If you’re lucky, you’ve probably had the same feelings of guilt that I tend to get this time of year.
If you’re lucky, you’ve probably reviewed your Christmas shopping list and wondered not whether you’ve done enough for your friends and family, but whether you’ve done too much.
Way too much.
The reason you wonder if you’ve done too much is because you’re lucky enough to be in the position to do too much. You know that for many folks, wondering if they’ve done too much for their friends and family isn’t an issue. For many folks, the issue is if they will be able to do anything at all for friends and families.
I didn’t grow up in an affluent household, but we were comfortable and we never had to worry about not getting gifts for Christmas. But, with seven kids, it’s fair to say that my parents never went overboard. I never got a pony, for example, but when I was in sixth grade I did get one of those electronic, vibrating football games.
Remember those?
It came with a metal football field and little plastic football men. What you did was spend 20 minutes setting up the offensive football players so they would run a complicated play and then you spent 20 minutes setting up the defensive football players in a complicated defensive scheme to thwart the complicated offensive play. Then you turned the game on and the field shook and the players would all begin to move. Normally what would happen is the players would get hooked up together and spin around in circles until it was time for supper.
I loved that game and I still remember how excited I was when I got it for Christmas. That feeling is one all kids should know at least once in their life. People such as Paula Mitchell understand that excited feeling and work very hard to see to it that as many children as possible get a chance to experience that feeling.
I wrote about Paula a couple of weeks ago. Paula is the assistant coordinator for the Jasper/Newton County chapter of the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. This is the fourth year the organization has been operating in Jasper and Newton counties. Paula said last year that Toys for Tots handed out 6,000 new toys to kids and teenagers in the area.
I think that’s something.
The thing is the local Toys for Tots group operates on a shoestring budget, mainly getting by on help from generous folks in the area who share a desire to help out kids who might otherwise be forgotten at Christmas. I think one of the reasons folks like to help out Toys for Tots is because they know that all the money donated to the organization is only used for toys. The only way money can be used for expenses such as wrapping paper, tape, batteries or gas money for volunteers who use their own cars collecting toys is if the donor specifically designates that money be used for something other than toys.
The most important need right now is toys, Paula said. To that end the organization has scheduled three toy drives on Saturday. Volunteers will staff toy collection sites at three Walgreens Drug Stores at various times during the day.
From 9 a.m. until noon, volunteers will be at the store at 2001 S. Range Line Road; from noon until 3 p.m., they will be at the store at 2001 S. Main St.; and from 3 to at least 6 p.m., they will be at the store at 1605 W. Seventh St.
The volunteers will be accepting new, unwrapped toys for infants all the way up to 18-year-olds. They will also accept cash donations and donated wrapping paper, batteries and tape.
If you can, think about dropping by one of the stores Saturday and giving a kid a shot at that excited Christmas feeling. Who knows, if you do, you might even share in that feeling.
Local News
Mike Pound: Toys for Tots spread Christmas excitement
- Local News
-
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
As Jean Stratton-Bird made her way into the war memorial room at the Old McDonald County Courthouse on Thursday, she came face to face with the memories of her brother Eldon E. Stratton, who was lost in battle in 1943 during War World II. “He is finally home,” Stratton-Bird said.
-
Murder warrant issued in fatal domestic shooting
Police believe Doyle Handle shot himself after fatally shooting Dena Davenport during a domestic disturbance Thursday night at their residence in Grove. Officers responded to a 6:55 p.m. report of a shooting at the couple’s home on Wood Street on the southwest side of Grove and found Handle, 52, in the front yard with a gunshot wound to his jaw.
-
Local lawmakers review session accomplishments
Joplin area lawmakers cited accomplishments and disappointments in the just-concluded Missouri legislative session during a brunch Friday sponsored by the Neosho Chamber of Commerce. Measures benefiting veterans issues were addressed in the session that ended a week ago, along with work force and labor issues, lawmakers said.
-
Diamond High School band prepares for Liberty Bowl
Classes were winding down last week at Diamond High School, but not for members of the marching band. Instead, they dug out some new music and began their first rehearsals in preparation for their next major appearance — the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn.
-
Area pools ready for plunge; Schifferdecker opening still to be announced
Though this week’s mild temperatures may not signal swim season, most area pools are ready anyway. And, the mercury should rise a little this weekend to help those anxious to dive in. Highs will be in the low 80s today and Sunday. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms on Monday, but the thermometer should hit 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Joplin School Board decision could take up to two weeks; Turner remains on paid leave
It could take up two weeks for the Joplin Board of Education to decide whether Randy Turner’s teaching contract should be terminated, the school district’s attorney, John Nicholas, said Friday.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Events, activities planned to honor veterans Monday
No ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Oklahoma gets far more than its share of disasters
Many states get hit frequently with tornadoes and other natural catastrophes, but Oklahoma is Disaster Central.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
