When the holidays approach, people seem to become more generous and interested in the welfare of their fellow humans. "Pay it forward" regains popularity as anonymous customers pick up the tab for someone waiting to be served. Shoppers purchase an extra toy or pair of gloves to donate to various holiday goodwill endeavors. The spirit of giving, kindness and concern is everywhere.
At the Stoddard County Gospel Mission, the Christmas spirit is present year-round.
"I love what we do here," says mission Director Kim Lemons. "I love helping people. It is so rewarding to all of us here, to know we are making a difference in people's lives. Through our work at the mission we make it possible for families to have food, clothes and even household goods."
Lemons has been director for seven years. She was hired by the board when her mother, Betty Lemons, retired from the same position.
The mission has served Stoddard County for 25 years, according to Lemons, and celebrated their 25th anniversary this past summer.
"There have been changes through the years," Lemons observes, "as we grew, evolved and found our place in the community."
Located in Dexter, the mission has satellite offices in Puxico and Advance, and serves about 1,200 county families a month.
During the year, the mission provides monthly food supplements to those who qualify for the program.
"Families who receive food stamps are automatically eligible," explains Lemons, "and then we are also able to help those who do not get food stamps, but meet the federal government's poverty guidelines."
Dexter distributes foodstuffs from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
"Distribution is by appointment," Lemons say, "simply because of the number of clients who need assistance."
Puxico is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Advance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
Lemons is quick to stress the mission could not operate as they do without the year-long support of the community. Sales from the thrift store help support the food pantry, and Lemons says they appreciate all donations of clothing, shoes and fashion accessories, home décor, kitchen accessories and dinnerware, furniture and electronics.
When the clothing items come in they are immediately inspected and separated. Those that are in good condition, clean and ready for resale are categorized and hung. Those that are in good condition, but a bit soiled are laundered before being processed. Those items that cannot be used are sent to a center in St. Louis and are distributed elsewhere.
"I am very proud of our resale shop," says Lemons. "We have worked hard to organize the merchandise and make it look inviting and tasteful." The community is especially generous during the holidays, according to Lemons.
"The Boy Scouts donate the items from their November canned food drive, and the Dexter schools have various promotions to help out," Lemons adds.
Among the efforts of the schools are a coat drive at Central; a mac-and-cheese collection sponsored by FBLA, which brought in over 1,900 boxes; and the 'Stuff-a-Truck' effort, collecting canned goods.
"Williams Moving donates the use of a moving truck, and when it arrives here, it will be filled with non-perishables to help supplement the Christmas baskets," Lemons explains proudly.
While the mission is busy throughout the year, December is a particularly hectic month.
"We are busy, busy, busy," Lemons says, "but we love the hustle and bustle and the anticipation of the joy we will bring to families through our efforts here."
In addition to the regular monthly food distribution, the mission also assembles special Christmas baskets that are given out a few days before Christmas.
"This is the one event of the year when we ask for help," Lemons explains. "Early in the holiday season letters are mailed out to the community asking for assistance with our Christmas baskets."
Recipients are supplied with a return form that asks for donations of specific time slots to assemble the baskets, distribute the baskets, or to make a monetary donation if they are not able to volunteer their time.
"It is a huge undertaking to assemble 1,200 baskets," Lemons says. "This year, we will be working on Dec. 12 and 13 to put them together."
Besides the boxed and canned items necessary to create a traditional holiday meal, the baskets also contain chicken donated by Tyson Foods.
It is also a big job to transport 400 of those baskets to the Puxico and Advance facilities.
"Without the manpower supplied by Brown Construction and other volunteers, this outreach effort would not be possible," Lemons points out. "The baskets have to be loaded on the truck, then unloaded when they reach their destination."
Baskets will be distributed in Puxico and Advance on Dec. 17. In Dexter, distribution will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 21.
"When clients are here in November, they are given a card with their assigned time for Christmas basket pick-up," Lemons explains, "and, again, they are assigned a time because of the volume of distributions that will be occurring on that day."
Lemons says that basket distribution day is really like Christmas.
"Everyone is in such high spirits -- staff and volunteers alike," Lemons says, describing how the day unfolds.
"We have costumes for Santa, Mrs. Claus, an elf, and a reindeer," Lemons shares. "The rest of the staff dress in their most festive Christmas attire, and many of the volunteers arrive wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers."
Lemons says that as guests arrive to pick up their basket, they are welcomed with a warm greeting by two volunteers, who then carry the parcels out to their vehicles. Children stop by a gaily decorated tree to choose an unwrapped gift.
"While we are so appreciative of all our volunteers, and everyone who donates to our Christmas effort, I must share this about one mystery couple who appear each year a few days before our Christmas basket distribution," Lemon says.
Lemons says the couple will arrive in a pickup truck, the bulging bed covered securely with a tarp. The covering is removed to reveal a huge mound of new toys, which are brought inside and placed beneath the Christmas tree. There the toys will wait until the day of the basket distribution.
"I don't know who they are, where they come from, or anything about them," Lemons explains. "They want no recognition, no thanks, nothing."
Lemons adds that toys are always needed at Christmas time, and the staff will appreciate any contributions they receive; however, if anyone is considering donating, there are a couple of age groups that always lack enough age-appropriate toys.
"It seems like the four years to 10 years category have a hard time finding something they are interested in," Lemons says, "and the other area that is lacking is the older teens -- 17 or 18 years-of-age."
Those who want to donate toys can always Google age appropriate toys to get ideas, but Lemons offers some suggestions. She says the youngsters like cars, building sets, dinosaurs, magnetic blocks, board games, Legos, art supplies, craft kits, hair chalk, nail art and stamp pads. Suggested items for the older teens might include cosmetics, fragrances or bath products, body spray, hair products or accessories, nail polish, fashion scarves, insulated water bottles or sports bottles, beanies, texting gloves, picture frames or $10 gift cards to local fast-food restaurants or gas stations.
"I am so proud of the role the mission plays in our community and in our county," Lemons adds smiling. "Not only are we able to assist struggling families on a daily and monthly basis, but at this time of year, when need is felt so keenly, we are able to help bridge that gap, too."