We'd like to introduce you to local Jefferson Awards Nominee, Mark Howard
of St. Petersburg. Keith Privette nominated Howard and shared the following
with us:
Mark Howard is a friend of mine for over 13 years. We met through mutual friends and lived in the same apartment complex for a short time. Every Christmas for the last six years, Mark has taken extra steps to make someone else's Christmas special.
The goal is always the same: to let people know that Christmas means a time of
unconditional love. It is a time to give to others, regardless if they've been good
or bad.
One year, he took all the money he was going to spend on his family and instead made gift bags. He handed them out to various people who either had to work or looked lonely like one elderly lady who was in nursing home exercise yard. Another year, he
went to his local grocery store and picked a counter to stand at. The first 20-people
who came through the line got their groceries paid for, regardless of how much. The one year I went with him we gave various gifts to people for Christmas from nurses at James Haley V.A. to retail clerks. He does this every year and all people whose lives he touches are very thankful.
This Christmas, Mark will be visiting some local thrift shops.
He figures since times are hard, folks may be shopping for gifts at thrift stores this year. So, Mark plans to walk up to random people and hand them a brief note telling them about why he gives gifts to strangers... and then he will give them two $100 dollar bills. Mark says he hopes it helps them a little during the Christmas season.
When ABC Action News contacted Mark Howard with news of the nomination, he told us
" I can't express my gratitude to Keith Privette for nominating me. I really don't
want recognition for what I do, but would welcome the opportunity to let other's hear of the story. I hope they would re-think what Christmas means. I hope they will
start helping and giving to strangers during this time of year. I simply give to make
a statement. I hope the random receivers of my gifts turn around and show moments of unconditional love in our Tampa area."
