Donors Fill Miller Swim School Pool With Toys, Food For Needy

Tulsa's Miller Swim School challenged its swimmers and their families to fill a pool with toys and clothes... and they succeeded.

It was all donated to a small church outside Chouteau.

It's the season of giving.

"I'm very grateful for this whole program," Lake Crest resident Michelle Nicholas said.

The school took a 40-mile trip to the Lake Crest House of Prayer, where they're putting a little cheer in Christmas.

"Our patrons have all brought gifts, food, clothing and it's just been a lot of fun," Miller Swim School co-owner Rita Miller.

Every year, the swim school gets together to donate all kinds of things to a needy community.

This is the third time the school has come here to Lake Crest.

"Lots of times they get to school and they're hungry and they need clothes and what we're trying to do is help them to stay in school so they can get educated," Miller said.

After posing with Old St. Nick, more than 70 kids walked away with a bag full of goodies.

"Being a single mom, you don't get the opportunity to give your kids everything under the sun, and with this program, it has given me hope that my son may get something that he wants and my daughter," Nicholas said.

Next stop on the Christmas trail is Chouteau's FFA trailer, where a group of high school kids are giving away food baskets.

There's everything from canned goods to turkeys and even hams.

"It's crazy to think how many people don't have this stuff at home cause I've always grown up and had everything I needed and haven't had to worry about what's for dinner that night or if I was going to get dinner, so it feels really great to be able to help out," Chouteau FFA President Rebecca Walsh said.

The program is a blessing for those in need.

"There's so many people out here on fixed incomes and disabled and a lot of people just can't afford a lot of things for their kids, so we really, really appreciate it."

Kids won't have to worry about staying warm this Christmas either.

A Broken Arrow church helped with that by donating hundreds of blankets to the community.