Volunteer work....

[Warped9]

A week and a half ago I finally managed to place our store Christmas tree which we cannot use and haven't used for two years. I found a home for it at the local facility that helps feed the homeless and folks living on the margins. It seems they would also appreciate a visit from an old-fashioned Santa and so I'll be there on December 14th for their annual Christmas dinner and to help out with things as well as handing out small gifts and treats.

Today I finally made contact with a woman who runs the local shelter for abused women and their kids and they, too, would like a special evening or afternoon for their residents and staff who could otherwise be facing a rather less-than-cheery Christmas. So we're arranging a date when Santa will vista with some treats, small gifts, holiday cheer and perhaps a reading of T'was The Night Before Christmas and Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus. I'm told they've never had anything like this before and are quite excited at the prospect and really appreciate the offer for me to do it. These were actually the first people I called about our store Christmas Tree, but they didn't have the room for it (it's twelve feet high). That said I will try to also make some sort of donation beside my time for each of them. And a coworker of mine says she can arrange small gifts for the kids.

This is beyond appearing at work and some other locales as well as around my neighbourhood.

Trying to do my part to spread some holiday cheer.

 

[An Officer]

That's a beautiful thing. Well done!

 

[Warped9]

Since I started doing this four years ago it has brought back a lot of magic that I felt had evaporated for me over the years. I still liked Christmas, but I also felt somewhat cynical. Donning the suit seemed to awaken something in me and rather than just bemoaning about what seemed to be missing in Christmas I became more proactive in just doing my part to make it happen.

On a side note. I always enjoy watching the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. But presently I'm actually reading the original book, something I've missed doing all these years. It's a pleasant eye opener since even the 1951 film departs in some measure from the original text. That said I can't recall any filmed version that followed the original book in all faithfulness.

But reading the book seems to affirm much of the rediscovered meaning and magic that I once thought was slipping away. I'm rediscovering that Christmas doesn't have to be just for kids.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Now that's some of what Christmas is about!

 

[Warped9]

Yesterday I went to the local police station to pick up forms for a criminal background check. This is required because I'm volunteering for a facility that helps vulnerable women and children. I dropped off the forms this afternoon and they told me my clearance would be ready next week.