The Christmas Spirit

I have been happily amazed this Christmas season. I took over the Angel Tree ministry at our church when my friend Krista moved to Colorado. For those who may not know, Angel Tree is a prison ministry. Prisoners sign up their children to receive gifts from them through us. The plan was to hand out tags for two weeks after both services. On our first Sunday out, and after our first service, every single tag was taken. I was blown away! I had people coming up still wanting to get an angel, and giving me their number in case we got any more. During the next week phone calls were made and we got a few more names. Again, as soon as those tags were out, they were gone. And, the generosity of those that have bought gifts is also touching. I've seen a few of the gifts, and I know two little girls who will have the prettiest, warmest coats around town!

And for more Christmas Spirit is my niece Haley! She has got her hometown buzzing with giving to others for Christmas. Here is the article written about her and her Christmas wish. And if you would like to see the toy drive you can go to the news website at www.kswo.com Look for Haley's Holiday Hope.


By Sgt. 1st Class STACY NILES
214th FiB PAO
There are at least two times a year when children are asked the all important
“what do you want” question — at their birthday and at Christmas. For 9-year-old
Haley Moore those two dates are less than a week apart, and she said all the toys
make her feel a little overwhelmed. So, this year for her birthday the daughter of
Sgt. John Moore, the training NCO for 696th Forward Support Company, will donate
the toys she will receive at her birthday party Sunday to the children at the
J. Roy Dunning Children’s Shelter, Inc. in Lawton, OK.
“I get a lot of toys (for Christmas and my birthday),”said Haley.“I want to help
people who can’t afford toys or can’t get them right now. “People should think of other kids as their own kid and buy them a toy for Christmas,”said Haley.
Haley said she hopes people are inspired by her efforts to help other charities and
eventually this spirit of giving would spread throughout the county and people would start giving all year long. Locally, Haley’s wish is coming true with Haley’s Holiday Hope toy drive today at the Lawton YMCA from 5-8 p.m.“She wants kids to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to children who would otherwise do without,” said
Haley’s father.“She wants to make sure that someone who wouldn't get a present gets one this year.” The toy drive is the first of its kind to be held for the J. Roy Dunning Children’s Shelter by someone as young as Haley, said Theresa Alf, assistant
director of the shelter.“What a wonderful, compassionate little girl,” said Alf.
“Children do things for the shelter all the time, but not to this extent. Not the whole birthday thing. “We see kids every day, but rarely do they do something like this to touch us,” said Alf. “We are tickled pink. This is absolutely marvelous.”
“Haley’s always had compassion for people and animals,” said Moore of the aspiring
zoologist. “This makes me feel like I did something right in raising her. “I’m very
proud of her selfless attitude in putting others first instead of herself,” said Moore.

Haley said her goal was 300 toys. The toy drive(which was held Dec. 11)exceeded her expectations and monetary donations were also given to total around $1400. Way to go HALEY! And to the people of Lawton, OK! Merry Christmas