I arrived to day around noon. . . right in the middle of lunch. They were still warming and preparing foods to serve. Todays lunch was hot dogs, chili, beef soup, baked ziti w/ricotta, sausage and peppers and subs. There is still an awesome amount of delicious food that is donated. Donated by resturants, volunteers and neighbors of Union Beach.
Sunday my family brought our Christmas decorations up from the basement. I thought how many families don't have that luxury this year. My daughter and I went shopping Saturday for containers to put decorations in to donate to UB families. We went through all of our boxes. We had a few trees to donate large and small that we collected over the years. I always "save" Christmas ornaments from second hand stores and yard sales. We had sooo many to share. We combined old and new ornaments in the containers along with hooks and tinsel. My van was filled to the brim. . . I really couldn't see out the back end!
As the day went on families picked through boxes decorations for their trees. Many shared how they lost all Christmas decorations in the basements, attics and garages. They were gathering new memories for their trees. New decorations for their doors and fences. Christmas trains were donated that found new homes. A Christmas village was donated last week. A mom that lost her home started crying when she saw it. She said it looked just like the one they used to have.
Today two of my favorite little people came to see me! Mia and Aiden (they brought their mom) came to the pantry for supplies. They had moved back to their home after weeks in a hotel. They were living on the second floor and eating on the parents bed! But they were happy to be home. I asked them how they were and if they had a tree. Aiden said no. We asked mom if I could take them to pick a small artificial tree and some ornaments. We headed into the pantry. They were excited to see trees taller than them. They picked a 4ft silver tree. We opened some of the shoe size boxes looking for ornaments. The first one I opened was one my daughter had packed. The carefully pick out some of hers and her brothers favorite kid ornaments to share. Aiden was excited to see Alvin and the Chipmunks and Capt. Phoebus (Pocahontus movie ornament from McDonald's happy meal) So Aiden wanted that box. We opened another box and Mia saw a strawberry ornament (my daughter loves them - it was hers from 20yrs ago when she was Mia's age) Each box had boy and girl "stuff" in them - they were all plastic. I remember my kids when they were little would play with the ornaments all through the holiday so we put plastic bulbs on the lower half. We still do!! Their mom finished shopping for their home. The kids and I played near a box of toys picking out something for each of them. When it was time to go I got a hug and a kiss from Mia. She is an angel. Aiden said he wanted to go home and decorate. They were going to put the tree in their room! How exciting, just back in their home and a tree in their room! woohoo!! I walked them to their car carrying their goodies with their mom. I realized I had met their mom the first week I started volunteering and we have seen each other over the past 5 weeks. Our friendship began from a terrible storm that tried to take their town away. Now many weeks later I am blessed to have them in my life. The kids call me Miss Joni. I dream of them coming to my home and playing with my little weiner dogs! I know this will happen for we are now a family. I truly care for them. They are like my own kids. As we closed the trunk on their car I told their mom she could me if the storm hit elsewhere. We hugged and kissed each other good bye with tears rolling down our cheeks.
Thank you God for guiding me to Union Beach.
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