I would like to tell you all a story of a family in the 1950’s. This woman was raising four children by herself in an era that didn’t give much support other than that dreaded word, “welfare”.

It was Christmas Eve and the woman was very distraught because she had nothing to provide her children for Christmas.  She put the youngsters to bed early promising that Santa would come by their small house that night, knowing in her heart that there would be next to nothing in the morning for the kids to be joyous about.  The youngest boy could not sleep so he woke his older brother to stay up for a Santa watch.

But all they could hear was their mom crying for some reason they couldn’t understand. Long about eleven o’clock, there came a knock on the door. She opened it slowly not knowing who it might be. She moved back from the door in surprise when this tall, not so fat, Santa came Ho-Ho-Ho-ing into the room.  He had a large bag slung over his back full of presents. The two boys were beside themselves with the excitement of seeing Santa coming into their house. His helpers came in with a tree, more presents and food for dinner the next morning.

They all hugged the lady as they left and as the boys watched from the crack in the door their mother knelt and gave thanks to God for what had happened. Well, the youngest boy was me, and the other was my older brother, Fred. I later found out that the men who had come to our home that Christmas Eve were from the local volunteer fire department and had chosen us because of a concerned friend of my mom’s.

This is why I am a Lion today, helping to give back to a community that gave me so much when I needed it. Carol and I would like to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a joyous and helpful New Year.

DG Bill McDonald