Santa Lives There

On Tuesday, December 10th, the Spirit Riders and the Reggie Puckett Foundation presented the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with toys for their Angel Tree Project and a check for $3500. They do this every year, and the Vicksburg Daily News was honored to share that story with the community.

Prior to doing that live report, we spoke with the people involved and learned they’ve been doing this for almost thirty years. People like Kemper Ehrhardt and Mike Thumb put on a fund-raiser, Jammin for the Kids, every year to ensure children who may otherwise not have a Christmas get a gift. This year they were unable to do the fund-raiser due to unforeseen circumstances.

While talking to Kemper, the Spirit Riders, and Sheriff Pace, the Sheriff explained how the toys are distributed. He said they call the families of inmates and others to let them know the toys are at the Sheriff’s Office and when to come pick them up. Sometimes, the parents or grandparents will show up and collect the gifts for the kids. Other times, the parents bring the child and let them pick out their Christmas gifts.

It’s a beautiful act of love and caring put together by people with a caring heart. As the Sheriff said, the kids of those incarcerated didn’t choose to be in that situation. They deserve to have a Christmas too.

Over the years, hundreds maybe even thousands, of Warren County children got Christmas because people like those who put on Jammin for the Kids, the Spirit Riders and groups like the Reggie Puckett Foundation.

The Sheriff started to speak and then stopped. He flushed bright red, looked down, and took a second. “One year, a mom and son who Angel Tree was able to provide with Christmas several times and I were talking out front here,” he said, indicating the front of the jail. “As his mom and I were talking, the child was looking around, his eyes as wide as they could be. He then looked at his mom and explained to her that the jail is where Santa lives.”

Count your blessings

On this Christmas Eve, count your blessing and remember those who have different needs than you.

From the team at the Vicksburg Daily News, may you have a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays.