Q&A: Children of Christmas Past
ADAM BAKER
Program Director
What is the Children of Christmas Past program?
Children of Christmas Past gathers donations to make Christmas special for the elderly in our community. We try to bring a little holiday joy to the local nursing home and shut-in residents by gifting them with a basket of Christmas presents. We gather/purchase things like colored pencils, adult coloring/crossword books, board/card games, puzzles, bibles, devotionals, lotions and toiletries, warm socks, slippers, bath robes, sweatpants/shirts, toboggans, blankets, snack cakes (without nuts), sugar-free & regular snacks (no hard candy), and any other goodies/necessities you may think to share!
How did it start?
My family and I discussed what we wanted for Christmas and how truly blessed we were. I shared with them that I had been thinking about doing something special for others, and they loved the idea. The people in our church, Raysville Baptist, have been hugely supportive from the beginning, and, of course, none of this would be possible without my wife “Mrs. Claus” and our “elves.”
More importantly, why did it start?
When I was a child, I sometimes went to work with my mom at Lynchburg Nursing Center. I played games, put together puzzles, and swapped stories with the residents. I was just a kid having fun. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how much my presence meant to them, and this realization has stuck with me over the years. You never know what someone else is going through or how big of a difference a small act of kindness can make in someone’s life. My goal in life is to give more than I have taken.
How do you measure success each year?
Success is measured solely by smiles. In some years, donations have been more plentiful than others, but we always make it work. One year, we had such an abundance of donations that we delivered twice the usual number of gift baskets. Not only were we able to reach everyone at Lynchburg Nursing Center and our local shut-ins, but we also delivered to everyone at Life Care of Tullahoma.
What are your favorite stories regarding the program?
When we deliver, I do not hand out baskets myself; instead, I go to each room and have a conversation with everyone while others hand them out. The first year we did this, my daughter Courtney and her friend Paige had just walked into this sweet little ladies’ room right before I did. As Courtney bent down to show her all the presents in the basket, she asked, “Do I pick one?” to which Courtney replied, “No, ma’am, these are all for you.” The way her eyes lit up and the smile on her face made it all worthwhile, and I knew right then that this was not a one-time event; it would be a tradition.
During Covid, regulations prevented us from delivering gifts in typical fashion, so we had to get creative. We delivered the baskets early so the staff could wipe everything down before handing them out. Then, we walked outside on delivery day, stopping at each room and singing Christmas carols while the staff delivered baskets.
Where are the drop-off locations?
• Farmers Bank
• Moore County Public Library
• Moore County High School
• Tullahoma Drug Store
• First Bank Tullahoma
In what ways can people help?
While donations are essential to keeping this program going yearly, time is also important. We have had volunteers help with wrapping, sorting, building baskets, and, of course, helping with delivery. We usually have a few new volunteers help deliver every year, and I always tell them the same thing, “I promise they will come out different than they went in.” It truly is better to give than to receive. We enjoy connecting with our community members and seeing the difference we can make with a little bit of our time.
We wrap every gift so our recipients get the surprise and joy of opening Christmas presents. If you choose to wrap your gifts before dropping them off, please write what they are on the outside so we can evenly distribute gifts. We want every person we reach to know that we care and remind them they are not forgotten.
Why the name ‘Children of Christmas Past?’
Do you remember the joy of Christmas morning as a child? The older I get, the more I hold onto and cherish memories of times long gone. No matter how old we get, we all still have at least a little child in us, some more than others, and I plan never to grow up. When these residents start opening presents, many of them are transported back to yesteryear, and their eyes twinkle with joy and memories of Christmases past. That is why I say success is measured solely by smiles; it makes it all worthwhile.
