Helping Mississippi hurricane victims with Christmas

Many hurricane victims don't know what they're going to do for Christmas. With housing, food and bills, Christmas gifts for their children may be an afterthought. News on 6 anchor Craig Day says

Monday, December 12th 2005, 11:19 am

By: News On 6

Many hurricane victims don't know what they're going to do for Christmas. With housing, food and bills, Christmas gifts for their children may be an afterthought. News on 6 anchor Craig Day says several Tulsa groups want to help make Christmas special for hurricane victims despite the often heartbreaking challenge of recovery.

A handful of Santa's elves are in the gym at Carbondale Assembly of God Church. They're preparing an important shipment.

Tulsa based Open Doors Ministry will send hundreds of gifts to Mississippi, where otherwise, it would likely be a very meager Christmas. Ric Shields with Open Doors Ministry "We thought, what if we could provide Christmas?"Hundreds of people have made donations since Thanksgiving. "All kinds of toys. kids are going to enjoy. Makes me wish I were a kid."

They'll be loaded into a U-Haul and taken to Biloxi to be handed out to families. "The distribution center there will be able to help 2500 kids." Brittany Graham with Open Doors Ministry "It's so exciting to know that somewhere in Biloxi on Christmas Day, there's going to be kids opening up these presents."

Along with the presents, organizers, hope to send a message that hurricane victims haven't been forgotten. Along with all the toys, electronics and bicycles, people kept dropping off roll after roll after roll of wrapping paper. In fact, 10,000 square feet of wrapping paper.

So that when parents pick out a gift for their child, they can do the wrapping themselves. That will mean parents will get to be a part of the joy of Christmas morning. Brittany Graham: "To be able to go to your child and say I picked this out for you. This is what I thought you would like, I think it is just as much about the parents as it is the children."

And for Open Doors Ministry, acting as Santa's helpers is about the joy of giving. Ric Shields, "Wish I could be there. Boy would that be the icing on the cake." Though they won't see the smiles and excitement firsthand, a part of the heart will make the trip and will be there Christmas morning.

Open Doors will leave Tuesday for Mississippi.

Another toy drive is underway involving the city of Tulsa and Guts church. You can drop off toys for the Team Relief toy drive through Wednesday at Guts Church at 9120 East Broken Arrow Expressway. Those toys will be taken to children in Long Beach, Mississippi.