Family’s 3-generation holiday tradition brings gifts to families in need

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

More than a decade ago, Don Nelson’s boss handed him a credit card and a special assignment.

“My wife and I have been talking, and we’d like to donate some gifts to the Children’s Home Society,” the boss said. “Why don’t you take this card, and why don’t you take your kids too? And they’ll learn something.”

Credit card and budget in hand, Nelson began a Christmas shopping experience that has continued over 10 years and three generations.

“What started as a way to help out has blossomed into teaching future generations the importance of giving,” Nelson said.

“The goal is to help children and families in need, but it’s helped in a lot of different ways. While the family wishes to remain anonymous, their hope is that sharing this experience will inspire others to give as they can.”

That first Christmas, Nelson and his wife added to his employer’s giving budget, then approached a manager at Walmart in Sioux Falls to see if the store would match the total. They were too late to apply for the company’s grant program, but after explaining the gifts were for kids at the Children’s Home Society and Children’s Inn, the Walmart manager offered a generous discount.

“My two girls and I went shopping that night, and then we went to the Children’s Inn, now the Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety, to deliver the presents,” he said. “We only went in a little ways, but it changed my life. It really opened my eyes to the need.”

The rest is holiday history. Each year, Nelson’s family and now three generations of the anonymous donors’ family make a massive shopping trip to Walmart.

Last weekend, the store set aside a separate checkout area to handle all the toys, household items and basic necessities the group purchased to donate. Now regular recipients of a grant from Walmart, the combined total exceeded $6,000.

“We take care of the kids’ wishes first, but many people there have left abusive situations with nothing but the clothes on their back, so we buy coats, pots, pans, other household items,” Nelson said. “The Children’s Home team comes with a list, and we get after it. We’re so grateful to Walmart, the employees who are fantastic to work with and the corporate program, along with Children’s Home for working with us to make this happen.”

The real reward, though, comes in the form of the many thank-you cards Nelson saves and that are cherished by everyone involved.

“Thank you for caring about me,” one child wrote.

“This was my best Christmas ever,” another card read.

For kids who dream of homes and stable families, the Christmas outreach from strangers is invaluable.

“We’re blessed to have friends like these families who, year after year, consider working with us as part of their own holiday tradition,” said Rick Weber, director of development at Children’s Home Society.

“We see a lot of need in our work, but Christmas becomes the sort of celebration it should be for our kids and families thanks to donors like these.”

Nelson hopes that by sharing their story, others will be moved to give too.

“There’s still time this holiday season, and we definitely plan to continue this well into the future,” he said. “We don’t want to be in the limelight, but we’d love to be a vehicle to help families in need.”

To learn more about the many ways you can support Children’s Home Society and its programs, contact chief philanthropy officer Jon Mammenga at 605-965-3136 or [email protected].