By Deb Keithley, Chronicle-Herald, Wed Dec 03, 2008, 10:50 AM CST
MACON - The Macon County Ministries group has worked for many years to bring the spirit of the holidays to families that may not be able to enjoy the season because of financial difficulties.
After 12 years as the Helping Hands at Christmas coordinator Ruth Kitchen has turned the job over to Debbie Hartung and her sister Cheryl Carlson.
Ruth’s husband retired on Nov. 1, and she wanted to have more time to spend with him and enjoy other family activities.
“Working with Helping Hands for so many years was a very rewarding experience for me,” said Ruth. “I have enjoyed seeing so many people get involved with helping others.”
“More than once in the past 12 years I have seen a family that was helped through a difficult time the previous Christmas give a donation the next year to help some other struggling family.” she said.
Over the years Ruth has also seen an increased number of family groups limit their gifts to each other and adopt a Helping Hands family instead.
“I know of one family where the men stay home and watch football on television while the women go shopping for gifts and clothing for their adopted family,” she said.
In her first year as a Helping Hands coordinator Debbie has also seen families or organizations join together to help others.
“Some clubs adopt a family or make a donation instead of exchanging gifts,” Debbie said.
“People get a good feeling knowing that they are helping others,” she said. “The need is so great this year, with the increased costs of food, utilities and fuel and with so many people facing layoffs or a reduction in hours they work.”
Helping Hands currently has 96 Macon County families requesting help. Only 75 of the families have been adopted to date. There is also a waiting list.
Families are referred to Helping Hands by NECAC, Head Start, Division of Family Services or sometimes by a minister or teacher.
Many of the families are struggling to meet basic needs due to illness, minimal salaries, personal problems, accidents or, job layoffs.
After referral, a family fills out paperwork for sizes of clothing needed, if they would like to receive a food basket, and if they need to visit the Santa Shop for children in the family.
The Santa Shop is coordinated by Sandy Coons and will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church on Sat. Dec 13.
Those who obtain vouchers for a visit to the Santa Shop are able to select age appropriate toys for the children in their family.
Toys are needed for 233 children this year.
Anyone wanting to make donations of new or gently used toys may still do so until Dec. 10. Collection boxes are available at Macon County banks, Sutton Ford or Dollar General.
“We have more families than last year needing help and more on a waiting list,” said Debbie.
“Our monetary donations have been coming in steadily, but with Christmas time drawing near we are hoping that the other families on our list can be adopted soon.”
To adopt a Helping Hands family you may call Debbie at 660-385-4156.
Debbie says that she has spent about five hours weekly since the last of September in preparation for Helping Hands.
In addition, she also volunteers at the Better Living Center located at 106 Vine Street. The center is staffed by the Seventh Day Adventist Church and contains clothing, shoes and household items that are available free of charge to those who need them.
Debbie said that recently a family with several children came to the center. The oldest child was a boy about 10-years-old. He was wearing a pair of old tennis shoes that were too small and barely holding together. After making sure that his siblings and mom all had found selections for themselves he found a pair of shoes with assistance from the volunteers. After putting them on, he asked if there was a restroom he could use.
“He took his old shoes with him and when asked about it he told us that he wanted to clean them up a little and leave them at the center in case some other little boy needed shoes and could wear them,” said Debbie. “I was really choking back the tears to think that even though he was in need himself, he was still thinking of others.”
“The need in our community is great and it continues throughout the year, long past the holiday season. We all just have to get up and do something to make a difference.”
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