STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 12
group from helping . A man called looking for a dinner and they talked , she said .
“ Sometimes we need to go further . Sometimes when we get there they may have a roof over their head , but there ’ s nothing in it – we found that a veteran man who had been homeless was sleeping on the floor . He had just got a home , but he had nothing else ,” she said .
They helped him furnish his house , stock the pantry , find some clothes , get the basics to live , eat and continue to thrive .
“ We set them up . Furniture , anything they need , clothes ,” Wilson said . “ That is a big deal seeing the people come and fellowship together . That ’ s when you know that God ’ s in the middle of something – you help someone the way that you can help them and it ’ s their greatest need .”
Cindy and Bobby Pugh have been stalwart volunteers at the dinner for 10 years , too . The couple has owned Stillwater Kawasaki & Suzuki for three decades . Cindy organizes the stockings and toys .
“ For the first couple years I didn ’ t know what to expect … I started reaching out to local businesses , and it has just been amazing the response of people wanting to help – the people that have shown up to stuff the stockings , for example ,” she said .
The groups stuffs 120 full size stockings with crayons , coloring books , stuffed animals , puzzles , bracelets , tops and kaleidoscopes ; also candy and toothbrushes with toothpaste donated by a local dentist . Toys are unwrapped , Pugh said , and children and teens get to select their toy Christmas Day .
“ When Tish takes the call for the people ordering dinners they ’ ll ask , ‘ How many children do you have ?’ Those families do get a stocking , but full participation at the dinner is needed to get a toy .”
Age appropriate gifts given out are up to age 16 , Pugh said , and she tries to find gifts for older kids like sports balls or other popular culture items . Pugh said some memories have stuck with her . “ One Christmas day , one of the first times I served meals , I did not work in the toy area yet , and there was a little girl who went to the toy area to carefully select her toy . She was probably 6 years old , and she picked out a cute little decorative umbrella .”
Pugh said the girl opened up her umbrella and began “ twirling and twirling ” it around and laughing and “ the smile on her face … all the work the volunteers do … that one day seeing that one little girl ’ s face light up was worth all the work that we do . It was really , really precious and puts an emphasis on community and donations . That ’ s what this is about , helping the kids and doing this in the community .”
Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate with the Friends of Stillwater can call Wilson or Pugh after
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Dec . 1 at 405-762-2320 .
Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate with the Friends of Stillwater can call Wilson or Pugh after Dec . 1 at 405-762-2320 .
Two Stillwater Community Christmas guests have a special moment in front of the tree . File Photo
STORY BY : KIERSTEN SHAUN Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS PROVIDED
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 12