By: Jennifer Bray, Enterprise Staff
A gingerbread house, a handful of gift cards worth hundreds of dollars, and a truckload of gift-wrapped presents was delivered to a family in need in Taunton on Christmas Eve.
For the mom, dad and four children, the delivery of Christmas presents by My Brother’s Keeper, a charity in Easton, made the holiday festive.
For My Brother’s Keeper, the Tuesday night delivery marked a milestone. It was their 100,000 delivery. The charity delivers furniture, food, and this time of year, gifts, free of charge for those in need.
“There were a lot of things that were very fitting about this delivery,” said Erich Miller, the president of My Brother’s Keeper. “It began in the town where the founders, Jim and Terry Orcutt, began their work 25 years ago in Taunton.
“We also included a couple of students in the delivery, and the five of us really presented the past, present and future of My Brother’s Keeper. Our young volunteers are carrying the mission forward in the future.
“The family that was helped in Taunton, they were delighted,” said Miller. “One of the things that struck me most, visiting with the family, was in their kitchen was a crucifix, which we had given to them as a gift several years ago.”
He added that it was a sign that the charity had already served them.
“It was an affirmation that this family had been helped by us before,” Miller said “We look for little messages and little signs from God that our work is in keeping with his will and we are on the right track.”
Jim Orcutt said he’s glad about the milestone, but for him the focus is on the future.
“The 100,000th delivery is important,” said Orcutt, who remains actively involved with the group and serves on its board of directors. “It’s an indicator of God’s blessing on our work, and God’s blessings on our mission. But we always have to be looking forward … Our mission statement is one sentence: to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve,” Orcutt said.