160+......

Yesterday I spent the morning doing errands. I had a list and a "loop" route that would take me from the north side of town, southwest for a few more stops, then south, then east and then back home. In and out of the car.

I started at our local food pantry, dropping off several bags of groceries. We like to do this at least once a month just because our pantry is always full.....and many local families do not have the same experience. This is a small food pantry in the lower level of a church building and it's only open to it's clients on Tuesday mornings. So it's a busy place when I arrive and bring my four bags down the stairs and into the collection room.

While there I asked if they had room for a nice, gently used warm winter parka....and they said "Oh yes!" And then I asked if they were collecting any toys and had room for two teddy bears I purchased recently. The volunteers again said they would be more than happy to accept the gifts and one said "We have over 160 children who won't be getting anything for Christmas this year unless we get enough donations."

I drove away and that comment kept running through my head. More than 160 children waking up to a pretty bleak Christmas morning - at least from a child's point of view. So my errand route changed just a little bit....and included a stop at Marshall's.

It's a drop in just one bucket....and I will probably go again next week for a few more toys. But here's seven toys.....so now the food pantry is down to 150+. It's a start.....