In recent months, the coronavirus has struck everyone pretty hard, with loss of jobs, quarantining, and worries about contracting COVID. While all that was happening, Erica Lindaman, a teacher at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Elementary, knew Christmas was around the corner and that there were families in need in the area. She and many other good-hearted people in the community decided to take action.
The Spirit of Giving program had been a staple in the Clarion area in past years, but the previous organizers decided to step back from it recently. To take over its good works, Erica got the ball rolling on something new- the Gift of Giving (COVID style). Several steps had to be completed including getting a federal tax ID number and sending out applications for families to fill out, which Erica sent out to Kindergarten through fifth grade elementary families at CGD – 500 in all. When they started getting the applications back, they could tell they were right – there was a need in this community.
A third consideration was- Where would you put all these gifts from the community when donations started pouring in? Places like churches which had been used in previous years would not work since most were closed due to COVID. Then the Gift of Giving organizers got lucky. Clarion business owners Julie and Steve Dunker had had to postpone all the Christmas parties at the Red Shed Event Center due to COVID. So when asked if they would let the Gift of Giving use their facility, their answer was "Absolutely."
Then another wonderful turn of luck occurred. The CGD Superintendent Joe Nelson explained he had a friend from Albia, Iowa, a retired schoolteacher named Mary Sauter, who donates toys and gifts to schools every year in a remarkable ‘pay if forward’ effort. Sauter was on the Today Show Christmas Eve 2012. (Check out her story at: www.msnbc.com//today/watch/retired-teacher-finds-presents-fo r-hundreds-0f-kids-44515907883). Nelson contacted her, and just like that, three to four vehicles were sent to Albia and brought back many toys to the Red Shed.
Additionally, others joined Erica to help make the Gift of Giving even bigger. Lorrie Allen at Pizza Ranch and Iowa Specialty Hospital both hosted Christmas trees that had ornaments with size, age, and needs that folks could fulfill to donate to one or two people or even a whole family. Other businesses like Fuel and many of their friends and customers have worked to collect gifts, food, and give part of their sales to the cause. The Holmes Christmas Club who had to postpone their event due to COVID donated. Brian Ring of Clarion, who refurbishes bikes has given over 13 bikes. Many other businesses, churches, individuals, and families opened their hearts and pocketbooks to donate.
The community of Clarion has indeed stepped up to take care of those asking for a little extra help during this holiday season. The organizers noted that with monetary donations and gift cards to local businesses, they were not only able to give recipients toys and clothes but furnished a food care package as well. In the last weeks, the organizers have been dividing toys and gifts per applications. Everything was distributed to the happy recipients earlier this week.
The organizers are truly amazed and humbled by how the Gift of Giving caught on. In the end, there was over $5,000 in monetary donations received. The organization aided 85 to 100 families including over 500 individuals, children and adults.
So many people have been affected by COVID and even confined to their houses, that it is wonderful that many are still looking to the positive and giving, noted the Gift of Giving planners. They added that there are also several other worthy organizations and businesses that are asking for their own donations. This is indeed a blessed time of sharing in this community.
The Gift of Giving is truly a GIFT. The organizers hope it relieves stress for these families and bring smiles to the children’s faces during this 2020 holiday.
If people would like to contribute monetary donations to Gift of Giving to be used for next year, contributions can be made at the First State Bank drive-thru window in Clarion.
