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Santa Claus relied on tireless assistance from his many helpers to give downtrodden families from Grays Ferry, Passyunk Square and Newbold a merry Christmas.
The clans had experienced recent setbacks that had made a diminished holiday season a frightening possibility. Overcoming the loss of a home, sound health and employment, they rallied with help from four entities to show their indomitable resolve.
The Salvation Army and Citizens Bank eased holiday woes for the Jones family of the 2500 block of Ellsworth Street Dec. 22. Consisting of Christina Jones, her boyfriend Dominicke Moore and their three children, the quintet lost its home to a Thanksgiving Day electrical fire. The blaze claimed the family’s possessions, necessitating a move across the street to live with Jones’s mother, also named Christina.
A sunny morning served as a pleasant omen for the family last week, as Rev. Bonnie Camarda, director of partnerships for the Salvation Army, and Citizens personnel donning elf caps unloaded gifts for Jones, Moore, 15-month-old Breyahna, 11-year-old Jahmar and 8-year-old Brandon. Jahmar was attending school at Chester A. Arthur Elementary, 2000 Catharine St., while his brother was at W. G. Smith Elementary, 1900 Wharton St., but the two would delight three days later in using the numerous presents, among them bicycles and a massive television.
“These last few weeks have been difficult for my family,” the younger Christina Jones said. “I am grateful for the generosity of everyone who has helped my family.”
Her kin’s introductory assistance came from the office of state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, 1610 S. Broad St., which put Jones in contact with the Salvation Army. An evangelical component of the universal Christian Church, the organization originated in 1865 and has for nearly 20 years assisted impoverished families through its Adopt-A-Family program.
The initiative pairs chosen families, who must make wish lists, with individual or group sponsors. Eager to aid, Citizens, in the words of Executive Vice President and Retail Director for Greater Philadelphia Emilio Cooper, “swung into action.”
In its first year in the program, the banking behemoth adopted the Jones family, its lone Philadelphia selection, and purchased toys, medical supplies, hygiene products and gift certificates. All came as timely contributions to the new life the younger Christina Jones must start after nearly six years in the now-dwindled dwelling.
Following photos and expressions of gratitude, her mother showed the remains of the house, which contains boards where windows once allowed a full view of the Grays Ferry block.
“We had been at a relative’s house for only a half an hour before we received the call,” Moore said after his partner’s mother explained the home’s faulty wiring.
Rushing from West Philadelphia, Moore and his girlfriend, partners for nine years, arrived to find their abode decimated. Engine 24, 1200 S. 20th St., tackled the inferno, which resulted in no injuries.
Not succumbing to heartbreak, the couple and the older Christina Jones pressed on to give the children some semblance of late December joy.
“I was ecstatic,” Moore said of learning weeks ago of the adoption. “Losing our home was a huge blow, but we have had fortunate days lately.”
“We always hear about how generous people are, but seeing generosity in action makes stuff more real,” the younger matriarch added.
The family has received a few estimates for home repair, with the cheapest totaling $35,000.
“Even that is hefty,” the older Christina Jones said as she eyed her youngest grandchild.
The family has charted a return to normalcy through charitable neighbors and organizations, including Consolation Baptist Church, 2500 Wharton St., where it attended Christmas services. The older Jones knows the assistant of entertainer Will Smith, who has involved himself in the recovery.
Through his numerous professional contacts, Lamont “Monty G” Anderson, Christina’s brother and a member of the Philadelphia 76ers’ men’s dance team, the Broad Street Beefcakes, helped to provide his nephews with 60 unforgettable seconds.
He set up a one-minute shopping spree at Modell’s Sporting Goods, 2437 S. 24th St., Dec. 23. The two sprinted throughout the store, scoring shoes, baseballs, basketballs, footballs and a sled. Management also gave their mother $200 in gift cards. The experience ended with a ride back to their grandmother’s courtesy of Eagles’ wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
The boys and their sister each opened one gift Christmas Eve but reveled over the next two days.
“They really had a ball,” their grandmother said. “It took them two days to open everything from all of our friends, the Salvation Army and Citizens Bank. They couldn’t stop thanking people.”
Brandon made use of his new sled thanks to Sunday’s snowstorm. The happiness that he and her other children displayed gave their mother cause for reflection.
“Despite being without our home, this has been our best Christmas ever,” she said.
Anton Moore, founder of Unity in the Community, a three-year-old organization that stages free community events, ensured that other local neighborhoods felt the Christmas spirit within their homes. He initiated Operation Holiday Help to lift five families, including the Ellisons from the 800 block of Reed Street in Passyunk Square and the Spencers from the 1600 block of South 16th Street in Newbold.
“I used Facebook to have people nominate a family they knew that was in need and to donate items to the cause,” the resident of the 2000 block of Snyder Avenue said of his latest project.
Maizon Ellison, a recovering drug addict, serves as a minister and volunteers at North Philadelphia’s Our Brother’s Place, a shelter program with day and overnight services. His marriage dissolved recently and he is battling cancer. Moore and friends surprised him and his 8- and 9-year-old daughters Christmas Eve with coats, clothes, dolls, board games, various other games, a Snuggie and a shaving set.
A mother of six, including a newborn boy, Deisha Spencer recently lost her job and could not afford many gifts for her children, whose ages, excluding the newborn’s, range from 2 to 16. Swooping by their Newbold residence the same night, Moore brought glad tidings and items similar to those he gave the Ellisons, with the addition of perfume and a lotion set. Both families also received four tickets to the Sixers’ Jan. 5 contest against the Washington Wizards.
Stunning the families with pre-holiday rapture, Moore, who commutes to New York City as a producer for BET, plans to be their advocate over the coming months.
“We have an obligation to help these families to get back on their feet over the course of the next year until we find a new set of families next Christmas,” the 24-year-old, who credits the grace of God for allowing him to give back, said. “We all need help at times, so I will be aiding these families with whatever they need to get started again.” SPR
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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