By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
The holidays can be rough on single parents and struggling families. Just ask Barbara Sullivan, a single mother with three young girls.
Sullivan, who is raising her daughters, Apryl, 7, and Megan and Danielle, each 9, without the benefit of child support, said her children don’t expect a lot of presents for Christmas.
“I already told them they aren’t getting a lot, but they understand,” she said.
But through the generosity of Susan Pickens, the Sullivans will have more presents under their Christmas tree this year than in past years.
On Tuesday evening, Pickens invited Sullivan and her two oldest daughters to her framing and thrift shop on Water Street for some special gift-giving. Pickens gave each of the young girls a large paper bag and told them to fill the bags with items in the store.
At first, the girls were hesitant and confused, asking Pickens how much a handmade necklace or glass plate cost, to which Pickens would reply in a soft, caring voice, “Nothing.”
Megan Sullivan, the younger of the two girls by almost a year, tried to give Pickens her birthday money — $5 given to her by her grandmother.
Eventually, the Sullivan girls grasped Pickens’ concept of gift-giving and were rummaging through the small thrift store for presents for their mother and other loved ones.
The same scene has been played out many times before in Pickens’ shop, Susan’s Framing, every December leading up to New Year’s Day.
According to Pickens, children up to 18 years old are welcome to stop by her store, which is open seven days a week, at any time and pick up some Christmas presents for others.
Pickens said that 56 children picked out presents last December, but she has helped about a dozen children, so far, this season, including 10 at her annual Christmas party Sunday.
Pickens said she loves to see children’s reactions when they find a gift for that special someone.
“The kids are really proud to get presents for someone else,” she said.
Gifts available at her thrift shop include custom jewelry, Matchbox cars, books and baby dolls.
Pickens said she started her gift-giving program six years ago.
“I guess I started it just because so many people have been so good to me since I’ve been here,” she said. “People bless me so much; I want to return the blessings.”
Sullivan said she’s surprised that Pickens can afford to be so giving.
“She’s done it out of the kindness in her heart and is not asking for anything in return,” Sullivan said.