Published: December 06, 2007 08:17 pm         

A Wish List for Christmas

By Leslie Gibson

Herald-Banner Staff



One cold Christmas, many years ago, a man came to visit Ebenezer Scrooge in his counting house in London with the following request: “At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”

Scrooge hustled the caller out with a resounding no, but had a change of heart by Christmas Day, and from then on, Christmas lived in his heart 365 days a year, according to author Charles Dickens, who wrote “A Christmas Carol” and immortalized Scrooge.

In that sense, Christmas does live in the hearts of Rockwall’s charitable organizations 365 days a year, and at this time of the “rolling year”, they seek Christmas donations for the needy.

The Rockwall Lions Club in conjunction with Brookshire’s Grocery in Rockwall, is collecting food Christmas baskets for delivery on Christmas Eve or the day before, to individuals and families in need in Rockwall County. The recipients are identified by local agencies. Last year, approximately 30 to 35 households were given food. “A lot of them don’t have any place to hold food for any period of time,” said Tom Richmond of the Lions Club. “Some are older folks by themselves and some people are just down on the luck,” he said.

Helping Hands maintains a large, walk-in refrigerator which usually runs lowest on butter, eggs, meat and milk. Other recurring needs are for flour, oil and sugar. Jars of spaghetti sauce and canned chicken and hams are also needed, as is “anything anybody wants to contribute,” said Sue Welch. To keep the focus on the needy, the organization also welcomes donations to lower the debt on the building, which beautifully houses the needs of serving the needy, according to staff. With a thrift store and a boutique, a growing clinic, and private rooms for consultations and services, the building is accessible and appropriate. Welch praises the Rockwall community: “We would not exist if so many people in this community were not willing to give away something — their money, their stuff, their food, their time. We appreciate it all.”

Collection site for toys to be distributed through Helping Hands include: CiCi’s, Wal-Mart, Culver’s, Belk, the two Rockwall high schools and Quest Academy and Cain Middle School.

Christmas time is also a gift-giving time, with many choosing to honor a loved one in a way which helps the community.

One way is to donate to the Friends of the Rockwall County Library Capital Campaign. Ways to honor or remember a loved one include donating a book for $25 with a commemoration. If someone would like to honor a loved one or a community member in a big way, they can donate 25 percent of the cost of a room in the library, following guidelines being set forth by the Friends. Also, a giving tree consisting of bronze, silver and gold leaves, as well as small and large stones is being created which allows memorials or honorary tributes of $250 and more.

Through Patriot Paws, service dogs are trained for disabled civilians and veterans by Lori Stevens of Rockwall, who works extensively with volunteers. She would welcome dog food of Purina Pro-Plan and rolls of Natural Balance. Also doggie beds are needed. She is training seven dogs and will get six new puppies the first of the year. Drop the items off Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 811 Yellowjacket Lane Suite 115, left side of Ridgepointe Athletic Club.

The Lilly House is a shelter in the making for those leaving abusive situations.

All organizations and causes — whether private or government — are encouraged to submit their needs to the Rockwall County Herald-Banner for publication in next week’s issue. Email can be submitted to lgibson@heraldbanner.com.