By Heidi Clayton
I was thrilled to team up again with the amazing Toni Jordan of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission and my “alma mater,” the Atlantic City Police Department, to deliver Christmas to children in need.
This year ACPD Chief Sarkos assigned Sgt. Kevin Law to the task of getting the gifts delivered to the kids, and thanks to Kevin having a let’s-do-this attitude, we managed to pull off a spur-of-the-moment party for the kids.
Being a police officer, while not always fun, safe, or enjoyable, provided me with a relatively secure financial life where I never worried about being homeless or not having food. As a woman, I cannot imagine being homeless and having to raise a child or children alone.
While I don’t have the answers to fixing these social problems, I believe that showing these mothers and kids that someone cares, particularly around Christmas, can give them hope for better days ahead.
Starting my dog training business has brought such wonderful and giving people of all kinds into my life, and my business’ success is all due to these people, and for that I am so grateful.
Since life is good, I have continued to do what I can for Toni and the families at the mission. Toni is tasked with going to the kids and getting a list of what they want for Christmas, not need. My goal is to deliver every single wish to the kids.
This year, thanks to the sheer generosity of my partner in crime, Barbara, our family, friends, and my amazing Four on the Floor clients, we were able to help 11 children have the Christmas that every kid should have.
When we were discussing delivery of the gifts, Kevin mentioned that he missed having the Christmas party we used to have prior to the pandemic. I told him if he could find a location and dedicate some manpower to getting the kids there and of course, making sure Santa could stop by, I would love to throw a party.
Within minutes, Kevin secured the Atlantic City Moose Lodge, made contact with Santa, and off we went to getting the party together.
In the midst of planning, Kevin learned of a family in the city that quite frankly has nothing. When he told me the three kids were sleeping on the floor and needed winter coats, I said let’s invite them to the party, get their sizes and help them.
I put out a call for help and again, my Four on the Floor family and friends stepped up and, between financial donations, and the amazing Gravitz Family, actually went clothes shopping for them. We were able to buy toys and clothes for the kids and get some things for the parents as well.
Every wish was covered and we were able to make gift bags for the moms to brighten their day.
On Friday, Dec. 22, we decked the halls of the Moose Lodge and met the families for an actual Christmas party which was by all accounts a success. We ate, we chatted, and of course, the highlight was Santa arriving in the ACPD SWAT Tank to give the kids their gifts.
The look on the little girl’s face when she opened a laptop that she never in a million years thought she would get, was priceless. Seeing the look of shock on the 14-year-old boy’s face who sleeps on a floor when he was told the bicycle was for him, was worth driving to three stores to find the right bike.
Kevin, Julie, and I were talking post-party about how, for these kids, this party was Christmas. Without Toni, and all of the people who truly want to help others, they would not have had a Christmas.
So on behalf of Sgt. Kevin Law, Barbara Gutjahr, and Julie Lawler of the Moose Lodge (who is just awesome by the way), we cannot thank everyone who donated money, gifts, and food for the party enough.
On a personal note, I am so grateful to all of my clients who, without a second thought, donated money, gifts, and food to help these kids. From the Four on the Floor staff of IchiBan, Sushi, Fuji, Miki, and myself, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Any questions please feel free to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
