Joy of Christmas restored for Hurricane Katrina victim
By Staci Dennis
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OBI staff helped load Christmas presents into Lynn’s car to take home and put under her tree.
"The kids need a new hope," said Lynn Finch, above. "They need to have their joy of Christmas restored."
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SLIDELL, La. - A quick trip to Lowe's led to a happy Christmas for Lynn Finch and Ray DeFillipo.
The strangers met when DeFillipo, an OBI employee, checked out at Finch's register. After scanning the merchandise, Finch timidly asked DeFillipo if he knew where she could find some help for Christmas.
Finch, a single mother of three, who is also helping raise a granddaughter, had noticed the Operation Blessing insignia on his shirt, she said, and had observed workers in the store in the past few months but never had the courage to ask anyone for help until that day.
"Christmas had become just another day and the joy of giving was lost because of limited budgets," said DeFillipo, who was also struggling to find meaning in the holidays. "I wanted the joy of Christmas too."
After talking with Finch in Lowe's, DeFillipo assured her there was something he could do. However, it was the last day before Christmas vacation and rapidly approaching closing time at Operation Blessing.
DeFillipo, a site mechanic for OBI, made a plea to fellow workers who responded by rushing out and bringing back dolls, a special bottle of perfume for Finch and other gifts for her children. She was also given a $75 gift card to help buy food for Christmas dinner.
"There are people all over this city with real needs," said Jody Herrington, OBI's U.S. director of disaster relief. "Our disaster relief team is made up of selfless people with huge hearts of compassion."
DeFillipo is no stranger to hard times and Christmas let-down. After dropping out of college in 1968, he faced life with no job and little money. After pawning his guitar to buy Christmas presents and still not having enough to get everyone in his family something, DeFillipo gave up on the holiday.
He has since gotten a job and changed his life. This past Christmas however, he was faced with a limited budget and spending the holiday separated from his wife, who had flown to Korea to see her family.
"I heard a mother's desperate cry for help," DeFillipo said of Finch's request, which helped him look beyond himself and focus on the needs of others.
Finch was three months past due on her house payments and had no money leftover to spend on Christmas gifts. In addition, Finch is still trying to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Her roof was destroyed and she had to get a $6,000 loan to replace it, using her car as collateral. She is still working to restore other damaged items such as the doors and windows.
Within a few hours, OBI staff had purchased gifts and met up with Finch to wrap the presents and load up her car.
"The kids need a new hope," Finch said about taking the gifts home to put under her tree. "They need to have their joy of Christmas restored."
How You Can Help
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an
online donation to help those affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. For volunteer opportunities click here.
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