The gift of time: Instead of exchanging presents, family volunteers for the holidays

Kristen Short didn't receive presents from her family this Christmas, but she didn't mind.

Short and other members of her family opted to donate the money they would have spent on gifts to the Music Academy at Southeast Missouri State University. The Short family also spent a couple of hours volunteering at a Christmas Eve party at Auburn Creek Assisted Living Center in Cape Girardeau.

In return, the family formed relationships with the center's residents and made a few memories they will share for many Christmases to come.

"Since most of us were older and were not in need of any presents, we decided to do something better with our talents and time," Kristen Short said. "We were excited to spend time with each other and were thrilled to meet the residents and share what we had to offer."

Short said her family had never volunteered as a group but said the experience could become a tradition.

Family members who participated in the volunteer effort ranged from 7 to 65 years old and came from Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Mo., North Carolina and Minnesota. Activities at the party included Christmas songs, games, cupcakes and poem recitations.

"It was very interesting meeting everyone who lived there and learning about their life experiences," Short said of the family's time with the nursing home residents. "One couple had been married for 62 years, and another lady had lived in Louisiana for 59 years, then moved away to a couple of different states before she settled in Missouri. We had a blast singing and playing all of the games planned for us that day."

The Short family wasn't alone this holiday season in their volunteer efforts. Residents from and visitors to Southeast Missouri have been participating in a variety of efforts ranging from delivering food baskets to distributing toys.

Troy Vaughn said those goodwill efforts are part of the Christmas spirit.

Vaughn and his wife, Lori, along with his children Casey, 11, and Allison, 9, spent their Christmas afternoon assisting with the evening meal at Capetown Assisted Living Center in Cape Girardeau. The Vaughns normally visit relatives in Indiana each Christmas but decided to stay in Southeast Missouri so they could give back to their community during the holiday season.

Allison Vaughn said they had "a lot of fun helping serve up the dinner."

This was not the Vaughns' first experience with volunteering.

The family was among those who helped deliver presents to needy children Dec. 18 through the Toybox program, which was co-sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian. Vaughn said this was the perfect way to complete their holiday volunteer efforts.

"My wife and I also wanted to show our children how important it was to help when the need is there," Vaughn said. "There are a lot of needs in the community that need to be met, and it feels good knowing we're helping in some way."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628