Allen Girod: Fairmont Delivery (Dec. 16, 2010)

Millie Davis (delivery #1)

I was assigned four deliveries in the Fairmont area. All along, even before I made phone contact with any of the recipients, I wondered what I would say...and how I would say things. So after some silent practice I called my first recipient, Millie, and told her, "Hi, my name is Allen...and I'm a volunteer for the Hoss Foundation." I asked her what day and time would be convenient for me to deliver the gifts. She told me Thursday would be fine, as long as I made it there before 4:30 p.m. I said I'd be there, and if I couldn’t make it for some reason, I’d call her back because I didn't want to just drop off the gifts, jump back in my car, and scurry to the next address. I was nervous and kept thinking back to something Astronaut Alan Shepard said: "Oh Lord, please don't let me screw up." When I delivered that afternoon, it was snowing like crazy! The streets were slick in Fairmont and traffic was backed up everywhere and moving slowly. I found the address; it was an older, wood-sided, two-story home that had been converted to 3–4 apartments. It was a long climb up steep, snow-covered stairs from the street to the house. Millie answered the door, and I said "Merry Christmas from the Hoss Foundation." She was very grateful, gave me a big hug, and said her child Xavier would be so happy. It is a heartwarming moment to give a gift and see that person just light up. Also, I am honored to represent the foundation.