Families Served

Like many generous people throughout the country, my son's Cub Scout pack tries to do their part helping people who are less fortunate and I wanted to share the following story from our Cub Scout Pack Community Service Chairperson.

The second family in Hillsborough was probably the neediest family that we have helped so far. I delivered their gifts to their home in a government apartment building. When I showed up two social workers were there. I explained who I was and that I had some gifts for them. She said to bring them in and one of the social workers offered to help me. Once outside he asked how this group was affiliated with the scouts and I explained our role in wanting to help them. He was blown away by the amount of gifts we offered! He said this family was recently homeless and extremely needy. I explained that a lot of the clothes we were donating were gently used, but he said that gently used was a step up for this family! I don't know how a family with (at that time 3 small kids) lived as homeless but they did it. We donated to that family a garbage bag full of used clothes for each of the kids, a bag of new items for each child including shoes, and 12 presents for each child. We also gave the family gift cards to Wal-Mart and Food Lion.

If you are finished reading my email, you may stop here. I have filled you in on the present deliveries, but if you have a second to read on I would like to tell you about the Hillsborough family when I dropped off the gifts. It is a story worth telling! When I stopped by the mom was there with the 3 younger kids. She had the heat turned up so high in the apartment, so the kids wouldn't have to wear clothes. They all ran around in diapers. They had an apartment with a small living room, eating room and a kitchenette off the side. In the back where I put the gifts were 2 bedrooms. The one I saw had a single mattress on the floor and that was all. After the first round of packages that I brought in, the 2 and 1 year old started taking things from the bags. Mom agreed to give them each one thing to occupy them and we took the rest of the items to the back room. She gave one child a plastic truck (one that you would take to the beach and probably cost about $1) and the other boy got a used Spiderman figure. The boy who got the Spiderman toy ran around the room screaming with excitement. His mom said he loved Spiderman. I could not see any other toys in the home so they were thrilled! When I walked in with my second load I had a new diaper bag (thanks Fahim family!) on my arm. She quickly reached over and asked if that was for her and grabbed it. Apparently she and the social worker were just talking about things she needed and that was one of them. She seemed very happy to show her that she now had one of the required items! The social worker commented that we literally doubled the amount of material possessions this family owned. I started to feel guilty that we gave so much. I don't know where they would store so many things. I didn't see any dressers or even storage of any kind besides a closet with little hanging inside. I told her to feel free to give away anything that they couldn't use. I am sure she'll keep everything she can though. When I left she hugged me and said thanks. She also asked her two boys to hug me and thank me. The one year old hugged my legs (along with Spidey), but the 2 year old just looked at me. She told him that I was the one who gave him the truck and to say thank you. He slowly worked his way AWAY from me and yelled no while clutching his truck. He was afraid that I was taking his truck away! He didn't want to part with it. I left her with her social workers surely feeling overwhelmed and crazed (kids were running around like crazy, social workers were questioning her, something was boiling in the kitchen ,and here I am- a stranger with bags and bags of gifts.) But I have a feeling we just made things a lot better for some people who desperately needed it.

Hope you all have a fantastic holiday and relaxing winter break. Thank you for all you have done. You have really done a good thing.

Todd Kmiec
Todd Kmiec & Associates
todd@toddkmiec.com