In most ways,
Joey Athey is a typical seventh grade boy.
Joey Athey is a typical seventh grade boy.
Here’s what makes him unusual:
In 2003, Joey was a kindergartener.
His teacher gave her students an assignment
as Christmas approached.
Each of them was to give a gift
and write a true story
about the giving of it.
Joey thought about it.
He decided to bake some cookies, sell them,
and use the money to buy
Christmas gifts for needy children.
What began as an assignment has become
a family tradition for Joey and his family.
For the past eight years
they’ve continued the tradition.
they’ve continued the tradition.
On the last Saturday of November,
the Athey family was hard at work
baking over 200 dozen cookies
in the large commercial oven
in our church’s kitchen.
Earlier this week they went to Toys “R” Us
and purchased $1200 worth of children’s toys.
The gifts are given to needy children
through various charities in our county.
Around the world at Christmastime,
untold thousands of ordinary folk
experience the joy of giving to others.
In my neck-of-the-woods,
Joey is one memorable example.
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