Gatesville has three “Hometown Angels” of their own

“Hometown Angels” began as a dream and collaboration of three Gatesville women some 20 years ago. Lorrie McDaniel, Michele Holden, and R’Lue Gribble saw the need to make a difference in the lives of children during the holidays.

Each year, a tree is placed at Rancher’s Steak House with cards attached with the names of children whose parents may be facing difficult times during the holiday season. The cards contain the first name of a child and their “wish list.” The names are provided by a reliable source and with the approval of the parents. Gatesville residents choose a card from the tree, purchase the gifts, and return them to Rancher’s in time for the holidays.

“Because there are so many kids in our community that their parents lose jobs and they just can’t afford Christmas gifts, so that’s why R’Lue, Michele and myself decided to step in and help,” McDaniel said. “We try to divide it up so that each child gets five gifts - two outfits (of clothing), three toys and a coat. If they need a coat, we don’t count that as a gift because that is not a gift,” she said.

Often using money out of their own pockets, Hometown Angels also furnishes stockings filled with candy, small toys, and Bibles. “We wrap everything, and we deliver the gifts to the families who put the gifts away for Christmas and let Santa Claus bring them,” McDaniel said.

“We try to get between 100 and 125 kids each year. This year we asked for 75 names because we’re getting older and it’s hard. Every day when we get off work, we go back to work until 9 or 10 p.m. every evening separating gifts, getting stockings ready, because we have to have everything delivered by a certain date. It’s hard work, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” McDaniel said.

Gribble shared her thoughts on their work by saying, “The reason I went in on this is because when I was 7 years old, if it hadn’t been for the Salvation Army, I wouldn’t have had a Christmas that year, so I know how it is.”

A past Hometown Angels recipient, Gabriela Maniel Elizondo, said “I had been a single mother working two to three jobs for the better part of my children’s lives. I remember them receiving gifts at school, which was always a blessing to me, everyone wants their kids to have a good Christmas, but I really never knew where the gifts came from. I just assumed it was a school program,” she said.

Upon recently finding out that the gifts were actually from the Hometown Angels organization, she said that she was touched to find out about the program and to learn that someone out of her own community was going out of their way to bless her kids all those years ago. “I can’t wait until next Christmas – I want the chance to give back to my community, ‘For it is better to give than receive,’ Acts 20:35.”

One of the three co-founders of Hometown Angels, Michele Holden said, “It really makes you feel good, especially when you can really tell the family is appreciative. Sometimes we walk away with tears in our eyes.”