The Christmas spirit came alive for me this year as friends and strangers stepped up to make this a merrier Christmas for me and the other residents at the Pampa Nursing Center. When the center missed the deadline to apply for grant money to buy gifts for its residents, the community stepped up in a big way to save Christmas!
It all started when the nursing home staff decided to "adopt" a resident and buy gifts for that resident. When word about the "Adopt-A-Resident" program got out, other people wanted to help, and it spread from there. The newspaper and TV station ran stories about the program, and that's when it really took off. The center was flooded with phone calls from people wanting to help. Church and civic groups as well as other people donated money or bought gifts. Many did so anonymously.
The community came through in a big way to make this a brighter Christmas for all the residents at the nursing home. At our Christmas party Dec. 17, we all had packages to open.
I got pants and a shirt, bottles of soap and body wash. . . . and enough snacks to feed the entire nursing home for a year! I got so much candy that I could open a candy store in my room. After the Christmas party, other groups came and dropped off gifts and MORE candy.
I appreciate the staff and all those who gave to make this a very merry Christmas. Thank you and God bless.
