Monday, December 28, 2009

Can you help me pick out the warmest gloves?

The St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Catholic Herald collaborate to operate a Kids Caps and Mitten Drive each year. This year hundreds of children received hats, mittens, and gloves. Thank you to the many generous donors. Donations are still coming in so we don’t have a final count.
I was looking forward to volunteering at one of St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Christmas events. My job was going to be helping to pass out the gloves and mittens. I arrived early. Watching the party, my heart filled with Christmas spirit marveling at the generosity of SVdP volunteers. I admit I was thinking about all the things I had left to do.
St. Jude’s group in Wauwatosa served the meal. They were followed by St. Leonard’s group who literally brought in carts of gifts and Christmas treats. Every kind of Christmas cookie was made and festively displayed. The kids played games and made crafts. The adults played Bingo.
As the party was nearing the end, a boy who looked about ten-years old, approached me asking if it was too late to get a cap and gloves. Then he looked up at me with a shy look and asked “Can you help me find the gloves with the thickest material," he fingered several pairs, finally settling on a pair that were very thick and warm. “Now it won’t be so bad waiting so long for the bus." He gave me a great big smile telling me it was THE best party he ever went to. He gave me another smile and was gone. Suddenly, all the items on my to-do list did not seem important. Merry Christmas to one and all.
Mary

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