call this person Jason Kistler in order to not protect his identity.  Jason then proceeded to tell me this story:

"My son and I were in a store, and he was wanting every toy in the store, like any 5 year old kid.  I tried to explain to him that some kids didn't get a lot of stuff for Christmas.  So he and I decided to do a fundraiser.  We collected cans and scrap metal from around town and I'm really happy to say we got over $500 in donations.  So… now we're looking for a family.  My son would really like to pick out some gifts for 1 or 2 boys and deliver them himself.  I really want him to understand that not every kid has all the things that he has.  Do you know of anyone we can help out this Christmas?"

I was so so so touched by this story.  I quickly thought of a family that would be a great fit; a family consisting of 3 children ages 6, 5 and 3 who are raised full time by their weary Grandmother.

The Tuesday before Christmas this little guy hand delivered a trunk FULL of gifts to all three of these kids.  

Hudson Kistler

Hudson's family and the 3 kids!

This Grandmother responded so sweetly saying, "I can't believe that total strangers got me gifts too…Hudson has a wonderful family.  Thank you so very much."

And THAT is how Christmas happened for our families in Madison County.  It happened the same way everything else happens -- by people stepping forward to help people.  

Thank you to our incredible Christmas Committee, Independent Federal Credit Union, and the families that stepped forward to help other families directly.  Our families were doubly blessed this Christmas!  I can't think of a better way to show others that they are loved and cared for by a good God in heaven, than showing tangible love from God's people on the birthday of the One who showed us how to love in the most excellent way.