By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
More than a few people were happy to see a Moose at their door on Christmas Eve morning.
That’s “Moose” as in Moose Lodge – the Shelbyville charitable group that donates food and gifts to needy Bedford County families and their children each year.
The tradition continued this year as 50 families were recipients of food boxes and toys, derived from money raised through an annual fundraiser. Moose Lodge members distributed the items on Christmas Eve morning.
A spokesman for the club, who asked not to be named, said 13 bags of toys went to 33 children in the families helped.
Each child received $50 worth of toys; the number of toys varied, depending on cost per toy and the family’s needs. For example, one mother of very young children preferred to receive $50 worth of diapers.
The Moose Lodge spent more than $3,700 this Christmas on food and toys. Each family also received a hen donated by Tyson Foods.
“It’s a good thing, it feels good,” said the spokesman of his personal involvement.
He “cherry-picked” the food items in each family’s box, attempting to make the dollars go as far as possible by watching for sale items in grocery store advertising circulars within the Times-Gazette.
A typical box contains nine cans of vegetables, sugar, flour, meal, two boxes of cereal, peanut butter, jelly, 5 pounds of potatoes, a dozen eggs, two boxes of cake mix – basically, staples to provide for a good Christmas dinner and meals for several following days.
“We’re just trying to be a community service and help others,” the spokesman said.
