The gift of giving has its own rewards
During this past Christmas season, countless gifts have exchanged hands, children’s eyes have brightened at the sight of presents under the tree and people have felt the joy of Christmas, with presents becoming a focal point of the holidays.
However, amidst all of the receiving, the gift of giving took center stage at this year’s Win a Car for Christmas contest, sponsored by a number of area businesses.
Trina Miller, of Killbuck, was chosen as this year’s recipient, and her kind, compassionate and selfless acts over the years was one of the reasons the committee tabbed her as the 2011 winner.
“It’s always a tough decision, but the process of choosing a winner is usually easier than narrowing it down because every year, someone has just really touched our hearts when it came to choosing a winner,” said Lee Ann Miller. “We all felt like she was a pay-it-forward kind of person, and she would use this for the betterment of the people around her and in her life.”
While the automobile has had an impact on the winners both past and present, it has also meant a great deal to those who have been involved in the selection process, and to those who have helped support the program, now in its fourth year.
Although the donors for the event knew giving would make one person and their immediate family happy this Christmas, the act of giving continues to have its own rewards, as those who gave to the program financially found that giving does indeed have its own rewards.
The Win a Car for Christmas program is made possible through the donations of a number of area businesses and individuals, all of whom gain nothing from their donations to the event other than the understanding that what they are doing makes a huge impression on the chosen winner’s life in such a way that it greatly reduces their burdens at a time when they need a little bit of good fortune.
The list of donors for the event includes Troyer’s A Country Market, Walnut Creek Cheese, Miller Haus Bed and Breakfast, Chuck Nicholson Auto SuperStore, Graphic Publications, Inc., Coblentz Chocolates, Hummel Insurance, The Commercial and Savings Bank, Schlabach Printers, Sugar Valley Meats, Melway Paving, Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant, Keim Lumber, Dutchman Hospitality Group, Helping Hands Quilt Shop, Fryburg Door, Mullet Cabinet, Swiss Valley Furniture, Weaver Barns, Adventure Harley-Davidson, Newhouse Printing, PG Dunn, Pissocra-Mathias Realty and ENT Allergy & Sinus Center.
Nicholson said that while much of the attention is turned toward his company because the vehicle comes from their business, it is truly a group community effort that makes this life-changing event possible.
“Our community is incredible,” said Nicholson. “There are just so many caring people here who understand the importance of giving, and the difference we can make. It’s a blessing for all of us to be involved in something like this.
“Every year we see local people and businesses willing to step up and make this event possible because it helps others, and that is what this community has realized over the years. We see it all the time... people giving of themselves and their businesses because they know how much it can mean. And as donors, we end up getting blessed by being a part of something like this. This really is a total community time of giving.”
One of the reasons Trina Miller was tabbed as this year’s recipient was because she has shown in her life that giving to others is important to her, despite what issues she may have in her own life at the time.
That spirit of giving is one of the key reasons why the selection committee chose her as the winner this year.
Lee Ann Miller said that while there are many stories of great need the committee sees annually, and many very worthy candidates for the automobile, the amazing character shown by people like Trina Miller make the decision quite purposeful, and much easier.
Lee Ann Miller said that as they approached decision time in the process, it became apparent that Trina Miller was going to be the selection of the committee, based largely on her relentless commitment to the service of others and her great need for a vehicle. Lee Ann Miller found a pair of quotes that spoke directly toward the very reason Trina Miller had made such an impression on the committee.
The first, a proverb, states, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger.” The second, from the Bible, says, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
In this season of giving, the giver became the recipient. That kind of upside down logic, in which those who donate become blessed, seemed to be a rampant theme in this contest.
Which is why the contest sponsors find it in their hearts every year to give generously to a contest which benefits others much more than it benefits themselves.
“Things like this help us all to desire to be better people,” said Wilma Mast at the presentation. “It inspires us to reach higher, to work harder, and to love people better.”
Giving. The Win a Car for Christmas contest is all about it. It began with caring people giving to make it happen. It ended with the winner being chosen because of her giving nature.
“We’ve all been blessed in different ways, and what a wonderful time to begin to pay it forward,” said Lee Ann Miller. “Don’t wait. It doesn’t have to be a car. It could be a meal, or a new pair of shoes, or even time. Just don’t wait until you have everything together to do it, because that time may never present itself.”
