10/29/2022
So here’s the long story…
It was 1991...Gene Norris had lost his job that summer. Around Thanksgiving he said to me (Victoria), “I’m going to put together a free Christmas dinner for those families who may be experiencing financial difficulties.” From our own situation he knew how devastating financial instability can be, especially around the holidays. I was flabbergasted! I said, “You can’t put together something like that in three weeks!” But Gene was answering to a higher Power. And so Mission Impossible (n my mind) was launched!
Gene went to the Mayor of Simpsonville, Lanty Montgomery. The mayor offered the Community Building in Simpsonville City Park. The date was set for Sunday, December 22nd. Then one miracle after another happened. Everywhere Gene went to solicit help, he was never turned down for anything. We got baked turkeys with all the trimmings, desserts and drinks, countless volunteers, and many donations...money, toys, clothes, even Santa!
On that fateful Sunday we fed about 75 people and made several kids smile and giggle. When everything was cleaned up and packed up, we all felt physically tired but mentally uplifted. We had experienced the true spirit of Christmas. And from that day it became a Christmas tradition...
