Abe Enriquez's pickup bed was filled with gifts for Floydada kids in need Tuesday morning, Dec. 14, 2021. (Courtesy Photo)
FLOYDADA — Abe Enriquez played Santa Claus Tuesday morning.
Enriquez, the soon-to-be retired maintenance director for Floydada Collegiate ISD, loaded up his truck with more than 30 bags of toys for kids in need. The bags were donated by members of Floydada’s First United Methodist Church in partnership with A.B. Duncan Elementary’s ACE program.
On the first Sunday of Advent November 28, church members took paper Angels that had each child’s age, clothing size and toy requests and went shopping. Last Sunday, children from the congregation wrapped those toys and clothing as part of a wrapping party called “PJs and Presents.”
The kids receiving bags were identified by Duncan counselor Jennifer Gonzales, who explained that not only were certain Duncan students receiving gifts of both toys and clothing, so were any younger and older siblings in the home.
She also told Enriquez and other members of the church who delivered the bags to the school that ACE will provide food boxes for their families ahead of the upcoming winter break. “A lot of kids will be blessed this year,” Gonzales told the group as she looked over the bags now filling up her office.
At the same time, across town, Fred Thayer was also playing Santa… but his pickup-turned-sleigh was filled with different kinds of gifts for another group in need — senior adults.
Thayer and members of the church’s Methodist Men Bible study group put together bags of cleaning and grooming supplies for shut-ins and people identified by the Floydada Housing Authority as being in need. On Tuesday, he and other men from the church were out delivering the bags, something they have done for a number of years.
In addition to items like soap and disinfectant wipes, the bags include a blanket and socks to make sure recipients stay warm. “Some of them have come to really rely on our bags,” said Thayer, explaining that the bags have become a lifeline to people who may not otherwise get the supplies they need.
One grateful and smiling recipient repeatedly said thank you as Thayer handed him his bag. “Y’all have a Merry Christmas!” he told Thayer. Based on the knowledge that he and others in his church were helping so many people, Fred Thayer probably already is.
