Goodfellows: Grandparents instill spirit of voluntarism, gratitude
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Dorothy Guy, back right center, and her husband Daniel Guy, back center, are raising five of their grandchildren, ages 7 to 12. The grandchildren are, left to right, Lisa White, 12; Israel White, 10; Egypt White, 8; Destiny Moletta, 7; and Jonathan White, 12. Lisa and Jonathan are twins.
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For Dorothy and Daniel Guy, the Christmas spirit is willing, even if the checkbook is not.
The Guys, of Penn Hills and in their 60s, are raising five of their grandchildren while their daughter -- the siblings' mother -- "gets her life together" after a series of personal problems, Mrs. Guy said.
The Christmas holiday -- as is every day when you are doing another round of child rearing in what could be relaxed retirement years -- can be a struggle on the finances and the psyche, Mrs. Guy conceded.
But here's where the couple's indomitable spirit -- helped by Toys for Tots and the Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Fund -- shoulder the load.
The Guy grandchildren got an early visit from Santa -- at least his spirit of giving -- on Saturday during a Toys for Tots event at First Church of God in Christ in Braddock. They were among some two dozen families who shared in a buffet of toys and treats, along with important information on the various services available to give needy families a helping hand this holiday.
The children -- 12-year old twins Lisa and Jonathan White; Israel White, 10; Egypt White, 8; and Destiny Moletta, 7 -- were circumspect when it came to picking from the new age-appropriate and often high-tech toys made available by this historic program of the Marine Corps Reserve.
They had, of course, been reminded earlier of their grandparents' rules for life:
"Give of your time and talents, and do not want too much of anything -- except maybe for good books," Mrs. Guy gently reminded her crew.
And it was the books the children went for first.
Saturday's was the first such toy event at the Braddock church, but the Guys and their grandchildren, all of whom volunteered as well, hope it will start a tradition.
"Where there is a need, there must be help," Mrs. Guy said.
And she sees plenty of need in Braddock, where she was born and raised.
First Published December 22, 2010 12:00 am
