I would like to let the police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses and soldiers know that I am so thankful they work every day to keep us safe so that we can enjoy our families without any worries.”9-year-old Savannah Stringer
CULLMAN – The Stringer family knows what it’s like to spend the holidays away from family and friends. Kayla and Joey, both U.S.Army veterans, have spent their fair share of Christmas mornings on military bases scattered throughout the world. Now that they are home, they are able to be with their loved ones this time of year, but they will never forget the feeling of loneliness our military heroes feel around this time.
Each year at Christmastime, the Stringers use their time together doing something to help brighten the holidays for others. This year they have started a brand new tradition, one that they plan to continue for many years to come.
“One evening my daughter Savannah and I were sitting around the table talking about the fact that this will be the first year we did not have a personal connection to a service member deployed that we could send cookies to,” Kayla Stringer explained. “So I began thinking about what we could do instead. We talked about possibly helping in a soup kitchen or maybe volunteering at a children's hospital.
Then Savannah asked her mom, “do cops and firemen have to work holidays just like you, mom?”
“Well, I am a nurse, so I told her yes,” she smiled. “She looked a little quizzical for a moment but then said, ‘I know what to do Mom! We can make cookies and take them to the firemen, the police and the paramedics. I'm sure they miss their families and good food, just like soldiers and like you and your friends do at work.’”
Before long the mother/daughter duo was excitedly planning their newest family tradition – baking cookies for our hometown civil service workers.
“I thought it was a great idea and told her I would shop for the ingredients after she decided what kind of cookies she wanted to make,” Kayla Stringer giggled happily. “Savannah wanted to make sugar cookies with colored sprinkles to match the various uniforms they wear. She also wanted to make her all-time favorite, peanut butter cookies with Hershey’s kisses in the middle.”
After a trip to the grocery store, the two got busy baking. Lots and lots of delicious cookies were made, and on Christmas Eve, they were delivered to the Cullman City Police Department followed by Cullman Fire and Rescue and finally the Cullman Emergency Medical Services building on Second Avenue.
“I would like to let the police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses and soldiers know that I am so thankful they work every day to keep up safe so that we can enjoy our families without any worries,” 9-year-old Savannah grinned. “I also plan to help my parents with their nonprofit veterans program beginning in 2016.”
“To see her so happy about giving back definitely has me doing whatever it takes to make this a new family tradition,” Kayla Stringer said proudly.
