Eau Claire (WQOW) - For many, the
holidays are about being with family and friends. But not everyone has to that
opportunity. For the past few years, a pair of friends has been working to make
the holidays brighter for those who can't make it to see family elsewhere.
For more than three decades, they've
been celebrating Christmas at the Oakwood Home Apartments.
"My good friend Pam
from work, her father was also living here, and we decided to get the community
room and have Christmas together as a family and invite anyone in the building
who didn't have a place to go," said Linda Curtis, who helps organize the
event.
Over the years, the celebration has
grown to include dozens who live at the apartment.
"Not everyone has
members of their family in the immediate vicinity, so this is just to make sure
they don't spend the Christmas alone and all get together. And I've never seen
so many smiles in one place," said Larry Bradford, who played Santa.
The party includes a visit from Santa,
a Christmas dinner, and presents.
"We kind of try to
get practical things, we give them like dish soap and laundry soap, dryer
sheets, things they can use up. Always candy, there's always candy in the bags,
that's always a big favorite."
But what the people here enjoy most
is sharing the holiday with others.
"The one's here are
really memorable. The ones we've had with our families, nobody can replace. But
this family here is special," said Florence Pitt.
"It's not only good
for them; it's good for us because our families aren't around either. It's just
a fun thing for us to do to keep things going," Curtis said.
More than 50 people attended this
year's Christmas party.
