Submitted by Ruth Filz
Residents of Palm Gardens RV Park in Harlingen routinely take the following words of the popular Christmas song Do You Know It’s Christmas to heart, and especially during the holidays.
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time.
We realize how fortunate we are and wanted to help make the holidays a little happier and brighter for others. Some of the activities we have been up to are:
Monthly, ladies from the park get together to create crafts for themselves and to give as gifts. During November, they got together an additional time and made over 90 pinecone Christmas gnomes. The gnomes were delivered to residents at Valley View Senior Center in Harlingen when a group of ladies went to spread holiday cheer and sing Christmas carols for residents and staff. Something the ladies have been doing for several years.
Everyone knows life can be difficult and stressful at times and these times can be especially hard on children. For the past few months, we have been collecting teddy bears. A total of 130 teddy bears were collected and donated to the Harlingen Police Department. As situations warrant, officers give the teddy bears to children. And who doesn’t feel a little better when hugging a teddy bear! We’ve already started collecting teddy bears to donate this spring.
Growing up many of us enjoyed the excitement of opening up the little doors on an Advent Calendar every day and finding some candy or a small toy. This year residents took part in a Reverse Advent Calendar – each day they would add a grocery item to a box (or laundry baskets). The groceries are then given to people in need. This year we collected 23 baskets of groceries that will be given to the elderly in need in the St. Theresa Parish in San Benito.
Hopefully these activities help brighten the holidays for others, we know they did for us!