FORTVILLE — On a Saturday morning, with lists in hand, the shoppers spread out across the McCordsville Meijer.
Checking lists twice wasn’t done to build the bounty under their own Christmas trees, though. It was done to help other local families have Christmas gifts, as part of the annual Be the Gift outreach organized by Fortville Christian Church.
Dewana Dalworth was one of the people pushing a cart. She’s been participating in these shopping outings for several years, drawn to them because she remembers her own years as a single mother raising two daughters.
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With careful budgeting, she was generally able to get the wished-for presents for her children. But she’s sympathetic to the challenge of navigating the holidays when finances are already pinched. It was always tougher, she said, so today she wants to help families facing similar concerns.
“That is where my passion lies,” she said. “I think about this time of year. Things get rough … They still want you to pay your bills … (but) you want your children to have things.”
When she started volunteering her time and also donating money toward the Be the Gift shopping trips, “I thought it would take away from my family,” she said. “It did the complete opposite.”
For one thing, Dalworth has a granddaughter who enjoys helping her choose items and has come along most years. On Dec. 14, Dalworth enlisted the help of a fellow church member’s daughter. She likes having a younger person’s input when she’s buying clothes, for example.
Amy Tucker, who coordinates the buying trip, said 26 shoppers participated this year, and the effort provided assistance in some form for more than 200 people.
She said the group, a mix of repeat volunteers and newcomers, enjoys the fellowship with each other and conversations with curious Meijer shoppers.
“They love it … They enjoy being able to tell the story,” said Tucker, also a special education teacher at Fortville Elementary School. “They know their hands are part of this family’s Christmas.”
Tucker said over the years partnerships have grown with the community to help as many as possible with Be the Gift. For example, Mt. Vernon Middle School contributed through various student fundraisers, such as donating $1 to have open gym time during homeroom for one day, or buying $1 candygrams from the school’s National Junior Honor Society.
“Our students at the middle school love to get involved and help others,” school counselor Michelle Shepherd wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “It was wonderful watching them work together as a team to support their fellow classmates in and out of the gym … students were able to Be The Gift and Give a Gift.”
Among those also partnering with the church were members of the Mt. Vernon High School boys soccer team. They helped set up an area at the church on Sunday for wrapping the items bought the day before. Then they helped sort wrapped packages by family group and load them into cars for delivery.
They also moved canned goods; another big part of Be the Gift is a festive atmosphere during the church food pantry’s open hours on a Tuesday leading up to Christmas. Local Scouts bake cookies, and food pantry regulars can also receive gift baskets filled with hygiene items.
Taylor Lorsung, a junior on the Marauders’ team, said it was easy work for the guys to do and it was good to give back to the community.
Teammate Noah Whitehouse agreed.
“It’s important to be involved,” Whitehouse wrote in a message to the Daily Reporter, “because it not only helps give back to those in need in our community but also helps us as a team create bonds and helps us become more of a family.”
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For years, Fortville Christian Church has pursued “Be the Gift” initiatives at Christmastime. Lead pastor Rob Rigsbee has said Jesus came to be the gift and has challenged church members to share that gift.
The gifts have taken different forms over the years, including a musical for a senior facility, a party for at-risk youth and an appreciation dinner for first-responders.
In recent years, particularly as United Christmas Service stopped serving Hancock County families, Be the Gift has offered help to families in need in the Mt. Vernon school district. It has also gathered hygiene items and holiday extras such as hams for its food pantry visitors, recruited people to visit shut-in seniors at home or in facilities, and offered crock pots and other gifts to families struggling in a neighborhood nearby.
The theme is generally unveiled in November, with church members taking tags hung on Christmas trees near the entrance of the church, 9450 N. County Road 200W. Those who take a tag agree to donate items large and small, or donate cash, or pray for the outreach.
Information: 317-485-4934, fortvillechristian.com
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