GREENFIELD — Despite being struck by the flu, Peggy Couch witnessed her army of elves at the 10th annual Day of Love and Caring bless hundreds of children on Christmas Eve.
More than 200 volunteers worked to disperse thousands of gifts to hundreds of children starting at 8 a.m. Dec. 24, when rows of tables piled high with presents were lined up in the expo hall and sheep barn at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.
Couch and her husband, Dean, have headed up the holiday giveaway since 2013 through their God’s Open Arms Ministry. The couple, who own and operate Family Auto Repair in Greenfield, dubbed the event the Day of Love and Caring the following year.
Couch said the giveaway is the ideal way for them to demonstrate God’s love to others.
“Every year, we just trust in God to make it all work and somehow it all comes together,” said Couch as she watched dozens of recipients enter the exhibition hall at the fairgrounds bright and early Sunday morning.
What she couldn’t anticipate, however, was the huge jump in the number of families in need this year.
While the Day of Love and Caring has grown to serve between 600 and 700 children annually, more than 900 children received gifts this year, forcing volunteers to close the doors at 12:15 p.m., 45 minutes earlier than expected.
“It was very sad. We have a loving, caring and very giving community, but clearly there were a lot more people in need this year,” said Couch, who is determined to grow the program next year.
“A few local companies have already reached out wanting to partner with us and host toy drives all year long next year. That would be huge,” she said.
While she’s focused on the future, she’s also focused on the generosity of those who donated and volunteered this year.
More than 200 people helped in the days before and at the event, sorting donations and helping families select gifts for their kids.
Couch said a few local churches suspended Sunday morning services so their congregants could volunteer, while other churchgoers opted to attend Christmas Eve services at night so they could help with the gift giveaway.
“We have a great group of people helping us,” said Couch, who watched the activity from her motorized wheelchair.
“I wasn’t expecting to come down with the flu, but since I was sick they’ve taken the ball and run with it. Our board members and volunteers are just amazing,” she said.
While the ministry was prepared to serve 700 children, an estimated 935 kids from 600 different families received gifts this year.
Families were invited to the fairgrounds between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., where kids had the chance to visit with Santa and The Grinch. Hot take-away meals were provided from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Once inside, each family was assigned a number and waited their turn to be matched with a volunteer who would usher them through the long rows of tables packed with an assortment of new gifts, clothing, coats for all ages.
BIG BLESSING
One Greenfield mother named Melissa said she was thankful and overwhelmed by the support for her family of six kids, ranging from 2 weeks to 17 years old, including one grandchild.
“This has been a rough year,” said Melissa, whose mom and stepdad both passed away earlier this year.
“I also had to find someplace new to live and the rent went up by $500 a month, so this is a really big help,” shared the Greenfield mom as she selected some Bluetooth speakers and bedding sets for her kids.
“There’s going to be a lot of joy and excitement on Christmas morning,” she said.
Cliff Cooper expressed the same sentiment as he selected gifts for his four grandchildren, ages 3 to 12 years old.
“I think this is great. It helps take a little weight off,” said the Indianapolis man, who is the main care provider for his grandkids.
Volunteer Tandy Paarlberg stood by as Cooper thoughtfully selected from an assortment of toys, puzzles and coloring books, stuffing his selections into a black garbage bag as if it were Santa’s sack.
“I’ve been volunteering here for six years now, and I love it,” said Paarlberg. “You can see the gratitude on people’s faces. It’s a really great event.”
Teams of volunteers had already spent countless hours by Christmas Eve morning collecting and sorting the thousands of new gifts that had been donated this year, from Legos, skateboards and action figures to baby dolls, stuffed animals and preschool toys.
Some tables were covered in books and craft sets while others held gifts more suitable for teens, like speakers, headphones, purses and makeup.
Pre-sorted bags of pajamas, socks and underwear were labeled by size, courtesy of members of Park Chapel Church in Greenfield, while racks of new coats lined the back wall of the sheep barn.
Volunteers from Changing Footprints helped recipients select from tables piled high with shoes, from sneakers to sparkly boots.
One nonprofit had donated backpacks stuffed with school supplies while another had donated boxes of pre-filled Christmas stockings.
Couch said a lot of the food given away was donated by the organizers of the Feast of Plenty that takes place at the fairgrounds each Thanksgiving, with help from Doug Addison, who runs a meal program out of the Charlottesville Lions Club.
Couch said some of her volunteers also planned to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels of Hancock County on Christmas Eve, giving regular Meals on Wheels drivers the day off.
It takes a village to provide help at the holidays, she said, adding that it was a true blessing to see so many people step up to help.
For more information on God’s Open Arms and the Day of Love and Caring, visit GodsOpenArms.org.
