~"Volunteers make every effort to deliver all of the holiday baskets and toys on Wednesday"
Tomorrow is Christmas Day. Well, actually not according to the calendar but it will be for around 300 Sikeston families who will receive a visit from Santa Claus tomorrow. That's the day deliveries are made for the annual Community Christmas Campaign.
If you're reading this and have time to volunteer for delivery work, Santa will begin his deliveries around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Just call the newspaper office for details.
Volunteers make every effort to deliver all of the holiday baskets and toys on Wednesday. Since all of the cases are referred to the campaign, many families don't know they will be receiving a basket. But volunteers return time and time again to homes to assure that the baskets reach their rightful destination. It's no small project.
It would be impossible to thank all of the volunteers and donors who make this campaign possible. Donations this week have arrived (or will shortly) from the First Baptist Church Living Christmas Tree, from junior high students who sponsored a charity dance with proceeds going to the campaign, from the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Sikeston and from the Rotary Club. Those donations join the dozens of other organizations and hundreds of individuals who have helped assure holiday cheer for the less fortunate this year.
Sometimes, to be real honest, we wonder if our efforts are worthwhile. It's hectic to say the least. And unfortunately, not all recipients are as grateful as you would like. Maybe that's just human nature. Let's face it - the season puts pressure on everyone. Holiday cheer is indeed abundant but not necessarily universal. We try nonetheless.
To Tim and Susan and Steve and Randy - Santa is watching. He knows you've been very good this year. And to the dozens of other volunteers, our hearts and our thanks go out to you.
Our goal with this campaign is to some day not have anyone in need in this community and for this campaign to die for lack of need. That day is not in the foreseeable future. So until then, Santa will make his rounds tomorrow thanks to the generosity and concern of Sikeston residents.
And yes indeed - there is a Santa.