Porter excited to see young people investing in Share-A-Christmas

For many years Bob Porter has been both the leader and voice of Holmes County Share-A-Christmas as its chairperson.

Porter, who has chaired this mission for many years, said as he approaches his 80th birthday, it’s time to allow some youngsters to take the reins.

“It’s a matter of finding someone who is able to talk in public and share this incredible mission,” Porter said. “I have someone in mind who would do a great job of being the voice of Share-A-Christmas. It’s a lot of responsibility, but we have so many people who do an incredible job of working behind the scenes in heading up all of the various parts of the overall mission that it makes it easy and rewarding.”

While that person’s role will be fleshed out sooner or later, two young women have already agreed to step into leadership roles.

Maddie DeWitt is being groomed to step in as the SAC Baker Building facilitator to replace Steph Ditmars, who has been a staple in that role for many years.

DeWitt said she is excited to continue to learn the ropes, and while she is young, she has already been a longtime addition to the volunteers for SAC.

“When I first started volunteering, I told everyone I wanted to learn from the bottom up,” DeWitt said. “I love bringing joy to people, and the incredible work Mike (Taylor) and Bill (Baker) and others did in creating this amazing organization is incredible and I want to continue the legacy they have created.”

She said she believes Holmes County is a unique place where this type of endeavor can roll on without missing a beat because people are so giving.

“I used to take that for granted, and I don’t want to do that,” DeWitt said. “I want to give back, and this is a great place to start.”

She said her friends better be ready for her to pay a visit as she works to bring them into the SAC family.

“There is so much detail to this organization, and the more people I tell the story to, the more they marvel at how amazing and in-depth it is,” DeWitt said. “It makes me happy knowing that our community has the ability to do something like this.”

Emily Anderson is eager to find her role in the SAC leadership ranks, and while it is yet to be determined, she is more than ready to step in.

She said while attending the chamber dinner, she listened to Porter talk about his role in SAC while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, and that spurred her to want to get involved.

She said working at Rea & Associates, where Mike Taylor, one of SAC’s founding fathers, is an institution, also played a key role as she listened to the many ways he has impacted the community.

“I love the message of giving back,” Anderson said. “Now seemed like the perfect time to invest in Share-A-Christmas. Just being able to give back in some way is inspiring, and looking at 250 squares in the Baker Building filled with gits is incredible.”

She said it is a little sad knowing there are families struggling and in need, but at the same time, it is heartwarming knowing there are so many people with the desire to make a positive impact on those lives.

She said seeing older generations investing themselves for so many years in the SAC mission is another thing that has inspired her.

“If they are willing to invest, then I can be too,” Anderson said. “Many of these people have been pouring themselves into Share-A-Christmas for a long, long time. It’s time for some younger people to step up.”

Porter said while those two are ready and willing to assume much larger roles, there are countless other young people who have been an integral part of the process each year, a role that has helped them better understand the value of serving in the community.

“Each year these young people get great experience helping. That is a year where they get a valuable lesson in stepping into the community in a service-oriented way, and it shows them the importance of getting involved on behalf of others,” Porter said.

He said seeing so many young people invest themselves into Share-A-Christmas warms his heart, knowing this season of giving in Holmes County will be in good hands for many years to come.