For Maria, the photo taken of her children with Santa by Marilyn
and Dick Howell is the only family photo that was taken last year.
Tears fill her eyes as she looks at the precious photo of her son
Jesus and daughter Hannah.
For Maria, the photo taken of her children with Santa by Marilyn and Dick Howell is the only family photo that was taken last year. Tears fill her eyes as she looks at the precious photo of her son Jesus and daughter Hannah.
“There just isn’t money for such luxuries,” she tells me. “But I will keep this photo of our family.”
This year, others will come for a photo with Santa, unable to afford any other photos at Christmas, and the Howell family will give them their photo for free. Each year something truly magical happens in Gilroy, something called Christmas Sharing Day. Imagine a project where the California Highway Patrol gives away jackets and the Mercury News donates more than 3,000 books to homeless, low-income, and migrant children. Imagine a Catholic priest handing a Christmas food box out to a hungry family, side by side with a Presbyterian decorating a Christmas tree, and a South Valley Church member translating directions into Spanish. Imagine a project that provides Christmas for more than 500 families in a little more than five hours.
In a model of how peace on earth should look, imagine an event in which Catholics work hand in hand with Baptists, fundamentalists with non-fundamentalists, and conservatives with liberals. Individual differences in belief and style of serving the same God don’t matter. What does matter are the months of preparation getting everything ready for those who will come searching for the meaning of Christmas this Saturday at Gilroy’s First Baptist Church.
All year St. Joseph’s Family Center, the largest independent outreach agency in South County, collects what is needed for the Christmas Sharing Day. St. Joseph’s is comprised of the efforts of many community organizations and members who care enough to volunteer to donate time and goods to help those less fortunate than themselves.
Jacqui Merriman of St. Joseph’s said it best: “We all work hard to get his work done. It blends all ages, it blends all races, it blends all beliefs into one common goal.”
On Christmas Sharing Day, the CHP volunteers to give rides to people without transportation have a way to get their Christmas boxes home. New Hope Community Church coordinates youth and materials needed for gift wrapping and clean-up. First Baptist Church is responsible for overseeing the organization and boxing of toys. South Valley Disposal donates trucks, trash containers, and cardboard bins. Gilroy Presbyterian Church makes meals and coordinates the book drive. Unfortunately, this year book donations in Gilroy were lower than last year, but St. Mary’s School came through and did an awesome job of collecting books in our community.
When the children come in on Saturday and discover the exciting book display that has been set up by volunteers, you will see their eyes light up as they want to immediately sit down and start reading.
This Saturday, Dec. 18 (from 8am to 1pm), at the First Baptist Church on 8455 Wren Ave., volunteers are needed to help hand out items, wrap gifts, translate, or clean up afterwards. Come and see the faces of children light up as they discover the generosity of others. You are invited to look into their eyes, and rediscover the true spirit of Christmas.
Call 842-6662 for more information.
