You Can Help Make Sure a Maine Child Doesn’t Go Without a Christmas Gift This Year

While shopping at your local grocery store or Walmart in Central Maine, you may have recently noticed Christmas trees placed in the entrance.

On these trees are tags of paper shaped like nutcrackers. Written on each tag are an age, shoe size, clothing size, with interest/hobbies. This information is attached to a child.

The reason why these tags are hung on these trees is that they either won't receive any gifts this Christmas or very little. This can't be our world. But, it is.

Captain Keith from the Salvation Army Capital Region Corps is on a journey in alliance with his partners and the community to help children. This shouldn't be a challenge that is impossible. This shouldn't be something he has to do at all. There should not have to be a corporation called The Salvation Army at all.

We don't normally think about these points I am making because it's hard to not be able to make it all better right away.

Central Maine was asked by the Salvation Army to help our children. To grab a tag from these trees placed at stores and, if you are financially able, to and help provide gifts to those in need.

My wife, Nelly, and I decided to adopt a family this year. We've both been in a position of struggle where we needed to rely on the help of others and we know what it feels like to be without some things.

We did not plan on announcing this, publicly, but in order to request others of something, I feel, you have to be willing to do it yourself as well.

After we went shopping at the Augusta Walmart for a young boy we packed up our trolly cart and got ready to leave. We noticed one of these trees and we were surprised at how full of tags it was. I got nervous and wanted to tap out all of my credit cards and empty my bank account to try to take care of more families. I left Walmart feeling defeated.

We then pulled up to the Christmas Castle located at the Marketplace in Augusta to drop off the gifts we purchased. When we walked through the doors by the defeated feeling went from strong to non-existent when I was face to face with pure contribution and giving.

The room was almost filled with what seemed to be thousands of presents for all ages. This one-room will not proved gifts for all the children but the work that has been done by our community will definitely help.

At that moment I truly saw that numerous smaller donations add up quickly. It's us who, donate the last quarter in our pocket that makes a difference.

Yes, the big donations are essential and vital to these programs but without us, the ones who always wish they could've done more, who are the ones that truly make a difference.

This is us. This is our community, this is what coming together looks like. I am proud to be a part of a state who cares. Maine cares about our children and even though no child should be without anything, I have faith in us.

Pictured in the feature photo is Shannon, Cap't Keith's wife who also is determined to make Christmas better for the youth of Central Maine. Make sure when you donate, you visit the 20 plus foot Santa that Walmart donated to them to fill the room with holiday cheer!

Just because the room looked full does not mean your donation doesn't count. Contact your local Salvation Army to find out how you can help and grab a tag from a tree!

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