B.A.S.I.C.ally Mammas on a Mission

This year our Mammas on a Mission group along with our Pappas volunteered at the B.A.S.I.C. Christmas Party. Via the coffee social we solicited volunteers and toys to be donated. Needless to say, there was a wonderful response.

Toys donated by the StoneRidge community.

The party was on December 6th from 1-4pm. Judy, Bill and Jim started setting up the Friday before. The rest of us arrived at noon to get the food and drinks set up. Gabe & Chef Steve made chili, and others brought desserts. Combined with the annual attendees from the Blanchard community there wasn't going to be a shortage of food.

Sue with Barb

It appeared that there were mostly adults until about 3pm which is when Santa was to arrive.

Gabe, Chef Steve, Carol & Dennis, Susan & David, Sue & Bill, Ken & Harlene, Patty and myself attended.

Each child was able to sit on Santa's lap, then pick 3 toys. 1 hand held, 1 stuffed animal and then a boy's or girl's gift.

I was helping out getting names and phone numbers of the kids so we could get a picture of them with Santa to their families. I still get teary-eyed thinking about the reactions from those kids. Some of these families are very poor, so this could very possibly have been the only Christmas gifts these kids would get.

One little girl was sitting on Santa's lap when her father asked her why she wasn't talking to Santa? She said, "I'm so excited to see him, I forgot what I wanted. This is the most exciting thing in my life!" and with that she just turned and hugged Santa one more time.

Because I was working with one of the B.A.S.I.C. ladies, I was made privy to some background of our "Santas". As it turned out the 2009 Santa was a novice. He was replacing a gentleman who took the role every year the past 30 years. Unfortunately, he was suffering from Alzheimer's and wasn't able to continue. I was told that last year he cried the whole time, somewhere in his consciousness he knew that he wouldn't be coming back again. The ladies had to tell the kids that Santa was just very happy to see them as a reason for his tears.

Our new Santa was incredibly nervous in his new role causing him a couple of sleepless nights prior to the party. But he did very well and is looking forward to continuing each year. By the end of the afternoon about 40 children and 20 adults had their pictures taken with Santa.

To be sure I will be a part of next years party.

I just recently received an email that had been forwarded from Chris who is a member of BASIC. It reads:

"Below find an excerpt from a recent grant that BASIC applied for. We were asked to tell a story about our experiences relevant to the grant (we are applying for meal site funding and kitchen completion). I thought you might be interested ;-]...

Chris

"BASIC offers a free Christmas party every year at the Center. We cater food made by volunteers, distribute toys and provide photos with Santa. This year we partnered with volunteers from nearby StoneRidge Golf and Recreational Community. This not only gave us more volunteer power and food, but, it also added financial support for toy purchases. It brought us closer together as a "common" "unity". It further highlighted the diversity of needs that we all have and the joy found in giving and receiving. The new volunteers were emotionally touched and vowed to offer their resources again. They shared the story about one gentleman who thanked them "with a tear in his eye" because feeding his family had been especially difficult this year. The toys were a bonus and so was the involvement of StoneRidge."

This is the kind of thing that makes our community so special and we should be proud that we have a part in making so.

If I have forgotten anyone, please email mammasonamission@gmail.com and I can correct the error.