Secret Santa Christmas Stories
Secret Santa and Mrs. Claus spread Christmas cheer in a most unusual way.
Instead of elves, they enlisted Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies to deliver unexpected presents last weekend in Rutherford County. The Rutherford County couple anonymously donated $100 bills for 30 deputies to present to county citizens they encountered on their shifts last weekend. They also donated four tickets to the Tennessee Titans’ game Christmas Eve. “This is about four cogs: our family, the money, the deputies and the recipients,” Secret Santa said. “It’s about giving back to the community.” The money not only touched the recipients but the giving family and the deputies. Here are some of the stories through the recipients’ and the deputies’ eyes:
Deputy Shaun Matthews was dispatched to a crash on Old Woodbury Highway involving a car on its side. Before Matthews arrived, a father and his young son bravely rescued the mother and her 3-year-old child inside the teetering car. “I gave the son $100 for jumping in and helping out,” Matthews said. “Not a whole lot of people would stop these days.
Deputy T.J. Hinson remembered meeting a mother with four children who moved from Texas to live with family in a small house off Old Nashville Highway. With the anonymous donor watching in the patrol cruiser, Hinson located mother Rebecca Candia. “I know you are going through a hard time,” Hinson said as he handed her the $100 bill. “This is amazing,” Candia said as she dropped her head. “It’s a God-send.”
Cpl. Nick Coble and trainee Deputy Caleb Reynolds were patrolling when they spotted David Landry picking littered beer cans during his run Saturday on Franklin Highway. Landry appeared surprised when the deputies pulled up as he clutched the beer cans in his hand. “You should have seen the look on his face when he realized he was getting $100,” Coble said with a laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Landry said. Landry plans to use the money for his family, including three sons, ages 11, 4 and 1.
Cpl. Michael Rodgers stopped a woman and told her he was searching for a certain vehicle. She waited patiently while he returned to his patrol car and retrieved the $100.“You’re the vehicle,” Rodgers said. “I’m the vehicle?” she asked with a note of surprise. “Yes, ma’am, we’re out looking for people that deserve rewards today for driving well,” Rodgers said as he gave her the $100 bill. “Oh, can I get out and give you all a hug?” she asked, adding, “I’ve never had anything like this happen before. I’m a single mom.”
Sgt. Bryant Gregory received one set of Titans’ tickets to give away. “I wanted to make sure they went to someone truly deserving so I messaged several friends asking if they knew anyone,” Gregory said. “One of my old college friends, James Festervand, is an assistant principal at Blackman Middle School and told me about Ethan.” Student Ethan Lancaster has never been to a Titans’ game. Now, he and his father, Brent, plan to go to the Titans’ game together Sunday.
Deputy Matthew Arrington stopped a driver whose car had a broken tail light. While talking to her, she said she just graduated from college. She was the recipient of the $100 bill.
Ironically, Hollie Owings and her husband talked about traffic tickets Friday night. That conversation was her first thought when Cpl. Stephen Lewis turned on his blue lights to stop her Saturday afternoon. Lewis, accompanied by Secret Santa, stopped Owings because she drove safely on Old Woodbury Highway and her two sons, ages 12 and 6, were safely restrained in the car. He complimented her on protecting her sons and handed her the $100. “I hope this helps for Christmas,” Lewis said. Lewis was surprised with the unexpected present. She intends to pass it on by donating the money to charity. Her intentions pleased Secret Santa and his wife cried tears of joy.
James Carter of Murfreesboro drove his old car and wore older clothes when he and his wife ran over to Kroger’s to pick up a few groceries. A sheriff’s deputy drove up and asked them if they had grandchildren. When they replied yes, he handed them a $100 bill and wished them a Merry Christmas. Carter didn’t want to accept the cash. “We don’t really need anything,” Carter said. “We have everything we need, probably more than we need. I just thought it could do to somebody who could be better served. Carter decided to pass it on and donate the $100 to the Sheriff’s Senior Citizens Awareness Network for senior citizens, many who live alone and need basic necessities like food. SCAN Coordinator E.T. Guice said Carter’s donation will help pay for Christmas gift bags for the seniors. The bags will contain lotions, gloves, house socks and toothbrushes for about 80 SCAN members. “Most of the seniors live alone,” Guice said. “Most are in bad health. Most don’t have any family living near them and they are just what I call the ‘forsaken ones.’ Their children don’t come around. They’re just forsaken, out there on their own. “But they are special,” Guice said. “They can make you feel like just showing up is a blessing.”
Evening shift Sgt. Tom Bunch decided to check with Mt. Tabor Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he asked the pastor and two members for recommendations. They led him to a single mother. When the single mother saw his vehicle, she feared something was wrong. Bunch reassured her the news was good. She sighed in relief. When he gave her the $100, she asked, “Are you serious? Can I give you a hug?” Bunch, who has worked at the Sheriff’s Office 22 years, said, “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done since I’ve been here.”
