Coastal Georgia Residents Give Back and Help Those Served by Inspiritus

December is traditionally a month brimming with color and light.  In its one-of-a-kind style, this holiday season Savannah charmed locals and tourists alike with decorative accents highlighting classic architecture, tunes of joviality spilling onto the streets at all hours and, most impressively - and unforgettably - caring community members giving testament to the phrase, "goodwill towards men".  

Staying true to tradition, Inspiritus, formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia, organized its annual Hope Tree program, a gift-giving drive to bring cheer to its clients - refugee families, foster care and adopted children, disabled adults and at-risk youth. 

After sharing a wish list of what each client hoped to receive, for days and days and days Inspiritus staff welcomed a stream of "sleighs" dropping off the fruits of Santa's workshop.  Those of us receiving the bounty couldn't contain our astonishment.  "Did the baby really just get new clothing and toys and a gift card to boot?" "Just look at the quality of these girls' clothes!" "Imagine, a sorority raising hundreds of dollars for our refugee families." 

All in all, members of 7 churches, a preschool, a sorority plus 4 individuals meticulously purchased  and wrapped 210 gifts in the sparkly colors of the season.  Loving kindness ripples far and wide as we were reminded of our better angels by the community's  outpouring of goodwill to all.