Church spreads cheer, snacks

In the spirit of the holiday, families from Heritage United Methodist Church offer a sugary thanks to those working Christmas Eve.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 28, 2002

On Christmas Eve, families with children dressed up in velvet and red bows gathered together to pray and sing at Heritage United Methodist Church.

But they knew there were others out there who could not come to church and could not be home wrapping presents or preparing a turkey feast.

On that rainy night, they had to work.

So the church thanked them with something sweet: 300 packages, each filled with a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

"We're taking them to hospitals, nursing homes, police stations, gas stations, mini food marts, hospices and emergency animal shelters," said Sue Johnston, who coordinates the effort at the church. "It's a way to say, 'Thank you,' to the people who choose to or want to work on Christmas Eve."

Krispy Kreme gave the church a deal: $2 for a dozen doughnuts.

"They also made a contribution of several dozen," said Arch Johnston, Sue Johnston's husband.

The church had five Christmas Eve services, and after each one, families picked up boxes of doughnuts stacked on tables in the fellowship hall and delivered them to their assigned places.

At least 70 families participated.

The Cursey family -- including mom Kasey, 40, dad Rob, 37, daughter Addison, 4, son Ethan, 3 and grandfather Jim Moore, 81 -- were assigned a fire station and a nursing home in Palm Harbor.

After attending the 3 p.m. service, the family packed their boxes in their green minivan and took off in the rain to fire station 65 on Westlake Drive.

After pulling up in the driveway, Addison bounced out of the van with a box, walked up to the station and, with a little help from mom, rang the doorbell. Firefighter paramedic Rodney Malpass opened the door, and Addison handed him a box.

"Merry Christmas," she said. "Thank you for helping us tonight."

"You're very welcome," Malpass said, taking the box. "Would you like to come in?"

Addison was treated to a tour of the station and got to sit in the driver's seat of truck 65.

"It makes them stop thinking about themselves," said Mrs. Cursey, looking at her daughter. "It takes their focus off Santa."

Workers at the fire station were thrilled with their Christmas visitors.

"I think it's great," said firefighter paramedic Steve Gorby, 31. "There are seven people at the station tonight. We're always hungry. The donuts will be dessert. They'll be gone by tonight."

Malpass agreed.

"It's nice to know you're appreciated," he said. "It makes us feel good -- and fatter."

The family said goodbye to the firefighters and headed to Manor Care nursing home about a mile away.

Addison again made the delivery, handing a box of doughnuts to Manor Care secretary Ruth Carrillo.

"Oh, you are so precious!" Carrillo said, trying to answer the phones and thank Addison at the same time.

"This is an extra, extra," Carrillo said. "They take their time to do this. They could have been at home, but they choose to come out here. It's so appreciated."

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