Founder’s Note: Kerry Pawl, January 6, 2013

As I reflect on the holiday season, many great moments stick out in my mind.  There is the amazing support Mission saw from its team members, their families, and our community partners all of who contributed to our ability to raise over $20,000.00 to donate to Meals on Wheels.  Next there are the personal moments like surprising my wife with a gift on Christmas Eve (despite agreeing not to exchange gifts this year), watching my children put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, and seeing the excitement on their faces Christmas morning as they realized that Santa did come and bring them gifts.  But the greatest gift I received this year came on Christmas Eve.  That afternoon I was afforded the opportunity to deliver several of the meals and gift bags that our fundraising paid for.  I was able to interact with several individuals here in San Diego as they received their visit from Meals on Wheels. I realized that for several of them, we were the only visitors they were going to have during the holiday season.  The joy on their faces and the appreciation they showed was an amazing and unexpected reward—the greatest gift of all.