At first glance, it looked like trouble.

A young boy was in the Family Closet rifling through things, stuffing items in a bag as fast as he could. It looked like he was trying to take the whole store!

One of our staff gently put a hand on his shoulder and asked, “What’s happening here?”

He turned, eyes urgent, and said, “I cannot slow down. I am on a secret mission and must be as quick as possible.” When asked what the mission was, he whispered his truth: “I am gathering Christmas presents for my family.”

We sat down in a quiet shielded corner to make a plan. One by one, he took each item out of the box and lovingly explained who it was for—his sister, his brother, his dad. Soon, the volunteers were all in on the secret, helping him shop and gather wrapping paper for every member of his family.

Tears sparkled in the corners of our eyes as we watched this dear child prepare for his second Christmas since his mother went to Heaven on Christmas Eve. In that moment, the Family Closet wasn't just a room full of donated goods; it was a workshop of grace where a son could honor his mother’s memory by caring deeply for those she left behind and volunteers could be the very hands and feet of God caring for this young man as he carried out his mission. 

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