Something extra good is going on at AMS Fulfillment. For eight years, when holiday time comes around, a volunteer group of AMS employees gets busy organizing. They put up flyers and send out emails companywide, seeking donations to purchase Thanksgiving dinners for families in need.
This year the volunteers collected donations, reached in their own pockets, and 28 families were able to enjoy what most of us take for granted – Thanksgiving Dinner. Vallarta Supermarket (Valencia – Lyons) participated as well by offering the volunteers a 5% discount on the Dinners.
The families are participants in the Santa Clarita Youth Activities League ‘Adopt a Family’ program. Officer Bryan Rooney of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department runs the program and selects the families for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The dinner give-away took place on November 21st at Val Verde Park and Recreation. AMS employees who had the honor of delivering the dinners to the families were: Betty Lou and Ken Wiseman, Erica M., Marco P., Eugene S., and Patrick R.
About the event, Erica said, “The best thing about giving families a Thanksgiving Dinner is seeing the big smiles on the faces of the kids and parents. We know they all appreciate it a lot! If you would ask me what is the best thing about giving out dinners, I would say it’s the moment that comes when handing them their dinner, and knowing it is going to be shared with their family. I would take time back just to see their faces all over again and their appreciation. It is an AWESOME feeling to give.”
Betty-Lou Wiseman is in charge of the program, and Erica is recognized as the engine that drives this activity. Betty-Lou promised more to come: “Holiday Season warms all of our hearts to give, our Christmas families are next!”
Thank you to this wonderful group of AMS employees as we all get ready to make Christmas really special for more children and parents in our community.