However, amidst all of the receiving, the gift of giving took center stage at this year’s Win a Car for Christmas contest, sponsored by a number of area businesses.
Trina Miller, of Killbuck, was chosen as this year’s recipient, and her kind, compassionate and selfless acts over the years was one of the reasons the committee tabbed her as the 2011 winner.
“It’s always a tough decision, but the process of choosing a winner is usually easier than narrowing it down because every year, someone has just really touched our hearts when it came to choosing a winner,” said Lee Ann Miller. “We all felt like she was a pay-it-forward kind of person, and she would use this for the betterment of the people around her and in her life.”
While the automobile has had an impact on the winners both past and present, it has also meant a great deal to those who have been involved in the selection process, and to those who have helped support the program, now in its fourth year.
Although the donors for the event knew giving would make one person and their immediate family happy this Christmas, the act of giving continues to have its own rewards, as those who gave to the program financially found that giving does indeed have its own rewards.
The Win a Car for Christmas program is made possible through the donations of a number of area businesses and individuals, all of whom gain nothing from their donations to the event other than the understanding that what they are doing makes a huge impression on the chosen winner’s life in such a way that it greatly reduces their burdens at a time when they need a little bit of good fortune.
The list of donors for the event includes Troyer’s A Country Market, Walnut Creek Cheese, Miller Haus Bed and Breakfast, Chuck Nicholson Auto SuperStore, Graphic Publications, Inc., Coblentz Chocolates, Hummel Insurance, The Commercial and Savings Bank, Schlabach Printers, Sugar Valley Meats, Melway Paving, Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant, Keim Lumber, Dutchman Hospitality Group, Helping Hands Quilt Shop, Fryburg Door, Mullet Cabinet, Swiss Valley Furniture, Weaver Barns, Adventure Harley-Davidson, Newhouse Printing, PG Dunn, Pissocra-Mathias Realty and ENT Allergy & Sinus Center.
Nicholson said that while much of the attention is turned toward his company because the vehicle comes from their business, it is truly a group community effort that makes this life-changing event possible.
“Our community is incredible,” said Nicholson. “There are just so many caring people here who understand the importance of giving, and the difference we can make. It’s a blessing for all of us to be involved in something like this.
“Every year we see local people and businesses willing to step up and make this event possible because it helps others, and that is what this community has realized over the years. We see it all the time... people giving of themselves and their businesses because they know how much it can mean. And as donors, we end up getting blessed by being a part of something like this. This really is a total community time of giving.”
One of the reasons Trina Miller was tabbed as this year’s recipient was because she has shown in her life that giving to others is important to her, despite what issues she may have in her own life at the time.
That spirit of giving is one of the key reasons why the selection committee chose her as the winner this year.
Lee Ann Miller said that while there are many stories of great need the committee sees annually, and many very worthy candidates for the automobile, the amazing character shown by people like Trina Miller make the decision quite purposeful, and much easier.
Lee Ann Miller said that as they approached decision time in the process, it became apparent that Trina Miller was going to be the selection of the committee, based largely on her relentless commitment to the service of others and her great need for a vehicle. Lee Ann Miller found a pair of quotes that spoke directly toward the very reason Trina Miller had made such an impression on the committee.
The first, a proverb, states, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger.” The second, from the Bible, says, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
In this season of giving, the giver became the recipient. That kind of upside down logic, in which those who donate become blessed, seemed to be a rampant theme in this contest.
Which is why the contest sponsors find it in their hearts every year to give generously to a contest which benefits others much more than it benefits themselves.
“Things like this help us all to desire to be better people,” said Wilma Mast at the presentation. “It inspires us to reach higher, to work harder, and to love people better.”
Giving. The Win a Car for Christmas contest is all about it. It began with caring people giving to make it happen. It ended with the winner being chosen because of her giving nature.
“We’ve all been blessed in different ways, and what a wonderful time to begin to pay it forward,” said Lee Ann Miller. “Don’t wait. It doesn’t have to be a car. It could be a meal, or a new pair of shoes, or even time. Just don’t wait until you have everything together to do it, because that time may never present itself.”
Published: January 3, 2012
