Spirit of giving Cousins band together to give struggling families nice holiday
Denielle Gower of Washington, foreground, and Jessica Ashmore wrap gifts for children of the 12 families they sponsored for Christmas through Community Action Southwest during a gift-wrapping party Saturday.
Suzanne Ashmore concentrates as she applies Scotch tape to a hard-to-wrap gift. In the background, her husband, Todd, sorts through a bag of gifts that still need to be wrapped.
Drake Gower cuts paper during a gift-wrapping party the Gower, Daloia and Ashmore families held last Saturday for the 12 families they sponsored through Community Action Southwest.
Bob Gower stands away from the hustle and bustle as he wraps a gift.
Todd Ashmore empties a bag of toys for one of the children on his Christmas list from Community Action Southwest.
The Christmas spirit was alive and well last Saturday morning in the Gower family’s festively decorated garage.
It’s where cousins from the Ashmore, Daloia and Gower clans were holding a gift-wrapping party before heading out to deliver the presents to the 12 families they sponsored this holiday season through Community Action Southwest.
“Economic struggles are particularly difficult for our folks around the holidays,” said Jeff Fondelier, vice president of operations at Community Action Southwest, which serves low-income individuals and families in Washington and Greene counties. “Not being able to afford a nice Christmas experience for your kids is heartbreaking.”
So, an army of volunteers once again stepped forward, offering to make the season merry and bright for 71 local families.
Todd Ashmore, who spearheaded his family’s philanthropic efforts 15 years ago, spent most of Saturday morning organizing the gifts – before, during and after wrapping – so delivery would be swift and flawless.
“As much as it makes us feel good to do this, it’s hard for them,” Ashmore said. “They’re all very thankful. Sometimes they show us pictures of the kids. Some of them are tough deliveries.”
Ultimately, though, it’s that interaction with the families that Ashmore and his relatives enjoy.
“That’s really the difference,” Ashmore said. “Not to knock the Angel Tree or Project Bundle Up, but the CAS caseworker knows these families. It’s a different level of connection. We get to go hand it to them.
“Our kids get to see how good they have it. Just writing a check doesn’t give you an education on what the real world is like.”
Community Action provides sponsors with information about the family dynamics, and gives them a “feel for where they are right now,” Ashmore said
Sponsors also receive the name of each child, along with their age, sizes and gift ideas. Between $40 and $45 is spent on each child, in addition to $50 for ingredients for a meal that includes canned vegetables, pies, ham, stuffing and potatoes.
This year, Ashmore said his group shopped for 30 children – and, like always, they all shopped together. Joining Ashmore, his wife, Suzanne, and their children, Jessica and Tyler, are Chad Daloia and his family, Ryan Daloia and Bob and Denielle Gower and their children, Drake and Shaylyn.
“We have to shop together, although it’s really hard sometimes,” Ashmore said. “The girls take the girls, and the boys take the boys. It was easier when our kids were younger. I am not as in touch with things like Paw Patrol. We have to get creative.”
Some of the money they use for the gifts comes from cash tips they receive during a bartending fundraiser the family has to benefit the Ashmore Legacy Fund at the Washington County Community Foundation. The fund was set up in 2002 in honor of Ashmore’s brother, Scott, a 1989 graduate of Trinity High School who was killed Jan. 4, 1991, in a car accident.
“Scotty’s passing changed Todd tremendously,” said the boys’ mother, Mabel Tennant, who joined the wrapping brigade. “He’s a giver. He wants to make a difference.”
In addition to the tip money, each family chips in cash to cover the cost of the gifts.
Others who sponsored families through Community Action Southwest this year are:
• Peters Township High School Interact Club – 18 families;
• Crossgates community – 10 families;
• Members of Fit House Gym – nine families;
• Employees of Express Family Outlet at Tanger – three families;
• Thirteen private individuals – 14 families;
• CAS management and staff – five families.
For Christine Parker, owner of Fit House Gym, it’s the first year she volunteered to sponsor families – and it won’t be her last.
The response she received from members after hanging up a list at the gym and sending out an email was overwhelming, with some people sponsoring entire families.
“I was 100 percent positive with this community that we could take multiple families,” she said. “The presents started to come in. In two or three days, we had all five covered.”
So, Parker contacted Community Action and asked if there were anymore families they could help. They were given four more.
“People were really, really generous with what they gave,” Parker said. “What was nice about that is we had enough contributions that we could do that. We were even able to provide them with gift cards for parents.”
The only thing she would do differently next timie around is hold a bagging party. She said she spent nine hours just sorting through bags and coordinating the gifts.
But she isn’t complaining.
“My vision for Fit House is it’s so much more than a gym,” she said. “It’s about just doing great things. It’s nice when you have that opportunity to give back. I am so glad we could be a part of it.”