By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



On Tuesday, Santa Claus had temporarily moved his workshop to Morris City Hall and had enlisted the help of eight or nine volunteers.

The women and children helpers were wrapping Christmas presents for 40 Morris kids in need.

Just like most cities and towns in the area, Morris hosts a Christmas program every year where volunteers collect donations, shop, organize, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to families who need a little extra help.

After all of the gifts were wrapped Tuesday, Santa Claus hitched a ride on a Morris fire truck to deliver the gifts to their recipients.

Among those wrapping the gifts were Morris city clerk Rachael Turner and magistrate Jessica Robb, along with their family and friends.

“It breaks my heart to think that some children wake up on Christmas morning with nothing under the tree,” said Turner.

Turner and Robb play a big role every year in organizing the Christmas program.

For another of the workers, it was the first time she had volunteered.

Sherry Gurganus said she was invited to participate by her sister-in-law, Gladys Penny of Morris.

Gurganus, of Fultondale, said she had never considered volunteering for anything like a Christmas charity program. It was an eye-opening experience for her.

“You see angel trees at Christmas, but you never think about who does all of the work,” she said.

Countless children in north Jefferson County will also never know about all of the selfless people who volunteered and donated this year to make their Christmas brighter.