It may have been more than 30 years ago, but Kevin Shaw still remembers the day the Richmond Christmas Fund stepped up to save鈥ell鈥hristmas.
Shaw was seven years old when he recalls his father being laid off from his job and, with his mom at home looking after three young kids, that Christmas was looking pretty bleak for all concerned.
鈥淚 remember the Christmas Fund and the Salvation Army stepping up with a Christmas hamper and a few toys,鈥� Shaw, a security guard at the River Rock Casino, told the Richmond News.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for them, we wouldn鈥檛 have had much of a Christmas.鈥�
Shaw told the Christmas Fund volunteers that he could still recall the exact gifts he and his sisters received that year. That was the only year they had to seek assistance.
It鈥檚 for that very reason that Shaw puts a little money aside throughout the year so, come Christmas time, he can give back to the Richmond charity that helped his family in their time of need.
And, recently, as he does every year for many years, Shaw made a monetary and toy donation to the Christmas Fund鈥檚 annual drive-thru at his casino, where hundreds of toys pile up around a giant Christmas tree.
鈥淚 feel it鈥檚 important to give back, all year round, not just at Christmas,鈥� he added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not what you give or how much, even if it鈥檚 just a little, it all goes a long way; there are always people that benefit from it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun to give back and Christmas time is all about giving. And if can make one kid smile a little, then it鈥檚 all worth it.鈥�
