MORGANTON — Tim Wright still wanted to buy a Christmas gift for a
child even though his son passed away last year.
Wright, a transportation supervisor in Burke County, considered
selecting a child from an angel tree. Josh Mashburn, the County Maintenance
Engineer, knew of Wright’s pain and they decided to go shopping together for one
child neither had ever met.
“Then it snowballed,” Mashburn said. “Everybody got involved.”
The Burke County maintenance family rallied in the last days before
Christmas to help their brother through a tough season and brighten the lives of
not just one child selected at random, but with the help of the Guardian Ad
Litem Program, four children in the area who would have had little to open on
Christmas morning.
“It started by showing support for Tim,” Mashburn said. “It came
together when we realized four kids were going to get nothing. Everyone pitched
in and helped out. I guess we all got the Christmas spirit.”
Donations came from all across the county and the contributions
totaled more than $1,500 — plenty to purchase gifts for four children.
So after work Mashburn, Wright and a few others headed out to a
local box store and others headed to the mall. They knew the ages and clothing
sizes of children and some of their interests too. One boy desired outdoor and
camping gear. A teenage girl desired makeup, nail-polish and a “PINK”
sweatshirt.
“We bought a tent, a sleeping bag and a starter fishing kit, plus
some coats, socks and clothes they needed,” Mashburn joked. “But I wasn’t about
to walk into Victoria’s Secret with 10 of the guys to get a “PINK”
sweatshirt.”
But somebody else from the office volunteered. The girl got her
sweatshirt.
“I think it’s something we’re going to try to continue next year,”
Mashburn said. “When the lady from Guardian Ad Litem came in to pick up the
gifts, she went to tears.”
For their collaborative work, the family in Burke Maintenance all
sported holiday smiles.