Every year at Christmastime my parents challenge us to do something out of the ordinary, even extraordinary, as an act of service for their Christmas present. They don’t want us to buy them bread makers or mixing bowls, chocolate covered cherries or Snuggies.  The best gift they can think of is just to know that they have children that are being good citizens. This season, I set out to find something unique and interesting in the greater Phoenix area that I could do as an act of service. It was a challenge, however.  I contacted homeless shelters and soup kitchens across the valley and none had a need for volunteers. As it got closer to Christmas I began to get worried that I’d not be able to find an organization that needed any of my help.  (Note: I’m told that most of these organizations have an overabundance of volunteers in December, but struggle to find any volunteers in months like June and July. The “Christmas Effect” I guess)  I even enlisted the help of friends and family to find something. I was thrilled when St. Vincent de Paul gave us a call back saying that they had a cancellation, and that they would need a huge hand in feeding hundreds of families just two days before Christmas.  (St. Vincent de Paul feeds nearly 3200 people five nights a week around the greater Phoenix area – many families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to eat.)  This night would also be a special night as they would be giving hundreds of toys away to needy children. I arrived at 4 PM on December 23rd at St. Vincent de Paul’s facility in downtown Phoenix with myself, my nephew Haydn, my friend Morgan and her cousin Madison, and my sister Emily and her ex-husband Corey.  We were quite a group.  The staff immediately put us to work.  I moved palettes of gifts into place for the children while other members of my group set up tables and place settings.  Corey, Madison, and Haydn would be put on greeter duties, helping guide families to their dinner seats.  Morgan and Emily found themselves delivering plates of noodles and veggies to families scattered across the large hall.  Myself… I got put on present duty – it was awesome.  I referred to myself as “Santa Clause with Tattoos” and was tasked to go table to table and escort the families to the “present area.”  I had most of the families laughing hysterically as I’d pose the question, “What time is it?!?  It’s PRESENT TIME!”  It was an absolute blast watching hundreds of families leaving with full bellies, smiles on their faces, and new toys in their hands. After the hall was clear, we stayed after to clean tables and sweep the area.  Those volunteers that stayed late enough were treated to a small Kevin Burdick concert on the out-of-tune piano where I played short renditions of “Don’t Stop Believing” and several other classic songs.  We left the hall with a greater appreciation for the lives we have, but more importantly, as we shook the hands and looked in the eyes of every family that attended the dinner we were reminded that each person, no matter how rich or poor, is a person just like me, someone who has hopes and dreams; fears and struggles.  It was both humbling and inspiring to see so many, doing so much with so little, here in Arizona. To find out more about the great work being done at St. Vincent de Paul, please go to:  http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/