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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
By: Claudia Raffay, Director of Marketing & Member Services
Email: craffay@sussexrec.com
One of my fondest holiday traditions began in 2021. I was called upon to help a member with an unusual request. At the front desk, I encountered a little lady with a pretty purse. “Purse Lady,” as I came to call her, wanted to do something special for the holiday season. She wanted to pay someone’s electric bill, someone who needed the help.
She did not want their names or any personal information. She just wanted to pay the bill of someone in need. She didn’t even want any credit, only for me to call them and tell them that a “Christmas Angel” paid their bill and to wish them a Merry Christmas. It was important to her that we use the word “Christmas,” not “happy holidays.”
Our front office staff identified a single mom who had fallen on hard times that year. I remember calling her with the news, her tears over the phone, and how grateful she was. I relayed this to Purse Lady, which warmed both our hearts and made our Christmases a little merrier.
Next December, that same purse was again in our lobby. We were more prepared this time, providing three members to choose from. Rather than choosing, our angel paid for all three!
Our Member Services and Billing associates hear a lot of stories of hardship. This is never easy, but sometimes they make note of a certain someone who might just need extra help. Last year, each of them presented stories of members who they felt needed some support. Our Christmas Angel listened to each story and paid for all four.
Laughter, joy, and tears filled the front office as each associate got to call their choice and tell them the news. We chose our first veteran that year, and he was so thankful he had his nurse drive him to get us a pie from Clove Brook Market. We called the Christmas Angel to see if she wanted the pie, but she insisted her helpers in the office should enjoy it instead.
The tradition continued this year. It’s now a special day for all of us in Member Services and Billing. We picked up some gingerbread men from Holland American Bakery and swapped stories of members who needed and deserved a helping hand, knowing our Christmas Angel could gift them peace of mind during a stressful time of year.
While we can’t reveal her secret identity, to us and those she’s helped, she is truly an angel. The kindness and generosity she’s shown has inspired many of us at Sussex REC to make donations and help others around the holidays. Our Christmas Angel truly embodies the “Concern for Community” which is one of our cooperative’s guiding principles, and helps make our community and our Christmas better.
