GUEST COLUMN: Glen embodied the true spirit of Christmas
When I reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas during this holiday season, I think of Glen McCarthy. You probably don’t recognize his name and I wouldn’t expect it. Glen wasn’t a celebrity, who purchased a store full of toys for kids during the holidays, nor some rich person who paid the heating bill for all of the homes in a community, or even a wealthy corporate CEO who gave large bonuses to all of his employees. Glen was none of those. In fact he was just the opposite. He was an older, ordinary guy who was down on his luck.
In defining the Christmas spirit, many say it should be a selfless time, where we are charitable, generous, kind, and forgiving. I think Glenn’s story is a special one that epitomizes this spirit more than others.
It was early December in 2018 and as part of his daily routine, Glen walked in the morning to the nearby Walmart in west Denver to get a cup of coffee. On this day he noticed that they were holding a toy drive at the store for underprivileged children in the community. Glen had limited funds but he bought a Barbie doll and a Hot Wheels set that he donated to the drive. While in the store he also noticed a bike with a price of $59 but also saw a tag underneath it for $44. Based on his meager resources, Glen felt he could not afford it.
While walking back from Walmart, Glen couldn’t stop thinking about how happy that bike would make some poor child. He decided that he would go back to Walmart and buy the bike and contribute it to the toy drive. This was more difficult than one may imagine for Glen as he did not own a car and it would require him walking back to the store, which based on his debilitated health, required him to use a cane.
When Glen returned to the store and spoke to the clerk about his situation and his desire to buy the bike for the toy drive, the store decided to sell it to Glen for the lower price. While donating a $44 bike may not seem like much to some, Glen’s contribution in my eyes was huge. You see, Glen was homeless and living in a room at a low cost hotel which accepted payments by the night or week. The hotel was all that Glen could afford and he had just paid to stay another night.
Glen also had terminal cancer and the prognosis was that he had less than a year to live. Glen knew that the upcoming Christmas would be his last and he could have spent the little money that he had to buy some things to make his remaining days a little more comfortable. Instead despite his situation, Glen chose to make Christmas a little brighter for some less fortunate little boy or girl in the community.
Those, who knew Glen, were not surprised. While he had little, his heart was big. In addition to this selfless gesture, Glen despite his failing health, volunteered at the Senior Support Center where he helped other seniors
When Glen’s toy contribution came to the attention of the media, this unassuming man commented that “I got to thinking, this is probably going to be my last Christmas. I’m no one, so might as well make some little kid happy.”
Glen was wrong. He was somebody and his story was one that inspired others to dig deeper that Christmas to help those less fortunate.
We hear so many stories today about the homeless issue throughout the country, that we tend to forget that the individuals in this predicament are real people like Glen McCarthy. People, who through some misfortune, have found themselves on the streets. I suspect that there are many like Glen, who despite their circumstances, do selfless acts to help others that go unnoticed.
Many of these same individuals have contributed to our society in the past and wish to do so again but they need help to get back on their feet and off the streets. In memory of Glen and as a special gift to his legacy, I’m sure he would appreciate if all of us could help just one of those homeless individuals get off the streets and allow them to recover their life.
Greg Fulton, a 40-year Denver resident, is the president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, which represents over 600 companies directly involved in, and affiliated with trucking in Colorado.
GREG FULTON