A petty theft from a low-income senior in Gibsons led to an outpouring of the Christmas spirit that would make Charles Dickens reach for the plum pudding.
The chain of events started when Gibsons’ resident Tracey Ross vented her fury on social media after learning that her elderly neighbour’s Elf Light — a laser projector that retails for between $150 and $200 — had been stolen from the senior’s yard.
Posting at 3:39 p.m. on Nov. 23 on Sunshine Coast Community Concerns, a Facebook message board, Ross lobbed “a huge Xmas kick in the ass” to the Grinch responsible for the theft.
“She is not healthy this year,” Ross wrote of her neighbour “and is unable to hang her own lights, so with the little money she lives on, she purchased the Elf Light so everyone, including herself, could enjoy the magic of Christmas.”
Within less than 10 minutes, the community started responding with pledges to donate money for a replacement light.
By 10:59 p.m., more than 60 people had stepped forward, as Ross pointed out, “to help a woman they don’t even know.”
Gibsons Recycling Depot’s Buddy Boyd and Barb Hetherington had volunteered their business as a drop-off point for donations. London Drugs assistant manager Cathy Kovacs had returned to work to contact other London Drugs outlets, as the lights were sold out and going for $300 on eBay, while store manager Chris Odgaard had offered to donate the Elf Light from his front yard if a new one couldn’t be tracked down.
That wasn’t necessary, because by 7:25 p.m., he had located a demo model at another store and was having it shipped to Gibsons.
Although Kovacs said her company would take care of the cost, the offers of cash kept coming in, and two days after her initial post, Ross was redirecting donations to the Elves Club.
Last Sunday, Ross’s elderly neighbour got a surprise visit. Kovacs and Odgaard brought over the new Elf Light, set it up and secured it so that it wouldn’t be so easy for a Grinch to make off with, and Ross handed the woman $285 that had been raised because of one angry rant on a message board, along with a bundle of Christmas cards from well-wishers.
“It was very emotional,” Ross said, adding her neighbour was “overjoyed” by the gesture. “She was crying. She couldn’t believe it. She’s on her own. It really gave her the Christmas spirit.”
Boyd said he was so moved by the whole thing that he decided to organize and DJ a fundraising dance for the Elves Club and Gibsons Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. It’s set for Dec. 13 at Gibsons Public Market. Boyd said he would be dusting off the “big redneck speakers I had over on Gambier” for the occasion.
“Let’s take this good vibe and keep it going,” he said.
The final Tiny Tim touch came from Penny Berdahl, who moderates Sunshine Coast Community Concerns.
“What an awesome thing to watch unfold,” Berdahl posted on her site the day after Ross let loose. “We are all so blessed to live in such a wonderful, caring, loving community. Thank you all for making this happen. Angels do walk among us! Many blessings to you all. The true meaning of Christmas: kindness and love. Merry Christmas to you all!”
