Giving spirit: Alive and well in county

BY REGGE EPISALE
Correspondent

Interfaith of Susquehanna County and many other businesses and organizations gathered at the Montrose Bible Conference on Thursday, Dec. 17, to distribute food and Christmas gifts to families in need.

Members of the Kiwanis Club were directing traffic, TREHAB Transportation was bringing individuals to collect food and gift bags, Montrose High School student council and Key Club members were busy helping find packages and carrying them to vehicles, and members of the Women in Shale Energy, Lackawanna College, were helping with everything from coffee to finding bags and boxes.

Cindy Beeman, Executive Director of Susquehanna County Interfaith, said the Women in Shale Energy have been working with Interfaith not only on the giveaway day, but all week long, organizing food and gifts.

Business, clubs, churches, schools, veterans organizations, and individuals all pulled together to make Christmas brighter and better for the county. Many went above and beyond.

Montrose Motors had a Giving Tree at their business. At the end of the toy drive, their employees filled all of the gifts on the tree that hadn’t been taken and filled by customers.

Many companies and individuals provided Christmas for whole families who are in dire straits due to unforeseen emergencies and circumstances.

Beeman gave an example of a grandmother who suddenly became the guardian of not one, but eight grandchildren. She didn’t know how to provide Christmas on such short notice and Interfaith was able to help.

When whole families are adopted, each family member receives a gift, not just the children. One man told Beeman that he was surprised and pleased to be included. He said he hadn’t received a Christmas gift in over 15 years.

This year over $30,000 was collected through multiple sources. Over $15,000 immediately went to fill food baskets and the rest went to purchase Christmas gifts that hadn’t been filled through the Giving Trees and to cover late applicants who are facing emergency situations such as fire, death, or illness.

“You can’t have one child receive a requested gift that cost $25 and give another child a $1 gift because no one chose that card off a Giving Tree. It makes it too hard for the family,” Beeman said.

Beeman would like the program to expand county wide. Many areas aren’t aware of the need or how to donate. She believes the best way would be to have more and more businesses have Giving Trees where clients can take a gift tag off a tree and buy that gift for an individual.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to fulfill a child’s Christmas wish. There are always tags on the tree for items that cost very little. “Every time I see the $5 and $10 gift come in, it brings tears to my eyes,” Beeman says. “I know they are giving not because they have excess, but through the generosity of their heart.”

So, with many giving a little, our community has received a lot this Christmas season.

Thank you, Susquehanna County. You took the “bah-humbug” out of this writer’s heart.