Sharing and caring : The annual giving program is a miracle in itself each holiday season.
Posted on Saturday, December 1, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/56207/
BENTONVILLE — With such corporations as Wal-Mart, Tyson and J. B. Hunt anchoring the area, along with the amenities that have popped up in recent years, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there are people in need in northwest Arkansas.
No one needs to remind Irene Medrano or Rachel Nicholson.
Medrano and Nicholson are the two staff members behind Sharing and Caring, a holiday giving program that started more than two decades ago in Benton County. For months, they, with help from dedicated volunteers Sue Robertson and Lisa Dykema, have been screening and organizing a list of 3, 949 Benton County children who, without this program, wouldn’t be receiving any gifts this holiday season.
And the majority of these kids, who range from infants to high-schoolers, aren’t asking for Xboxes and other hot, luxury items.
“ So many of them ask for the basic necessities, like socks and food and something to keep warm, ” Nicholson said. “ There’s a lot of tears around here every year when we see those lists. So many of these kids don’t have anything. They just want to feel full and warm. They’re not even thinking about the kinds of things a lot of kids have on their lists. ”
There are lists that still cause Nicholson and Medrano to tear up even today, several weeks after the registration process.
“ There was one kid — a foster kid— and it makes me cry every time I think of it, ” Nicholson said. “ You ask him what he wants, and his answer is ‘ parents. ’ That’s all. ”
The Sharing and Caring program can’t deliver parents, but it has worked plenty of miracles for Benton County children over the years. And it’s had plenty of help doing so. With just two true staff members and no money in its budget to begin each year, it’s a miracle in itself that the program continues to come through for the thousands who depend on its help every holiday season.
On Friday, Medrano and Nicholson watched as volunteers from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sectioned off the floors of the two largest buildings at the new Benton County Fairgrounds, organizing spaces for each child’s gifts. Monday through Friday of this coming week, volunteers and donors from across the county will fill the buildings with gifts, and there will be several Wal-Mart semitrailers outside, stocked with blankets and food.
For the past four years, the Benton County Boys and Girls Club helped run the Sharing and Caring program. But the club branched off to expand a year-round giving program for its own members in 2007. And Sharing and Caring hasn’t missed a beat, with Wal-Mart, its vendors and plenty of other volunteers stepping up.
“ Arkansas National Bank donated office space for us on Walton Boulevard, ” Medrano said. “ Wal-Mart has been out here dropping off trailers and taping off our floors. One of the most overwhelming things about this whole program is how many people actually come together to volunteer and give to make this happen. ”
Local vendors have donated countless office supplies, from staplers to computers, as well as necessity items such as bottled water, food, clothing and more. When it came time to start the search for families to adopt and buy gifts for each of the 3, 949 children on the list, more than 2, 800 Wal-Mart associates signed up.
“ That, in itself, is amazing, ” Medrano said. “ We’ve found families to sponsor each of these kids, and we’re going to get it done again. This is our Christmas. ”
From 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Dec. 14, all of the children and families on the Sharing and Caring needs list will arrive at the Benton County Fairgrounds to pick up their gifts. All of the necessities will be there, along with some extras, such as popular electronics, video games, dolls and other items. Local restaurants will donate and deliver meals to the fairgrounds every day next week as the gifts arrive and are organized, but meals are still being sought for the 150 volunteers who will be handing gifts out on Dec. 14. Medrano said the organization is also in need of more blankets. “ I have no doubt everything will work itself out, ” Medrano said. “ It has to. These families and kids depend on us. ”