The power of giving

Sharece Rucker and Alexis Steward know what it’s like to grow up not knowing if they would be walking to school with a hat, coat or gloves. They know the struggle of families who have to decide between buying more food or purchasing apparel for the freezing cold temperatures, which is why they want to do something to help.

As employees of Best Western Holiday Manor in Newton, Rucker and Steward are accepting donations of winter clothing, shoes, cash and nonperishable food until Nov. 30 from patrons and fellow community members. Donors can drop off spare or outgrown clothing or apparel, but staff prefer if hats or undergarments be purchased new.

The collection of donated items will be made available at no cost for a two-day “wintertime drive” from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 at the West Fourth Street North hotel. Food and refreshments will be made available during this time. These donations, they said, will support local families in town.

“It’s cold out and we want to make sure that we can be of help,” Rucker, the general manager of Newton’s Best Western Holiday Manor, said. “We care about people … We want to help where we can.”

Both ladies have experience giving back to their respective communities. Before moving to Newton, Rucker had experience working at local shelters in eastern Iowa. Every year Steward and her boyfriend visit the VFW in Des Moines to hand out baskets and “adopt” one of the families for the holidays.

“It’s just something that I like to do,” Steward said. “We came from unfortunate families. Some years, we didn’t know if we were going to have Christmas, so now that we’re able to do that it’s like we want to give back. My mom always taught me to do that.”

A lot of times, Steward added, parents want nothing more than to buy their children new coats or sweaters or ear muffs, but tight budget constraints oftentimes do not allow them the luxury to do so.

“Especially around the holidays,” Steward said.

Any money acquired from donations until Nov. 30, Rucker said, will be used to buy extra clothing for the wintertime drive. Steward said the drive is not just limited to children’s apparel; staff will also accept adult attire. All clothing will be washed prior to the two-day pickup period.

“When they come in they can look through what they want and just pick out whatever,” Rucker said. “So whatever they need and they see it, they can take it.”

Visitors can also participate in a raffle to win prizes donated by local businesses. A few baskets full of hygiene and other useful products will be distributed as well. Guests can also snack on servings of homemade chili and fresh-made subs during the early December event.

Remembering their families’ struggles, Rucker and Steward said now they are in a position in life where they can help others in their community.

“We want to really encourage everybody to come out,” Steward said.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com