Locals Pour Out Goodwill As Christmas Nears

    Amid the stress of holiday shopping, a new COVID variant, and the general tension that seems to envelope much of life in the past year, North Lake County residents have shown their capacity to embrace the goodwill of the Christmas holiday. Stories of strangers buying people's groceries, and of strangers' paying for others' meals in area restaurants have abounded during the holiday, as have the many varied acts of kindness that hundreds, if not thousands of people, have participated in. In North Lake County, the heart of Christmas has been beating loudly in 2021.
    On Saturday, an estimated 350 young people received five gifts apiece from this year’s edition of the Lake County Shrine Club’s Christmas in the Paisley Park. Also on Saturday, hundreds of families received bags of gifts presented by the Adopt a Child or Two for Christmas. Donation boxes for toys from Astor south have been filled by caring residents looking to support those who have a need this time of year.
    Tara and Dan Richardson of Paisley are just two of the many people who have risen in support of holiday cheer. But their story is a unique example of Christmas ‘follow through’ that is blessing the lives of dozens of special needs adults.
    The couple was at the Behaviors Plus, Inc. in Eustis on Friday, where they were distributing gifts to almost two dozen clients of the day program that works with clients with disabilities. This was the third year the couple has done so, after they became aware of the program in a uniquely Christmas way.
    Crystal Moorhead, who manages the day program also lives in Paisley, and three years ago saw a yard decoration in the Richardson’s yard that featured a mailbox with request letters to Santa. As a fun project, she had the center’s clients make out lists for Santa, and she put them in the mailbox.
    The problem was, the Richardson’s hadn’t thought of the mailbox as a formal receptacle, and didn’t notice the letters had been placed there until January, when they were taking the decorations down. Rather than simply discarding the unrequested mail, the couple purchased gifts from the list and brought them to the center. In the years since then, the couple has continued to request a list from the center, filling the wish lists.
    Emotions ran high on Friday as this year’s delivery was made. Clients clapped, cheered, and even teared up at times over receiving the hats, cans of soda, or dolls that had been on their list.
    “They are just wonderful, it is very touching,” said program founder Drew Long, who attended the distribution on Friday. “It’s incredible that they do this.”
    All the gifts were wrapped, with some clients receiving help in opening their special delivery from program staffers.
    "She is amazing," Moorhead said of Tara Richardson's focus on the program, which has grown to include support from friends wanting to be a part of the fun. The Richardsons dedication to the program has remained strong, even as the number of clients has grown from just seven in the first year.
    “We still contact via letters, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said in between passing out gifts on Friday.
    Saturday saw more of the same, as the Adopt A Child Or Two for Christmas program distributed this year’s donations. The program, which features donated gifts being distributed to area families in need, saw over 300 families with over 1,000 children come to the First Baptist Church of Umatilla to pick up their Christmas cheer. The program, now in its third decade, features community residents donating toys based on lists distributed through area churches and businesses.
    North Lake’s Christmas miracles don’t just involve toys, however. In Altoona, the effort is on to help rebuild the life of a woman who lost her home recently to a fire.
    Meg Powell is a Pierson resident who works at Dan's Discount Feed. In early November, around 4 a.m., she was awoken to a fire in her home. Powell's efforts to control the fire with a fire extinguisher failed, with the fire claiming her home, two pets, and leaving second and third-degree burns on her feet.
    "I'm alive, but everything I owned was in there." Co-workers and friends have stepped up, offering clothes and other needed items.
    “Dan, he bought me a camper to put on my property. It’s dry, and it’s warm. I’m very thankful.”
    On Saturday, Powell was working at the feed store in socks, which has been her only footwear since the fire.
    “I’m just now starting to try shoes again. But it’s been slow, and painful.”
    In an effort to raise money for Powell as she attempts to rebuild her life, the store has created a deluxe raffle. RTIC cooler has been filled to overflowing with a variety of items, and will be raffled off on December 31. Donors, including Kerr, the Mason Jar restaurant, Greg’s Haystax restaurant, Old Crow BBQ restaurant, Dan’s Discount Feed, Kerr’s Tires and Accessories, and Tina Gough have created a prize that includes gift certificates, boots, mosquito repellent, a studded belt, a flashlight, tape, candles, boot jewelry, cowboy boots, and so much more. Tickets are just $5 a piece, and can be purchased at the store, on SR 19 in Altoona.
    Be it toys for children, piling on the goodwill for someone who lost their home, or buying groceries or dinner for a stranger, area residents in 2021 are showing that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in North Lake County.