Holidays are delivering joy, reasons for gratitude
The holiday spirit compels us to pass it on to loved ones, neighbors and strangers alike. And a day before Santa suits up for his big night, Christmas 2015 already has delivered plenty of joy and reasons for gratitude in the community.
The Wichita Children’s Home showed off its spacious new campus on East 37th Street North at an open house, anticipating a February move-in and seeking the last $1.1 million in its $12.5 million campaign.
The Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County, which handles cases of abuse and neglect, moved closer to readying the former Lincoln Elementary School to become a child-focused facility with the help of a $1.2 million gift from the Dwane L. and Velma Lunt Wallace Charitable Foundation.
Newman University announced a $2 million gift from Fugate Enterprises to support its science, nursing and allied health professions program and students.
The Eagle also has told readers how Kansans came together to give Ohio fifth-grader Austin Osner a trip to Wichita and new prosthetic arm, how Andover High senior Amelia Flores inspired even Kim Kardashian West to help her charity shoe drive, and how the Goddard community got an Arkansas family’s broken-down RV back on the road. Then there was country superstar Garth Brooks, who spent part of his four blockbuster days in Wichita hosting a baseball camp for kids.
One story exemplified how generosity begets more – about the gold coins presented to Wichita nonprofits such as Guadalupe Clinic and the Lord’s Diner by the Wichita Community Foundation on behalf of an anonymous donor. Over the past decade, such coins have leveraged even more money for good causes, because they are repeatedly auctioned off and the proceeds and coins are returned to the groups. The Guadalupe Clinic also paused this month in thanks and celebration for its 30th anniversary.
The season has not been free of stress and sadness. Some families are newly facing layoffs. Holiday charities found it challenging to meet their donation goals, just as the United Way of the Plains campaign fell short last month. The community also has experienced murders, traffic deaths, and other tragedy and loss. Two crooks were caught swiping packages off porches. Another reportedly told employees at the auto parts store he was robbing: “Times are hard, and I have children to feed.” And the toxic political environment and fear of terrorism are being felt locally as well as nationally.
But the acts of kindness and charity are what make Christmas merry and bright, promising to leave a stronger community in the process.
This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Holidays are delivering joy, reasons for gratitude."