During World War II, the citizens of Springfield were asked to drop coins into a kettle to “share your Christmas with a service man.” The generosity would be used “to send presents to the boys that have left the city.”
A young boy dives into a slice of pumpkin pie at Dayton’s annual Beerman Thanksgiving dinner. The event was founded in 1969 by Arthur Beerman, the founder of Elder-Beerman Stores Corp., who believed strangers should be treated like family.
Memories are made as families gather to light the menorah each night during Hanukkah, kitchens filled with the aroma of steaming latkes and jam-filled sufganiyot.
Generations of children have dressed as shepherds and angels to gather around a manger with a baby doll tucked inside at live nativity scenes.
Thinking of others has been a tradition for the Springfield Rotary Club for nearly a century. Since 1923, the club has thrown a Christmas party for children with disabilities bringing joy – and a visit from Santa – to hundreds of local children.
Though the pandemic has changed the way we will observe the holidays, the spirit of the season endures.
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