Opinion : Calling all Secret Santas

There are several projects happening around town at this time of the year. Mostly toy drives for the kids to make sure that parents who have fallen on hard times have something under the tree for the kids.

The local police officers were able to knock out a fundraiser for area children in one night and directed folks to give to others doing the same kind of program.

There is another option that you might also consider is looking around you.

I remember a Christmas in 1993. We spent it in the hospital in Iowa City with my dad. At the time we had 3 children under the age of 5. The season was spent traveling back and forth in a blur of the usual Christmas activities and paying the bills and trying to keep everything running smoothly.

There was one thing that stood out to me. On one of our trips back home to Independence at the time, we found some packages delivered to our family. I don't remember what Christmas plans were that year when it came to gifts, but I remember these gifts especially.

They were anonymous gifts for the children. Little outfits for them all. They wore these on Christmas to see their Grandpa. As we got them ready in a hotel in Iowa City, I remember the three all lined up comparing their new clothes and being so excited about them.

It was a small gesture.

But it made a huge impact on me.

The same thing or sort of thing happened when our 3-month-old was in the hospital over Christmas. I was camped out there until I had to have gallbladder surgery at the same time. So two members of our family were hospitalized at Christmas that year. One of our dear friends gave us a Christmas card with $100 in it with a note that read, "We know what it's like to need a little extra when someone you love is in the hospital."

These events made me start looking around at Christmas. Not for the kids so much, they all seem to have a lot of people looking out for them.

But sometimes, the moms and dads, and the newly single moms and dads at Christmas are trying to simply pay the bills. Sometimes they need a little extra hand by paying a little on their electric bill or gas bill.

Maybe a gas card so that they can get to work. Perhaps that AND a small gift for them so that they have something to open on Christmas.

There is always a need around you. Sometimes these people are too proud to tell you that they need a hand.

Here's the secret.

DON'T ASK!

If their life has been turned upside down this year, assume that they need at the very list a little cheering up.

We all know that in Iowa, the gas and electric bills will be higher in the winter, just to survive, stop in at City Hall or the local REC and make a donation to their bill. Do some listening. Find out where there is a need.

Take that whole Secret Santa thing seriously.

If you don't know where the need is the most, get a Christmas card and put some cash in it and sneak it in their purse, diaper bag, car, or mailbox. (Now having been part of an extended family that has a crisis year around, understand that these are NOT the people I'm talking about. I'm talking about the people that are sailing along and suddenly the world crashes around them. You'll know them by the way they say, "I don't need anything, I'm fine.")

It doesn't take much to make someone smile. Do what you can for your neighbor, but take some time to find a family that is having it rough this year. You never know, you might be that person next year.

Taking care of the kids is a great idea, but remember also to take care of the caregivers, let's see how many we can find that hit a rough spot this year and make some smiles on the adult faces as well.

We call ourselves the "City of Lights." Let's see how many faces we can light up with a smile!