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Business owners remember forgotten elderly

Staff reporter

Most people think of Christmas only being for children. It's true that most gift-giving and activities are centered around children but there is a group of people who sometimes are forgotten at Christmas — the elderly.

Lucy and Amy Helmer, owners of The Big Scoop in Marion, are collecting donations to do something special for those forgotten elderly in Marion. They decided to collect funds for residents at St. Luke Living Center and Marion Manor.

"Each year our family 'adopts' a family," Lucy said. "We purchase gifts for the members to help them through the holidays."

This year the family decided to do something different. Lucy and Amy started by setting aside money the restaurant made from the sale of coffee to the regular coffee drinkers who gather there each day.

"We decided it would be nice to let customers have the opportunity to give," Lucy said.

A donation container was placed on the counter with a sign stating funds would be used for gifts at the local nursing homes.

The owners observed money being donated but noticed it was primarily women making the donations. Two signs and two containers replaced the one container on the counter. One container was for donations from women, the other from men.

"It was pretty interesting," Amy said. "Before long, the men were out-donating the women."

For almost two weeks, the Helmers have been challenging the coffee crew and all customers to contribute. The business is matching the donations, dollar-for-dollar.

"We've already collected enough money to buy things for several residents," Amy said.

Proceeds from the collection will be used to purchase items for residents at the nursing homes but if anyone knows of an elderly person who lives within the community who could use some Christmas cheer, the Helmers are wanting to help.

"We're wanting to be able to buy specific items for people so they know those presents are for them," Lucy said.

For the Helmers, it's not Christmas without doing something special for somebody else.

"Christmas isn't just for children," Lucy said. "There are a lot of people who don't have anybody" and the Helmers want them to be remembered.

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