01/03/2026
One Last Gift For Christmas
Children typically identify Christmas with a familiar face and a hearty laugh, and in Daphne, the twinkling eyes behind the red suit and white beard belong to Donald Bell, who summons the magic of Christmas each year by volunteering as the city’s official Santa Claus; but service isn’t a seasonal concept for Donald and his wife, Teresa. It is ingrained in them. Though both are now retired from the Daphne Police Department - he as Chief of Corrections, and she as a civilian in the Patrol Division, their dedication to service continues in their home, with the loving care of their disabled, adult daughter, Rebecca.
Though their hearts are wholly capable and willing to offer the level of care Rebecca requires, it has become increasingly taxing for the Bells to maneuver her wheelchair up and down the steps to their home. Routine outings have become exhausting physical trials; and now with Donald recovering from esophageal cancer, and Rebecca scheduled for amputation surgery this coming week, it will soon be nearly impossible to manage this task on their own.
Fortunately, a neighborhood social media group learned of their plight and the response was immediate and heartfelt. Michael Walley of Home Renewers, Inc and CJ Pellegrin, a local handyman, stepped forward without hesitation, offering their expert experience to build a much needed ramp. Still, the cost of materials would have been an obstacle, had Midway Lumber of Daphne not offered to donate everything needed to complete the project, down to the very last bolt. In a matter of days, strangers became neighbors and compassion turned to action.
The ramp will go far to ease this monumental task, and for this the Bell family is genuinely humbled. It is far more than they ever expected and their gratitude is palpable — but a ramp cannot create more hours in Teresa’s day, or lessen the immeasurable strain of time and energy that will be required in her immediate future, shuttling back and forth to support Rebecca in rehab, and home again to care for Donald and two teenage grandchildren. The coming days will be long, and the energy required will be immense.
Heart of Lake Forest, the neighborhood social media group organizing the effort and Amanda Spann, founder of the Hunter’s Heart Foundation, have joined forces to establish the Bell Family Fund to give Donald and Teresa some respite and ease the burden of meal preparation during this demanding season of caregiving. Neighbors and restaurant owners alike now have an opportunity to give something back to a family who has dedicated their lives to community service. All donations to the fund will be used to provide groceries for quick and easy meals and DoorDash gift cards for this family of five, allowing Teresa more time in the evenings and one less worry for the busy days ahead.
This family has a long history of service, and they have every intention of continuing in that tradition, but for now, in this trying season, they could use a little help from the community they have served so faithfully for decades. So while Christmas may have come and gone, and the new year may have already begun, perhaps as we are packing our decorations away in the attic, we might pause to consider this opportunity for one last Christmas gift — not from Santa, but addressed to him, instead.
Donations to the Bell Family Fund can be made at to the Bell Family Fund at www.HuntersHeart25.org or mailed to:
The Bell Family Fund
C/O The Hunter’s Heart Foundation
808 Daphne Avenue
PO Box 1345
Daphne, AL 36526
Venmo:
PayPal: [email protected]
