WAVELAND, Miss. – Santa’s elves eschewed the big guy’s sleigh and showed up in a U-Haul truck Thursday to hand out toys, clothing and Christmas trees to dozens of Katrina victims in this devastated community.
“The town of Lincoln City, Ore., drove five days to bring you this stuff,” local organizer Ron Hill told the eager crowd of moms, dads and kids who lined up along the truck in a Highway 90 parking lot. “Everything in this parking lot is for y’all.”
Stuffed animals, bedding, hats, shoes and toys spilled from cardboard boxes inside the distribution area that was cordoned off with yellow emergency tape. A stack of 50 carefully bundled Christmas trees lay in the center of the bounty.
“The only thing we ask is if you need it, take it; if you don’t need it, don’t take it,” Hill told the members of the crowd, many of whom had arrived with empty boxes and bags to carry away their gifts.
The U-Haul, pulling a trailer loaded with the trees, was driven from Lincoln City, on the central Oregon Coast, by Gordon McMinn and Chris Hollingsworth. McMinn said the give-away was the idea of a Lincoln City woman who spent time volunteering in the Katrina zone and returned to Oregon wanting to do more. Starting Dec. 2, she rallied a handful of key volunteers to begin the gift drive and “this is what three weeks later we’ve got right here,” McMinn said.
Lisa McIntyre of Bay St. Louis stopped by with her daughter-in-law, granddaughter and sister to select a tree, decorations and toys. “It’s nice for the kids,” she said.
“Pretty good for not being advertised, huh?” asked a beaming Hill, whose own white beard and kind eyes are perfect for playing Santa but somewhat undermined by the dark hair that peeks from beneath a Pelican Pub & Brewery cap.
From FEMA with love: A Christmas homecoming
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This was a wonderful act of kindness. Funny how it turned into a debate on religion...........??!
Sully, CO (Sent Dec 23, 2005 8:23:01 PM)
Lets not fight over religion...lets just remember that we're helping people who have nothing.
Sara, Orlando Florida (Sent Dec 23, 2005 9:32:29 PM)
Perhaps the good, compassionate citizens of Lincoln City would rather be known for their good deeds and not by any empty words. They know what they did, as does their Father!
lois mcdonald, detroit, mi (Sent Dec 23, 2005 10:16:52 PM)
these caring folks did what was in their hearts. it reminds us of the spirit of genorosity which exists within most americans god bless us all
wilson
wilson maceslin (Sent Dec 23, 2005 11:27:00 PM)
God always works in many mysterious ways.....Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Humanity.
Tokz (Sent Dec 23, 2005 11:43:41 PM)
I have to strongly disagree with the person who said to give the money to the Red Cross. The small town I live in is located only 40 miles from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and was declared a disaster area by the President. The Red Cross did set up a shelter here for people from out of town who had evacuated here. Unfortunately, I didn't see much help forthcoming from the Red Cross for the residents of our town itself. After standing in line for two days in the sizzling heat, my husband was given a total of $1,275 to help out our family of 4. A Red Cross mobile kitchen came and served about three "meals", nachos and things like that, and then moved on to another town. This is the sum total of help we received from the Red Cross. Please take into consideration the fact that this organization has been given enough money from Oprah Winfrey and her Angels Network alone to give each and every family within the total affected areas at least $5000 each. Remember, I said from Oprah Winfrey's organization alone. Just think of all the other millions donated to them from others all around the nation. Where is this money? We lost our home and almost everything we own. Others have lost even more and received no more than we did. What has been most helpful to us has been the donations by generous people like those in Lincoln City, certainly not the Red Cross. No, I don't recommend giving to the Red Cross. The only way to make sure it gets where it's needed most is to do exactly like those wonderful, giving people have done. Of course, it's a lot more convenient for people to just write out a check to the Red Cross. Then you can go on about your life and forget about those who are still living in tents and mold filled homes.
Dixie, Poplarville, MS (Sent Dec 23, 2005 11:50:57 PM)
I personaly am tired of hearing about only helping new orleans all because they want to have their martigrau, I was in gulfport ms, when the hurricaine made land fall. I have seen first hand what it did. But with the xmas project in ms, I find it very rewarding!
spec nabb.......somewhere in the U.S. (Sent Dec 24, 2005 4:59:00 AM)
I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING PERIOD ARE VERY CARING AND UNDERSTANDING AND IT IS A SHAME OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT THINK THAT WAY.AND GOD DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS STORM IT WAS MOTHER NATURE. THE ONLY THING GOD DONE WAS SAVE LIVES.PUT IT THIS A WAY WHAT IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOU?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?OR THINK? YOU WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING. HOPE ONE DAY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WOULD RELIZE THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY IT IS ABOUT CARING FOR SOMEONE BESIDES YOURSELF. THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
SANDY FAULK EAU CLAIRE WI (Sent Dec 24, 2005 11:22:38 AM)
Thank you Lincoln City, OR.
Alicia, Gulfport, Mississippi (Sent Dec 24, 2005 11:26:46 AM)
I think we need to remember that Christmas is about giving, not so much receiving. The people from Lincoln City have done just that. They gave of themsleves so that less fortunate people could have. I think it is wonderful and kudos should be given, but it must also be remembered that Christ said that charity is the true form of love and that is the best way to show love through Christ. Just because Christ was not directly mentioned in the news piece does not mean He was left out. Just the act of charity alone mentions His name. This should not have turned into a debate on faith, but a thread of thanks and well wishes to the people who put themsleves second and others in need first. It is purley selfish of the person who turned this into a debate and I suggest that that person spend more time in the Scriptures learning the words of God and His Son. I live just 2 hours away from Lincoln City and I say hats off to my fellow Oregonians for their selfless act of kindness and charity! To the hurricane victims, you are in my prayers.
DeeDee, North Bend, Ore (Sent Dec 24, 2005 11:47:59 AM)
does kindness have to be analyzed...maybe we need to analyze our hearts if that is so...let us just care for one another...it could be any of us on the receiving end at any time should a tragedy occur.
Susan T San Marcos CA (Sent Dec 24, 2005 5:32:09 PM)
Yay for Oregonians! Thank you Lincoln City...a big Merry Christmas wish of blessings for the year on you!
Scott Layden, Franklin, TN (Sent Dec 25, 2005 9:03:02 AM)
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
TONY, KANSAS CITY, MO (Sent Dec 25, 2005 10:10:37 AM)
Do you know if you are really paying too much for anything? Do you know why your credit ratings are going down and your credit card interest rates are going up? Are the big guys getting to us to pay for anything that has happened to our great country. I want to give, but I would like to know if I am really paying for something that I don't even know that I am. Please respond if you would like. I surely hope that 2006 is better... what else can happen? How can I help, while knowing.
Nick, De (Sent Dec 28, 2005 3:12:31 PM)
I am one of the people who donated money to this amazing project. A very good friend of mine, who livees in NYC, was apart of the wonderful showmanship of love and caring. I am JEWISH - and therefore, do not agree with many of the comments of "where is Christ" "mention Him in this journey" "they need to thank Christ"....well, I DID help. And,it was not to gain my ticket to Heaven - but,to asisst those in distress. Thank you for all of you who sent your appreciation. I wish I could've gone on the U-Haul trip with them! I know the families felt loved!
Amber, Miami, FL (Sent Dec 29, 2005 9:42:46 PM)
Slidell, La. has been adopted by our lucky city of Oldsmar, Fla. where we're told there was also heavy damage...not just physical structures, but the core of a community...its people. Measure a gift by the mind of or walk in the shoes of the giver....it might be for self esteem, but it may be given from the heart and soul of that person....thankful that most of us Americans have never had to walk down a city street that has no standing structures, no puppy dogs, or cats who have long abandoned the place...and no smiling faces..unless there is that caring someone who tries to do what they believe is 'their part'..Christian, Jew, Muslim, agnostic, rich man, poor man, beggar man...we all have a mission which we may or may not understand NOW on this earth....BUT,just treat others as you'd have them do unto you....that doesn't mean you have to live in a dry tent or home provided by FEMA, but try getting your loved ones to sleep in a moldy room that might have been a bedroom at one time! Be thankful that we ALL have a chance to share ourselves or our worldly possessions directly, or indirectly. Thanks to all those in need for staying strong in very unimaginable times and to those who have shared of themselves now and the future. Barbara and Talley (work for UHaul proudly, which has a large truck, fuel and driver standing by to get physical things needed for our sister City's people) Try sending a dollar to the Mayor of a city or town that has experienced devastation.....bet that leaves a warm fuzzy feeling and you don't have to worry how it is spent, either
Barbara and Talley, Oldsmar, Florida (Sent Dec 30, 2005 6:39:13 PM)
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