Fresh Air 2011
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
As a teenager Angela Haist was so moved by Russell Bryant's generosity that she asked if she could help with his annual Christmas gift project for Rockcastle Regional's Respiratory Care Center. The minister was happy for the support, so they joined forces.
Nine years later, she's still going strong, even though Rev. Bryant passed away from a sudden illness in 2009. Each year, Angela raises the funds to buy gifts on the list provided by the hospital. After wrapping them, she invites youth from her church to help her deliver the gifts and sing Christmas carols for the residents.
"It's awesome! It has to bring a smile to your face," said Angela. "It makes you so grateful for all that you have. If I can do something to make them that happy, why wouldn't I?"
She visits throughout the year when possible and says she always feels uplifted afterward. It also helps to know the recipients when making Christmas selections.
Gifts include a lot of electronics, such as video games, flash drives and blank DVD's for burning music. Art projects are popular and young girls usually want something related to the current heartthrob.
The budget depends on the community's generosity and Angela has learned not to panic if contributions don't come in right away. Near the cutoff date last year, she was starting to become a little concerned, but told a co-worker God would provide.
"I spoke it out loud in faith, and within 30 minutes, two different checks were brought in. One was for $250 and one was for $1,000," she said.
Chris Campbell is one of her Respiratory Care Center friends. The young resident beams when Angela is in the room and recounts how she accompanied him to his high school prom and when she joined him for a trip to the Somerset Mall.
"I remember when she came with Russell. We hit it off fast," said Chris. "It's always nice to have a really attractive visitor, and sometimes she brings food!"
Angela was a little fearful of continuing on her own, but now wants to make it bigger each year.
So far she's been successful. Many of her contributions come from friends and customers of Kelenge Spa in Somerset, which she co-owns. Members of Somerset Christian Fellowship, also help. "Residents enjoy the gifts, but the company is important, too," said Angela.
"Last year, I visited a resident named Lisa sometime after Christmas. She asked about the children who had come with me during the holiday. Then she showed me a stack of pictures she had colored and said she wanted me to give them to the youth members at my church," said Angela. "There were 30 of them, all of which she had done by hand! It was what she had to give us."
The Christmas celebration lasts only a day, but as her story reveals, the gifts last all year.
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145 Newcomb Avenue - Mt. Vernon, Kentucky 40456 Ph: (606) 256-2195 E: info@rhrcc.org
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