Company grants Christmas wish for family in need

Date: 1/6/2009

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.