Local veterans were provided Christmas boxes that contained turkeys and other things during a giveaway earlier this month at the St. William Catholic Church Parish Hall.
The program is by Bryan County United Way and other organizations that contributed.
United Way Director Pam Robinson said it is her favorite event and that the boxes have everything needed for a Christmas dinner.
“You name it, we got it in the box and the thing I want you to know is for probably five years, I had to work to find veterans to give this stuff to,” Robinson said. “Not anymore. They’ve been calling me for two months, so I’m real excited about it.”
Marilyn Hitchcock, a member of the Catholic church and of the board of directors United Way, said that several years ago, the event needed a bigger building, so the church offered the parish hall that had just been built.
“A lot of the volunteers come from St. William’s, but a lot of the volunteers come from the Boy Scouts and from the other churches,” Hitchcock said. “We have several board of directors from Bryan County United Way that have been here filling the boxes and then, we help carry the boxes out.
“Veterans have to check in with Pam Robinson, the director of Bryan County United Way and she puts them on a list and she starts making that list a couple of months ahead and she talks to the local VAs and everything and gets mostly the Bryan County veterans that need the boxes. She tries to contact everyone to get them on the list.”
Hitchcock said several organizations delivered the boxes and other veterans came by to pick them up. The program has been ongoing for more than 10 years. According to Hitchcock, the program was started by Jack Accountius.
“He just went to Pam and asked her if there’s something that she would do for the veterans that needed it and would she do this to honor them and she said sure, so now it’s grown from about 30 when we first started volunteering to about 150 veterans that need it.”
Hitchcock said there were approximately 50 volunteers helping with the event.
Brayson Pilgreen, Boy Scout first class with Troop 615 was among Scouts helping.
“We’re just getting boxes and helping the veterans and getting food for them, helping them out,” Pilgreen said. “We probably have about 10 scouts. Next year, we’re going to do a lot of stuff for the community.”
Twelve-year-old Jace Cater was among the volunteers.
“I’m helping packing up boxes for United Way,” Cater said.
Robinson said of Cater, “Jace, when he was six years old and we were giving food out over there across the parking lot, he wanted to come down. and I think you came down with your Papaw.
“After he came down one time, every time we gave them out, he wanted to come down here and I will tell you what he said. one day, he was standing at the table giving these elderly people some food and everything. He said, ‘I just love helping old people,’ and I just love it and he’s been doing it ever since.”
According to Robinson, Cater helps with this event every year and other United Way events.
“He’s real involved in the Shriner’s now,” Robinson said. “He’s an official ambassador for our local Shriner’s Club, so he’s a special young man.”
The following organizations donated to the program: - 150 turkeys, St. William Catholic Church.
- 150 cans of corn, 150 cans of beans and 150 cans of fruit, Red River Ford Food Drive.
- 150 toboggan caps, Big Five.
- 150 five-pound bags of potatoes, Hitchcock Distributing.
- 150 toothbrushes and 150 tubes of toothpaste, Casey Roberts Dentist.
- 150 pairs of gloves, 150 pairs of socks, 150 deodorants and 150 bars of soap, Durant First United Methodist Church.
- 150 cans of cranberry sauce and a $250 check to United Way, First Texoma National Bank.
- 150 bags of cookies, Amanda Delloro.
- 150 boxes, Jason at Choctaw Recycling.
- 150 packages of dressing, Durant First Baptist Church.
