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Caring & Sharing

The first Christmas after they lost two of their sons in a fire, Bob and Marlys Hayner were “trying to make some sense of Christmas.”

After losing part of their family, the Hayners came up with a way to grow their family with a program that would brighten Christmas for less-fortunate people in the county.
What started out as a Fayette County Health Department project that provided a Christmas basket for a handful of families now does that for about 500 families in the county.
Now, even though she stepped down as the chairman of that project in 2017, Marlys Hayner is still very involved in the packaging and distribution of Fayette County Caring & Sharing baskets.
Marlys and Bob started Caring and Sharing after Bob was at a Knights of Columbus meeting during which the organization was talking about doing something to help the community.
The Hayners oversaw Caring and Sharing for 35 years, and Marlys has continued to be involved since the death of Bob in January 2016.
“It started a year after our boys (Bob and Mike) died, and we do it in their name and in the name of the Lord,” Marlys said.
“I know that out of that tragedy somehow came this calling to do something we never dreamed we would do,” she said.
“It’s just something that I feel called to do, and I love doing it,” she said.
Marlys said last year that she “can’t imagine Christmas without it,” and while she has turned over the major responsibilities to Tim Daiber, she isn’t getting away from it.
“They’re like they are my extended family,” she said about the recipients of Caring and Sharing baskets. “That’s how I see it.
“By the time I’ve collected these applications and talked to them on the phone, it is like they are my family,” Marlys said.
“I can’t get to my own family, so I take care of all of these people,” she said. “I feel called to do it.”
In addition to collecting applications, Marlys still shops for some items, using the Habitat for Humanity store in Vandalia as much as possible.
“There was a girl who wanted a DVD player and someone who wanted a bike, and you have to get all of these things ahead of time,” she said.
“I know how much these people look forward to this,” Marlys said. “For some of them, it is their Christmas, and for others, it’s just extra that they wouldn’t have had.”
One of the things that she has enjoyed over the years is working with Caring and Sharing volunteers in other communities in the county.
“We have such great people in St. Elmo and Farina and Ramsey and Brownstown,” Marlys said.
“And, it’s wonderful to be able to give them all of the things that we have this year,” she said. “They were blessed this year because we have so much.
“Everybody had more than they needed, and if there’s a problem, that’s what it is,” Marlys said.
“It just grows and grows, and it’s such a blessing … a blessing to us and to the people of the community,” she said.
The winter storm last weekend threw a wrench into the traditional schedule for the week of distribution, she said, but everyone adjusted.
“We had churches bringing in stuff on Sunday, and people were also bringing in things, to make sure that they got here,” Marlys said.
“On Monday, we needed help and Debbie Hobbie put that out on Facebook, and we got people in here who have never worked here before … and they just loved it,” she said.
About this year’s distribution, she said, “We have more seniors and disabled people this year.
“The good thing is that we have fewer families with children, and a lot of them are working.
“There is a story behind every card (on Christmas baskets), and I know most all of the stories,” Marlys said.
Marlys wasn’t hesitant to turn over the reins to Daiber.
“Tim is very organized,” she said.
Daiber, like her, has felt a calling to be involved in Caring and Sharing.
“I was in law enforcement for years, and I have seen a tremendous need during that time,” Daiber said.
“But, more than that, my dad has been involved in overseas missionary work and I have seen the need from that.
“And, I realize that my family has been tremendously blessed, and I just looked for a way to help and give back to the community for those who are in heed,” he said.
This year, as in years past, Daiber said, “We were tremendously blessed. We had stuff coming in all week, lots of food, lots of toys.
“It’s great to see the tremendous amount of generosity that people have,” Daiber said.
He also spoke of how the winter storm changed things this year. “It kind of messed things up.
“Monday and Tuesday the big push days, because we try to get everything in and sorted. And then they start the shopping process and setting up boxes,” Daiber said.
“Wednesday and Thursday are usually a little bit slower, but this year, we were a little hectic because we were behind schedule,” he said.
It’s almost impossible, Daiber said, to calculate the number of hours that volunteers contribute during the week prior to distribution.
“And that doesn’t even include the amount of time that Debbie Hobbie and Marlys and Dean Matzker and Larry Hopkins put in behind the scene throughout the year,” he said.
In addressing the volunteers helping with distribution at the Mother of Dolors Parish Center on Saturday, Daiber stressed the true meaning of the program.
“Jesus has asked us to follow him, so just keep that in your heart and mind today,” he said.

 

Tim Daiber, chairman of Fayette County Caring & Sharing, talks with Marlys Hayner, the former chairman, at Saturday’s distribution at the Mother of Dolors Parish Center in Vandalia.

About 150 Caring & Sharing Christmas baskets were distributed out of the Mother of Dolors Parish Center in Vandalia on Saturday morning.

Bev Hopkins and Larry Hopkins help one of the recipients of a Caring & Sharing basket.

Mike Sahr (foreground) and Dan Stock of the Fayette County Knights of Columbus have been Caring & Sharing volunteers for many years.

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