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> Local News > West Springfield > Company grants Christmas wish for family in need
Company grants Christmas wish for family in need |
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Employees at Carter-McLeod Paper & Packaging Company on Wayside Avenue decided to forego their company's Secret Santa this year to use those funds to help a family in need. (back row, left to right) Mark Roy, Sasha Sorkin, Jim Worley, Elaine Parent and Terry Walsh. (front row, left to right) Jim Pollard, Kathy Childs and Nancy Nicosia.
Reminder Publications submitted photo
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By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
WEST SPRINGFIELD Just weeks before Christmas, one Springfield mother of four abruptly left a 13-year abusive relationship with only her children in tow.
Only able to guarantee her children's safety, this anonymous mother was left with nothing until the 23 employees at Carter-McLeod Paper & Packaging Company on Wayside Avenue answered the call for help. By Christmas Eve, the family received over $1,200 worth of clothing, household items and presents.
Those at Carter-McLeod learned of the family from representatives at the Center for Human Development (CHD). The woman was a longtime participant in the CHD's Parent's Support Group and shared her story weeks before Christmas.
"She shared with the group [that she] had taken her children out of a 13 year situation of domestic violence," Doris Schuh, assistant program director at CHD, recalled. "[She said she was] relieved even though it was a struggle that she didn't have anything [for her residence or Christmas]. She had to leave and didn't have much. She wasn't asking for help but [I thought] if we could try to help [we could make a difference].
"People really just came out of the woodwork and there was an outpouring of support for this family. Carter-McLeod really took this family under their wing," Schuh said.
She explained that in order to protect the privacy and safety of the family, Carter-McLeod was only issued the family's wish list.
Kathy Childs, customer service representative for Carter-McLeod, explained that the employees chose to eliminate their annual Secret Santa and put the funds toward giving this anonymous family a joyous Christmas.
"I asked everyone to contribute the amount they would spend on the Secret Santa and the owners' gifts.the response was overwhelming, several contributing more than requested," she said.
Childs noted that the employees collected $745 and Carter-McLeod co-owners James Pollard and Tom Dingman added another $500 to the pot. The fundraising effort allowed the employees to buy the family clothing, household items and Christmas presents for the four children.
Later Pollard learned that the family also needed a washer and dryer, prompting him to go the extra mile and purchase the items for delivery on Christmas Eve.
"I've donated to charity before but never did I know where or who the money went to," Pollard said. "Everybody [in the company] felt so great about doing it and we will try to help this woman as much as possible [in the future]."
Schuh said the mother and children were very thankful for the overwhelming assistance.
"Her goal was to have a wonderful Christmas for her children and because of the generosity of this group that goal was accomplished," Schuh said.
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Comments From Our Readers:
CobbleStonesMinistries
1/6/2009
11:19:37 PM
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I commend these people. This is why we are on this earth, to help others who have a greater need than ourselves. We have moved to NM to work with the extreemly poor children in juarez, Mexico. There have been over 5,400 killings in Juarez in the first eleven months of 2008. Still this is something we do not fear because we are answering the calling from God and He will protect us. We are surviving on a minimal suppport from our home church and a benefit bank account set up at Country Bank after our major accident on June 3rd on MA90. It is people like these who helped us regroup after we were released from the hospital.
I'm not sure why I diverted from the wonderful people in this coumpany, because they deserve all the praise. I am also thrilled they plan to continue to aid this family in what ever means available.
Continue to be a blessing to those in need. There are so many within the local area, I hope other companies follow your leed. |
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