By Tom Wilbur
Last week, I wrote this down this thought on my Facebook page:
Tom Wilbur:
This week, you will have an opportunity to be right there–for someone who genuinely needs your help. Don’t hesitate. Do what’s required.
There were a number of folks who politely clicked the “like” button, and went on their way. It’s nice to be “liked”, although I’m not sure where the “dislike” button is on Facebook. It would probably be a lot more honest venue that way. I’d rather have a hug than a like, but in social media—that’s what you get.
Kimberly Vega, a former team member at a previous bank, saw what I had written and responded that she knew of a family with five kids, where the parents were both out of work. She said she’d been trying to help them. As I read the account, I thought, well it’s nice that Kim cares about them—I hope it all goes ok.
But as I thought about it further, it began to gnaw at me a little . . . if you’re going to write something for the world to see, you ought to stand behind it, Mr. Wilbur. And so I begin to ask Kim some questions. She shared that while the kids had some toys donated for Christmas, the real elephant in the room was the couple’s looming bills: electric, gas, and water bills were all several months behind, alongside their lagging house payments.
It was clear as day to me what I needed to do. The Salina Post has given me opportunity to write opinion pieces from time to time, and the concept of rallying people in the area to give a little bit as part of a squadron of Secret Santas struck as being something worth trying. I didn’t know what would happen, but it felt like the right thing to do. I opened an account here at BANK VI, under the name The Secret Santa’s Club, and told folks to bring by whatever they could—cash, food, gift cards—whatever they felt they’d like to give.
There would be no receipts or tax breaks. The account was established just to pass through funds, and stuff. It was quite simply, giving for the sake of helping. I know we can’t help everyone in need, but it sure seemed like it was in our wheelhouse to do something to help this family.
On the Tuesday morning prior to Christmas, The Salina Post graciously published my piece: “Secret Santa’s Unite”. It was simply a request to help this family . . . a family I didn’t even know. It would come without any follow-up. Any gifts would be anonymous. We forwarded the article to a number of caring people, and sat back to see what might happen.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but people (who looked nothing at all like Santa) pulling up to the drive-in or coming inside the bank– to give a few dollars. A woman brought in twenty bucks. A guy brought in a five. An elderly woman in an older car drove up and gave two dollars to the tellers at our drive-in window. An area organization arrived with a pickup truck full of food. A gentleman came in a laid a hundred dollar bill and the counter, along with a case of water. A friend brought in a keyboard to give the kids. People gathered some money at their office to help out, and brought it in.
And the mail brought more envelopes—some with notes inside, other without—one with a gift card, and the words “Secret Santa Club” scrawled on the face of the envelope. People from all over the area opened their hearts, and the giving continued.
On Friday, December 23rd, 2011, having raised nearly $2,000 in goods and cash, we paid their utility bills current—gas, electricity, and water. Bills that had been months behind are now all caught up. Their mortgage payments are still delinquent, and anything we receive in the next few days will be forwarded towards that—and as bankers we’re evaluating any options we might have in helping, as well.
The food and other gifts that were dropped by have been forwarded. We were able to get a gift card for clothes, so that Mom can apply for a job this week. Along with all these things, we delivered tidings of great joy, and a renewed sense of hope for the future.
What our team at the bank saw and experienced over the course of just a few days was quite remarkable, and put us all in the spirit of Christmas! The joy of giving permeates the soul, and random acts of kindness are fun. But past that, we saw that there is so much we all can do to help others in Salina.
There are folks in Salina hurting financially, and what we did is but a small spark of a larger fire that can be created if we just look to help each other out–and genuinely serve others as we are meant to do. It’s a little scary for everyone out in the world today. Many of us are blessed with a job, family nearby, and are free from addictions and self-destructive actions.
But I believe that people find themselves lost when fear and self-doubt paralyze their ability to act and respond. The antidote is to stop internalizing everything and to start taking action in service to others. Just like the Secret Santas did this past week. Giving of one’s self provides clarity, and a sense of purpose for us all—and suddenly, miraculously– our problems don’t look or feel as large.
There are many ways to contribute financially or of yourself in serving others. Salina has an incredible network of non-profit organizations alongside thousands of volunteers who dedicate tens of thousands of hours every year toward a better community. The Salina Christmas Fund is an awesome organization, and alongside the Salvation Army, the Salina Rescue Mission, and the Salina Food Bank—all of them need your support, and contributions. Please, give from within—there is much need. Give by year–end, and these groups actually will give you a tax receipt.
We’ll see what the future holds for The Secret Santa’s Club. For now, it has begun and ended. But the moment, the memories, the good feelings, and a sense of purpose in helping one family when they needed us most–will carry on for quite a while.
By the way, someone will need your help this week. Will you be there to answer the call?
Of course you will.
Blessings to each of you during this holiday season. Let’s make 2012 special.
tw
Tom Wilbur is President/CEO of BANK VI in Salina, Kansas, and a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines. He is a graduate of Salina Central, the University of Kansas, and has served in leadership on numerous area Boards. This Saturday night, New Years Eve, he and The Last National Band are performing one last benefit dance at Salina’s Bicentennial Center—with proceeds going to Big Brothers and Hospice in Salina. Tom can be reached at rockchalktw@hotmail.com