Joy & Comfort Holiday Basket Drive

Eat Share invited volunteers to share Joy & Comfort with neighbors for the holiday season--

A few years ago, I worked with a patient in the hospital--a gentleman with a developmental disability whose life had been altered by a traumatic injury that left him unable to walk. He had spent weeks in the hospital awaiting his transition of care to a rehabilitation facility, and as anyone could imagine, he was antsy and bored most of the time, defeated and unmotivated to work much with our therapy team. During one of our conversations, as I pressed to find a spark of joy to connect him to, he suddenly shared with me that his room "needed to be more beautiful". It was December and the Christmas holiday was near, and this man wanted his own tree "with lights and a star".

I shared this desire with my coworkers at the hospital, and over the course of a few days, with one donated piece at a time--a simple wish became a reality. And in the glow of tree lights, this patient found a renewed spirit. With the support, patience and teaching of an amazing therapy team, he was eventually able to stand for a few moments and add a decoration to his tree.

The Grinch captured it best when he realized that the magic of the holidays doesn't come in a box or get purchased at the store. The joy of the season comes from people demonstrating kindness, compassion, and care for each other in all the big and small ways we can muster.

To help local families celebrate, Eat Share invited donations for Joy & Comfort Baskets--the kind of foods, games, activites, and items that make the holidays special for you and yours, shared with neighbors. Thanks to 15 volunteers and Mrs. Quick's CE McCall Middle School Consumer & Family Science Class, local families received thoughtfully curated gift baskets and casseroles to help make their holidays a little brighter.