It was a cold winter night and the winds had picked up. Leaves were racing through the city streets and trees were barren and painted a sharp contrast with the sky.

The orphanage was running short this year and were desperate for assistance. Not only were there not enough funds for the annual Turkey Christmas dinner, but the orphanage's rent had been raised two months earlier forcing cutbacks on staff and day to day operations.

John, who worked as a busboy in the small corner diner and whose girlfriend, Lisa, worked at the orphanage, contacted the The Salvation Army who promised to do what they could to help.

This winter promised to be bleak and the next day the snows arrived early. The children had no jackets and there was a shortage of mittens and caps. Little Louisa had the mumps and Mike had whooping cough.

The word was spread and several volunteers set up a kettle and bell in front of the corner diner. John, himself donned the red & white after he got off shift and rang the bell to raise funds for the orphanage. His arm was numb with cold and tired after bussing tables, but he kept the bell ringing. Last minute Christmas shoppers walking down the slush filled streets dropped a coin or two in the kettle and John was always quick to thank them and bless them for their small contribution. John's father was proud of his son's efforts and spoke with his employer at the local shoe repair shop about sponsoring a food drive. The times were tough, but his employer agreed and they put a hand-made sign in the window and John's dad canvassed other businesses to put up a sign in their windows as well.

The shoe repair shop set up a big box in the back for donations of canned goods and other donations. John wasn't aware of any of this effort his father had done, after seeing him in the cold ringing the bell.

On Christmas Eve the SA came through with three large turkeys and a check that would cover the difference in rent for a year. The orphanage would stay open and the Christmas dinner would still be on! But it was the look of little Louisa and Mike's eyes as they saw John's dad and his employer bring in a box full of coats, shoes, mittens and new and old toys that made John, who prided himself on never crying, shed quickly wiped away tears. Lisa was crying too but she didn't wipe aways the tears.

"God bless you all!"