Christmas Cheer Delivered

I have been the PTA president at my son's school for two years now. Bryce has only been in school for two years, so basically once they tricked me into this position, they may have me for life. Sometimes PTA is just super annoying. There are more meetings than I thought, more organizing, more time and lots more time. The school didn't really have a PTA for a couple years before I got there, so we have had some work to do, but we all got the ball rolling again.

When I am complaining or telling people I'm off to a PTA meeting, they often reply that I am nuts for joining, let alone being president. I have also known for a long time: I AM NUTS!! The thing is- I always say how important kids are, why doesn't someone do this for our kids, the kids are our future, blah, blah, blah and blah. You get it. The truth is, I feel like I have to or no one else will, and even though it is annoying at times, it is rewarding and necessary. Sometimes I even think about quiting, thinking why are there only a handful of parents for a school with 700 kids? If they don't care, why should I?

Well the answer came today. And every now and then I need reminders of why PTA is so important. A warm fuzzy creeped in.

We decided to have a food drive for a couple of our families in need for the holidays. Our school really came together and collected a ton a food for these families. AWWWW! But it gets even more chicken soupish.

There is a family that stays at a homeless shelter. They are not sure if they will get in every night because it is on a day to day basis. So every day after school they go and wait to see if they can. It is a dad with his two kids. Since they do not have access to a kitchen a food basket would have been pointless. Instead, Denny's donated gift cards for them and then we bought them a gift card for the family to see a movie on Christmas.

Our treasurer usually handles most of the affairs, since she works at the school, but today I got to hand the father our contribution to their holiday. He was so happy, so gracious and a little embarrassed. I shook his hand and told him that this was for his family to enjoy on the holidays. He thanks me and you can tell how grateful he is. He tells me that this is so wonderful and it is the only thing they will be getting for Christmas. I feel so humbled and happy to have the opportunity to brighten some one's holiday. It really meant so much to them...and me!

As I walked away, I couldn't help but cry. All day I thought about that encounter. When I now say I am blessed to have the family I do, it has a whole new meaning. We are so big and so tight-knit, we would never be in that situation. I have never thought about what a security that is. If you are a part of my family, you can sleep on my couch forever if you needed to, and I know that I have my choice of couches as well. I was naive to think that everyone had a family capable of taking care of them.

It's easy, especially during the holidays to wish for more money. Money for gifts, money for your tree, money for your Christmas cards and postage, money for gift wrap, money for work parties, etc., etc. When I think about my life, I realize how truly blessed we are to have the job my husband has. We do all these Christmas traditions without even thinking. Totally take it for granted. We go out to eat at least once a week and don't even think twice about the money. This family was so happy to going to get to go out to Denny's, something we get to do often. Wow, my perspective just changed completely.

I know it sounds cliche, but when you volunteer, it really does make you feel good. Not good because it can give you perspective on your own life, although it certainly does. But good because had I quit, had I not been president, there would be a family on Christmas without a good meal and a fun feeling. We did that! We made some one's life better and there is no way I want to quit now. It was a moment where I didn't care why this man was homeless, no family should go without a little Christmas cheer.

GO SUMMERWIND PTA!!