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Party at shelter brightens the holiday

December 30, 2008 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Billings Outlaws News Release


Kids can have some odd reactions when Santa barges into the room and bellows "Merry Christmas," even if he's bearing gifts.

That was true at the Women's and Family Shelter's Christmas party Wednesday afternoon, when families staying at the shelter were treated to a holiday lunch, presents for the kids and a visit from a few special guests.

Fawn Flyinghorse, 1½, was a little shy of Santa at first but started to warm up once she realized who he was.

Little Michael Krueger, 2, sat in his mother's arms and responded to Saint Nick's appearance by making dinosaur noises and waving his arms. Each child had the chance to sit on Santa's lap, where they received a stocking - made by students at Eagle Cliffs Elementary - a small gift and another gift that parents could use to contribute to each family's own Christmas celebration.

"Somebody brought Barbie dolls for the girls and toy cars for the boys," shelter Director Lana Janssen said. "People have called us and asked what we need and what we want, and they've provided it."

Later in the day, Billings Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon showed up with a bag of toys to give to the kids as well.

Janssen said there were 87 people staying at the shelter as of Wednesday morning, 33 of them children.

Mary and Wayne Krueger, along with their son, Michael, have been staying at the shelter for two weeks. They left their Billings trailer because of a carbon monoxide leak and are staying at the shelter until they get back on their feet. Mary Krueger said the party was a nice break from their day-to-day activities.

"It's wonderful," she said. "They give us so much to be thankful for."

Fawn's mother, Marlene Flyinghorse, said they moved into the shelter on Dec. 4 after running into family problems at home. This is Fawn's second Christmas, and she's just starting to understand what it's about, her mother said.

"We just want to wish everybody around the U.S. and in Montana to have a merry Christmas," she said. "Be thankful. It's about family."

Two women, Claudia Mclain and Debbie Quinn, didn't expect their holiday season to be quite like this.

The women, who didn't know each other just a few days ago but now chatter like old friends, had been stranded in Billings since early Monday morning when frigid temperatures and icy roads kept the Washington-bound Greyhound bus they were riding from leaving town.

Quinn was traveling to Washington to visit family, while Mclain was headed from New York with her children, Lili and Kendrick, to spend the holidays in Tacoma.

"We just know each other from the bus," Mclain said.

They initially stayed at the bus station, but a Billings resident got them a discount rate at the Red Roof Inn for Tuesday night. Then a stranger, who Quinn said had just finished up an eight-year stint in prison, gave up his coat and hat to help keep them warm. Wednesday morning, an anonymous patron at Stella's Kitchen and Bakery paid for their breakfast.

Wednesday afternoon they were invited to the shelter Christmas party, where Lili, 5, and Kendrick, 4, also received gifts from Santa. Kendrick was nibbling from a small plate of snacks on a couch in a corner of the shelter when Santa walked in. He popped right up and approached him quietly.

Both kids got their gifts and, even better, they got on a Tacoma-bound bus at 3 p.m. with their mother and Quinn.

"It's been the most inspirational Christmas ever," Quinn said.



Indoor Football League Stories from December 30, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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