The Yadkin Ripple reports on one mother whose making a difference:
Tammy Hazelwood holds her son, Joshua as an unidentified family member holds his hand.
Leanne Cloudman, Staff reporter, Yadkin Ripple, lcloudman@yadkinripple.com
Occasionally, one has the opportunity to meet an individual who has no idea how important his or her existence is to the rest of the community.
Eight-year old Joshua Hazelwood is just such a person.
Josh goes through life mostly happy and completely oblivious to the effect his life has had on others, especially his mother, Tammy Hazelwood. Josh is very special, as he was born with Down's Syndrome.
Because Josh has special needs, his mom had to take him out of public school; he is in home school now and attends a special rehab program at Comp Rehab.
Early in December, because of Josh, Tammy Hazelwood decided she would do what she could to help what she believed was a seriously underserved portion of the Yadkin County population. Special needs families are close to Tammy's heart for obvious reasons and she has proven how big that heart is.
"There were so many special needs families that weren't going to have a Christmas," said Hazelwood. "I felt God led me to do something."
Through a person who has asked to remain anonymous, Hazelwood began collecting information on families who needed her help.
Josh and his mom approached any business they were told might be receptive and some they just walked in and asked.
"They have been so good to help," Hazelwood said. "I just don't know how to thank them."
Hazelwood donated her time and gas and would be glad to do it again. "I wish I was a millionaire so that I could help everyone."
Though some have called Tammy Hazelwood an angel, she refutes this.
"Josh is the angel," she said. "He's my guardian angel. Without him, who knows what I'd be."
She has been asked what she gets out of doing all this.
"God sent me Josh and now through him and the people he led me to meet, I've been shown the true meaning of Christmas."
Businesses that assisted
Businesses that helped with finding Christmas for these special need families included:
* American General of Jonesville and Yadkinville
* Dobson Cleaners
* Judy Bingman of Elkin
* Dacia Goldman of Comp Rehab
* Dollar General in Boonville
* Dr. Kevin and Tondra Walker
* H&J Diamonds Inc.
* Food Lion of Yadkin
* Yadkin Drugs.
* Several others chose to remain anonymous.
Editor's note: The families who received gifts and food through this effort have asked to remain anonymous.
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