-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen The Community Christmas program at Athletics For Education and Success held their gift and food distribution Saturday with some volunteer help from a group of area high school students that included, from right, Brandyn Clair, East Sac County Highschool, Jace Peterson and Rodney Tilawen, both Fort Dodge Senior High School, Ethan Lursen, St. Edmond Catholic High School and more from Fort Dodge Senior High, Tysen Kershaw, Jordan Jackson and Grant Barber. Community Christmas, formerly Operation Christmas, was taken over by AFES this year. Families in need are provided with food, gifts and clothing.

Charles Clayton had a very personal reason for making sure his organization, Athletes For Education and Success, continued the “Operation Christmas” program’s long-standing holiday tradition.

“I can remember when I was very young — those were our boxes under the Christmas tree. I was that kid,” Clayton said, referring to the service group’s annual distribution of toys, clothes and other items to families in need throughout the community. “When you’re that age, you don’t want to be the only one in school who comes back from Christmas break without anything to talk about — whether it be toys or even the (basic necessities).

“For over six decades, (Operation Christmas) made this time of year a happier and better one for those in need. I had volunteered with them in the past and saw first-hand how much of an impact they’d had on our community. They’d been good to me personally, and good to the Fort Dodge area in general, for so long.”

The Operation Christmas group — led by co-chairs Ruth Reed and Gwen Anderson — announced in October of 2017 that it was no longer able to physically function in the same capacity moving forward. Clayton’s AFES program took the reins, and on Saturday, distributed items that will be delivered to over 300 people this holiday season.

Sarah Hatley and Shawna Steding were program directors and organizers in the inaugural year, which AFES renamed “Community Christmas.” Clayton said that children were the main focus of the drive, which collected donations from “countless people and businesses throughout the area. The Food Bank of Iowa and Toys for Tots were also involved.

“It’s been inspiring to see everyone rally around the cause and keep this going,” Clayton said. “When we found out Operation Christmas wasn’t going to be able to do it, we stepped up simply because it was the right thing to do. They were short on space, younger bodies to carry boxes, and a (yearly) location to organize. That sounded like a perfect fit to us.

“Every kid on our list is getting an outfit and a gift. And we’re also (distributing) food, toiletries, hats and gloves, shoes and other (articles of clothing). We have around 270 we’re (reaching through) the Community Christmas program, and another 50 or so of our AFES after-school kids.”

A number of AFES regulars — including Fort Dodge Senior High basketball players Jace Peterson, Jordan Jackson, Tysen Kershaw, Rodney Tilawen and Grant Barber, St. Edmond’s Ethan Lursen, and East Sac County’s Brandyn Clair — prepared and dispersed boxes on Saturday.

“It means a lot, giving back to AFES and (the Fort Dodge) community that has done so much for me,” Peterson said. “It’s great to know that those in need are able to have presents under the tree because of Operation Christmas.

“I learned that giving and helping others means so much more than any gift you can receive.”

Jackson added, “Charles and the Fort Dodge community have done so much for me, so it’s great to have the opportunity to give back to both of them.”

The high schoolers weren’t the only ones involved in the preparation process, which Clayton added, “helped bring things into the right perspective.”

“(On Friday), we took our middle school and after school kids out to help pack boxes,” Clayton said. “They have toys, games, food and candy right in front of them. But it was a good way to get them to understand how important it is to send (items) to people who are truly in need.

“As we kept reminding them, ‘this isn’t about you.’ It’s good for kids to put their own wants on the backburner and do something for others. Getting that message through to this generation especially is invaluable.”

Clayton “greatly appreciated (the AFES high schoolers) who showed up willing to help.”

“That meant a lot to us,” Clayton said. “A lot of these kids have been in our program and playing together since seventh grade. To show up and take a few hours out of their Saturday to volunteer — that’s something I’ll always remember.”

Kershaw said it was the least they could do.

“It really means a lot, helping out people and giving them things they need for Christmas,” Kershaw said. “I learned to appreciate what we have.”

From the volunteer work to the donations and taking care of neighbors in need, Clayton called this a “true community project.”

“St. Edmond had a group of kids who went out and shopped for us. They brought probably 100 gifts (to AFES),” Clayton said. “Dr. (Jesse) Ulrich (superintendent of the Fort Dodge Community School District) donated. ABATE got involved. Even people and businesses (from outside the city limits).

“We were just happy to play our part and do what needed to be done to keep such a worthy cause alive.”