Abby Meehan was working a double shift at Baesler’s Market on Christmas Eve trying to make some extra cash. When the 16-year-old saw a young boy come into her lane with his mother she struck up a conversation with him, but what his mother told her next broke Abby’s heart.
Abby asked the young boy, whose name is Jacob, what Santa was going to bring him for Christmas. Tearfully Jacob’s mom, Cory, told Abby, “We had to have a conversation yesterday that Santa is not coming this year.”
Abby was taken aback realizing that some families could not afford presents at Christmas. She knew she had to do something to help the family.
After bagging up the groceries Abby asked Cory for her phone number. Thinking Abby was just going to enter their names into the store’s holiday raffle Cory obliged, but she could never have guessed what Abby would do next.
“I grabbed my dad and I was on a mission,” Abby recalled. “I said, ‘We’ve got to get this kid some gifts. It’s not fair for someone to not have something to open on Christmas.’”
Abby spent her entire week’s paycheck – $75 – on games, cookies, and candy for Jacob. Then they called Cory so they could deliver the gifts.
“We took [presents] to his house and you couldn’t imagine the look on his face,” Abby said. “He was jumping up and down and smiling and we exchanged at least 10 hugs that night.”
The day after Christmas, Cory and her four sons met Abby and her parents at the market. Abby’s mother, Mandy Meehan, bought gifts for Jacob’s brothers and then took them around the store to stock up on groceries for the family.
Cory couldn’t believe the lengths this family had gone to show her family some Christmas love and cheer.
“I felt like the worst mother not being able to do anything for my kids for Christmas,” she said, “but to have a 16-year-old come in and help, it’s unimaginable.”
Mandy is, of course, incredibly proud of her daughter and her selfless actions.
“I think [Abby] put herself aside and I think that’s remarkable,” she said. “I’m very proud of her, for sure.”
It’s obvious that Abby understands the true meaning of Christmas and what the holiday season is all about.
“Everyone deserves to [be] happy on Christmas,” she said, “but sometimes you gotta go outta your way to make things happen.”
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