Tough Times Threaten Special Christmas Tradition

A local business owner worries that an annual Christmas tradition won't come together in time, due to continued economic hardship.

Every year at Christmastime, Michael's Pizzeria owner Michael Hedrick enlists his family, friends and customers to help provide Christmas to children living at Miracle Hill Children's Home.

This year will mark the 10^th year of the Christmas giving tradition, but Hedrick says giving is down, with less than a week to go.

Each year, children living at Miracle Hill come in to Michael's Pizzeria on Christmas Eve and enjoy a great meal.

“We'll have appetizers on the table when they get here,” Hedrick said. “Then we'll do dinner. After dinner, we'll clear the tables and bring their gifts out to them.”

Each year, Miracle Hill gives Hedrick a list of children, their Christmas wishes and general needs, as well as a list of overall needs at the children's home.

Each year, the community rises to the occasion, taking kids' names off the tree at the restaurant, as well as buying items from the general needs' list.

“Their individual gifts are very important, but these needs are just as important,” Hedrick said. “These kids live in regular homes just like you and me, they just house a lot more people than yours and mine does. This is just stuff that just helps them operate throughout the year.”

When Hedrick spoke to Easley Patch on Monday afternoon, only three of the children had presents provided for them, and many items on the needs' list were still unfulfilled.

“Every year, as the economy gets rough, it just gets harder and harder to provide for the kids,” he said.

Last year, Hedrick was worried, but Dr. Shawn Edwards of Easley Dental Associates and Keith Kirkland and Best Chevrolet came through for the kids.

“Keith Kirkland, he made our Christmas that year,” Hedrick said. “Without him, we wouldn't have had it. I almost cried, he kicked in so much money.”

When you pick a child's name off the tree, bring it up to the front counter, and you'll be given a list of that child's Christmas list.

Participants are asked to spend a minimum of $60 and no more than $100 on each child.

“We want everybody to have about the same amount of stuff,” Hedrick said.

Want to help, but don't have time to shop? Monetary donations are greatly appreciated.

“We'll go out and shop ourselves and fill in the blanks on the list,” Hedrick said.

Hedrick said all donations are greatly appreciated, and that every donations matters.

“Whatever anyone can spare,” Hedrick said. “It doesn't have to be some big amount. If all our customers gave $5 each, we'd have the list taken care of by the end of the week.”

Another way to help is to volunteer to help serve the meal.

“We have one server for probably every 2 kids, all volunteers,” Hedrick said. “Some families make it their tradition to come and help. Anybody that wants to come up and hang out and help serve the kids, they're welcome to come. They need to be here around 5pm (Christmas Eve) because we'll serve them around 5:30pm.”

Remember, picture-taking is not allowed during the Christmas event.

Michael's Pizzeria is located at 101 Northeast Main Street in Easley. Call 855-0025 for more information on the Miracle Hill Christmas effort.

General needs for the Children's Home cottages are below:

 Ligon Cottage (5-10 year old boys):

Card table with chairs (not vinyl)

plastic bowls, plates, cups in sets of 12

Locking outside storage containers

canvas hanging shoe holders

18-24 gallon storage containers

digital camera with memory card

Non-violent Wii games

silverware (service for 16)

stainless steel sauce pans

metal rolling cart

indoor/board games

Kent Cottage (5-12-year-old girls)

NIV Bibles (not paperback)

2012 Childen's DVDs (new releases)

digital camera with memory card

restaurant/recreational gift cards

steam mop

non-stick spoons/spatulas

storage containers

Vause Cottage 11-13-year-old boys

Matching blue bathtowles/washcloths

Non-violent Wii games

front porch benches (2)

restaurant/recreational gift cards

digital camera with memory card

new bikes/helmets

wooden picnic tables

dual VHS/DVD player

stainless steel cookware

Harlow Cottage (16-18-year-old boys)

stainless steel cookie sheet/jelly roll pan

stainless steel cookware set

restaurant/recreational gift cards

portable basketball goal

stainless steel frying pans

gas grill

wooden picnic table

General Needs at Miracle Hill Children's Home:

18 gallon storage containers with lids

sleeping bags

pillows

waterproof pillow protectors

restaurant/recreational gift cards

stainless steel frying pans

NIV Bibles (not paperback)

new release DVDs

Wii games (non-violent)

3 XL microwaves

AA/AAA batteries

XL duffel bags