A time to think about others

It’s Christmas morning, and thanks to hundreds of volunteers and dozens of organizations, there will be smiling faces and joyous laughter in virtually every home in Forsyth County on this special day.

The parents of 2,000 children who might not otherwise be able to provide much of a Christmas for their youngsters will be able to give gifts of toys and bikes, clothes and gift cards without the kids having to know where they came from.

I visited the Holiday House, where parents identified by social workers as needing assistance can go to pick out gifts for their children. It’s done with great sensitivity to ensure people keep their dignity intact. Parents visit Holiday House by appointment only so that a lot of the anguish and embarrassment of not being able to afford gifts on their own can be avoided. Located at Freedom Tabernacle Church in about a dozen old classrooms, each room is set up for girls or boys by age group. And each of those rooms is brimming with new toys donated by generous people and dropped off at fire stations, libraries and other locales around the county.

Forsyth County firefighter Jeffrey Lyons coordinates the toy program for his department. It’s obvious he cherishes being part of it. “This is a way that I can give back,” he said.

The Place of Forsyth is the social service agency coordinating the program by helping to identify families in need while also providing volunteers and serving as the clearinghouse for donations of money and toys.

Naomi Byrne, who has worked for The Place for about a year, loves helping children. “I can just only imagine the faces of all those kids that have Christmas and feel like they have what everybody else does,” she said.

Similarly, Wendy Goodrow, a longtime volunteer views it like this: “I am 100 percent positive that families who visit here will have the same joy at Christmas as I do.”

From a personal perspective I am encouraged to know that the toys my family and others donate in order to help the underprivileged enjoy this special day are distributed with such dedication and genuine concern for the self-respect of the recipients.

Freedom Tabernacle Youth Pastor Jonathan Bennett, speaking of the recipients, said, “We’re the ones who receive more of a blessing than they do.”

On this wonderful day for giving, Merry Christmas to all of you with a special nod those who help our needy neighbors.