Kirby Family and KRMC combine efforts to help the community

An unidentified volunteer dressed as Santa Claus was on his way to deliver one or two of the 100 Christmas meals available to the needy in the Kingman area on Christmas Day. The effort was all part of a joint effort between the Kirby family and the Kingman Regional Medical Center Foundation to assist clients in the Meals on Wheels program.

KINGMAN – The community comes out to help the community during the holidays again.

The Kirby family (in a partnership with the Kingman Regional Medical Center Foundation) and nearly 100 volunteers from throughout the Kingman area helped feed the hungry, lonely or anyone who needed a bite to eat on Christmas Day.

On Thanksgiving Day, John Kirby, working with the KRMC kitchen staff, prepared nearly 200 meals pre-cooked and prepackaged meals for an assortment of residents and families in the Kingman area including Golden Valley and Dolan Springs. More than 70 volunteers consisting of individuals, couples and families carted as many meals as they could to deliver.

Christmas Day meals totaled 100 and were out in within an hour by the same amount of roving volunteers.

Volunteers were given the addresses of those in need. Some were carrying one bag. Others were carrying as many as they could fit on as many fingers.

Christmas is always a bit more colorful and some of the volunteers were dressed in red and green hues, elf ears, a few Santa hats and even Santa himself. Many made small talk with the Kirby family – who stages a table and shuffles carts of food for delivery – then hustled on their way to get back with their own families on Christmas Day.

Speaking of the Kirby’s, for them, it’s a family affair.

From left to right, Brian Kirby and Brianna Kirby, both part of a joint effort between the Kirby family and the Kingman Regional Medical Center Foundation to feed the needy, hand over Christmas Day meals to an unidentified volunteer who will deliver the food to families in the Kingman area. The food pick-up started at Kingman Regional Medical Center at 10:30 a.m. and within an hour, 100 meals were on their way to their destinations

According to volunteer Brianna Kirby, her uncle, John Kirby, started the tradition 10 years ago to help local Meals on Wheels clients.

John, his wife, Maria, along with Brianna, her father, Brian, and other family members and friends all coordinate with Meals on Wheels and KRMC to organize and execute the food delivery.

Many volunteers understand the need to get the food cooked, packaged, handed out and delivered and embrace the joys of doing so.

“As for my own experience, I’m truly passionate about volunteering,” Brianna said. “I love seeing the happiness on both the volunteers and customers face during the whole process.”

She has spent most of her efforts preparing the meals or handing them to other volunteers. She’s also the recipient of one of those containers of food and appreciates the efforts of those willing to help.

“The few times I have delivered were some of the most precious times I have had,” Kirby said. “Being on the receiving end once or twice as a young child, I remember how excited I was to hear the knock on my door and know that there was going to be a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal that night.”

Aaron Ricca

One thought on “Kirby Family and KRMC combine efforts to help the community”

This was my first year volunteering and certainly not my last. My list took me into Golden Valley where I was met with gratitude, smiles and a couple happy pups! Thank you KRMC and the Kirby family.