Programs look to make holidays bright for needy

Doing without the things that most people take for granted is a way of life for some.

However, local churches and civic organizations annually band together to make Christmas wishes a reality for deserving children in the community. Such is the case with Catholic Social Services and Toys for Tots.

Catholic Social Services Emergency Program Administrator Jennifer Gaudet chairs the Adopt-a-Family toy drive for the Houma-Terrebonne area.

“Sometimes children have learned not to expect certain gifts for Christmas or their birthdays because their families cannot afford them, but that shouldn’t be the case,” she said.

The spirit of gift giving strikes close to home for Gaudet. She admits that at one time she understood firsthand what it felt like to live in poverty conditions. She knows the feeling of inferiority.

“I am extremely grateful to the efforts of our community to assist these young children,” she said. “I am not sure if our parishioners fully understand the depths of which their gifts reach into the human soul. After all, it’s more than just a pair of roller blades or fishing equipment.”

Gaudet finds that the gifts increase self-esteem for children, lessen parents’ stress levels and renew the cheer that surrounds a family during the holidays.

“The program is more than just giving and receiving,” she said. “It is mainly about sharing one’s love and strength with someone else who feels tired and run down.”

Pat Walters has been participating in Thibodaux’s toy drive for 17 of the 19 years it has been in existence. She said not much has changed over the years.

“It’s something about giving during Christmastime that makes people feel good inside,” Walters said. “In Thibodaux, the community’s participation in the toy drive remains constant every year.”

The same can be said for the area Toys for Tots program, which is celebrating 60 years of gift giving in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

Last year alone, more than 8,000 youths received gifts from the program.

“In Terrebonne Parish, most of our gifts go to single parent households where the parent doesn’t have enough money to buy gifts for all the children in the family,” Houma Toys for Tots chairman Eldridge Klibert explained.

The retired Marine said the organization gives because all children deserve to have a happy Christmas.

Sue Ockman of Raceland is an auxiliary member with the Lafourche Parish Marine Reserve Corps. She is heading Lafourche’s Toys for Tots drive.

“I find myself neglecting my own family members during Christmastime to make sure that others have a good Christmas,” she said.

Ockman and the other retired and active Marines in Lafourche are participating in the toy drive in memory of Ockman’s husband, Milton, who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease three years ago.

“I wanted to give it up, but I couldn’t. It’s been three years now and the Marines are behind me 100 percent,” she expressed. “It’s just the joy of seeing the kids’ faces that keeps me going every year.”

Ockman also finds joy in seeing children participate in the gift giving. South Lafourche High School has a classroom contest going to see who can gather the most toys.

“It hurts when underprivileged children can’t do what they feel, when others can,” Gaudet said. “They always feel left out of all the fun.”

Most of the support from the local toy drives comes from one of three places: Catholic parishioners, local schools or businesses. The Marines get the bulk of their toys from the National Marine Corps headquarters in Quantico, Va.

“With the generous support of Catholic parishioners and area businesses who adopted families, the children will have opportunities to receive gifts like bicycles, roller blades, electronic games and dolls,” Gaudet said.

Last year, Catholic Social Services helped more than 400 children in the Houma area, while Thibodaux’s Toy Drive gave away more than 1,500 toys. The Marine Corps topped the list, giving away more than 19,000 toys.

Those wanting to make Christmas special for a child can get a name from the Catholic churches in Terrebonne Parish or submit a name to the Toys for Tots program. Thibodaux’s toy drive is closed for this Christmas season.

Gaudet can be contacted at (985) 876-0490, and Klibert can be contacted at (985) 853-0614.

Toys for Tots volunteers Verina Boquet, Barbara Bergeron and Lorena Klibert pack Christmas gifts for next week’s distribution. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN