A Story of Christmases Past

Throughout each year, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield saves all Christmas items donated to the ReStore for a grand unveiling at the first of November. It is a fun and festive time to visit the store. As shoppers browse finding holiday trinkets, they may not realize the items on the shelves hold a thousand stories of Christmases past. The following is just a glimpse into one donor’s Christmas gift to our store.

In late September, Barbara Price pulled her car into the receiving area of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and dropped off a very special donation. Cradled in the back of her car in carefully packed containers was the largest part of a snowman collection she began in 1975.

Barbara started the collection after the birth of her first child, and each year the snowmen and snow women grew in numbers. Barbara grinned as she told me, “When people find out you have a collection, they begin to add to it.” Her family grew as well, and her three children and then seven grandchildren enjoyed the display each holiday season . . . but then something changed. “I quit putting them out about ten years ago. I entered a phase in my life when I wanted to simplify.” At that point, Barbara did what a lot of people with basement or attic storage areas do. “I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them, so I just kept them boxed up and every year would say ‘no’ to putting them out.”

This fall she took a big step. She pulled them from their resting place and decided to donate them. “They needed to go —and go where

people can enjoy them as much as I did. I saved few that either made me smile or made me tear up when I looked at them and let the rest go.”

Barbara says that letting go brought about a sense of peace. “No more material collections for me. Collecting precious memories with my children and grandchildren is where I am at this point in my life!”

Thank you, Barbara Price for sharing this wonderful collection with Habitat for Humanity.