KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One way people like to celebrate the Christmas season is giving back to the needy. FOX 4 talked to lots of charities and volunteers doing just that on Monday.
At Hope Faith Ministries, they got a special visitor. Santa helped “Operation Give-a-Bear” hand out hundreds of bears Monday.
“We hope it brings a little smile and some cheer at the holidays,” says Kevin York with Operation Give-a-Bear.
The adults didn’t leave empty handed. Hope Faith Ministries says local churches helped put together care packages, and they also handed out food and clothing to the almost 1400 people who came through there Monday.
“It’s acts of kindness,” said executive director Desiree Monize, “many of them wouldn’t have Christmas.”
Earlier Monday morning, the Linwood Family YMCA also opened its doors to needy families and gave out 1500 toys, plus food and clothing.
Dionne Ross was there with her four and five year old grand kids and said it was nice to have a place like this to help her out financially.
“It feels good,” she said, “people don’t have money to buy grand kids anything.”
And at City Union Mission, volunteers rounded up gift bags going to 750 needy families throughout the metro. That’s some 20,000 gifts that need to be delivered, making the volunteers as busy as Santa.
“It’s such a good experience to feel like you’re helping somebody,” said volunteer Binny Pearce, “and good for the grand kids to visit the people who are so grateful that someone cares for them.”
“The truth is we get more out of it than they do,” said volunteer Bill Pearce, “It’s a joy to be able to share.”
City Union mission says the volunteers make all this possible.
“It takes a lot of volunteers and a lot of families make this part of their family tradition, their Christmas, as their families get together for the holidays, they make this a part of it because giving is what Christmas is about,” says Dennis Chapman, with City Union Mission.
