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Cottrell House Giving with Purpose

DALLAS, Texas – Giving to others to create smiles was the purpose of youth at Cottrell House making Christmas ornaments to donate to the children at Scottish Rite Hospital. The youth at Cottrell House wanted to make Christmas special for young children that were unable to spend Christmas at home. Volunteer Shellita Garrett was excited to work with youth to help them design special Christmas ornaments to put smiles on the faces of children. When other volunteers heard about the youth plans of donating ornaments, they were excited to assist. Shellita supplied paints, glitter, and clear Christmas ornaments. The youth supplied the creativity and designs for each ornament. Once all the ornaments were completed, the Iron Guardians took the ornaments to the Scottish Rite Hospital so that the children could smile. Cottrell House youth did more than just create ornaments for children; they learned that working together for a greater good is powerful. They had so much fun that they wanted to create more exciting things. Shellita came back a second time to allow youth to use their creativity to create whatever they felt. The youth created bird houses using popsicle sticks.

Volunteer D’Juan McDuffie was amazed that Cottrell youth wanted to give smiles to children that could not spend Christmas at home. This amazed him because youth at Cottrell were also not able to spend Christmas at home, but yet they wanted to give smiles to someone else. D’Juan wanted to help the youth provide a gift for their family members. He wanted the gift to be handmade by the youth so that the gift would truly have meaning. He engaged youth in making homemade hand scrubs using salt, and essential oils. Youth were excited, and made several different scented hand scrubs for their family members. The youth packaged the hand scrubs with bows to prepare them for their family members.

The Dallas Youth Resource & Advisory Council (DYRAC) knew that youth could not be home. The members of DYRAC gave donations of food, clothing, and hygiene products to youth Cottrell House. They also purchased all new board games for the entire house. DYRAC members served nachos and dessert as well as watched Christmas movies with the youth. They even provided toys for youth that have small children of their own so that they could give the toys as gifts.

All Gods People provided a home cooked Christmas meal for youth and their family members. Everyone enjoyed turkey, hams, green beans, potatoes, dressing, dessert and much more. Volunteers enjoyed their time with youth and showed them that Christmas is about caring for others. Volunteer Palmer Reed was known for spending time with youth. He mentored many youth, gave many donations, taught many bible study sessions with youth and participated in countless celebrations with youth at Cottrell House. Palmer passed away this year. Palmer was celebrated during the Christmas dinner for all his good works. He was a role model for every youth that he came in contact with. A plaque will hang at Cottrell House honoring Palmer Reed.

Christmas is more than receiving gifts. It is about placing smiles on the face of others, giving from the heart, and celebrating the life of those who are special to each of us. Youth at Cottrell House experienced all of this and more because of volunteers.

Photo: Ornaments designed for children at Scottish Rites Hospital by Cottrell House youth 
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