A helping hand for the holidays

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many Baldwin residents and organizations, the holiday season was much cheerier for 15 local families.

On Dec. 21, the community came together to host A Christmas Storie, an event that allowed residents, businesses and groups the chance to “adopt” Baldwin families in need. The adopted families, who were identified through the school district, each received a myriad of gifts, including, new coats, new books, bags of food to take home, a raffle basket full of goods and bags of toys and clothes.

The event was held at Love Jones Café on Grand Avenue, which had been turned into a winter wonderland by volunteers. Love Jones, Tropical Jerk, Delicious Moments and Gino’s and DeFransisco’s pizzerias provided dinner while Delmont Medical Care supplied dessert.

Heather Cameron, who organized the event, said the evening was extraordinaire. “The families were blown away,” she said. “Many were crying and beyond touched by the generosity and compassion shown to them.”

This was the fifth year Cameron organized the event, but the first that benefitted only Baldwin families.