Judith Bowman

Here’s a smiling face that many of our readers will recognize – she has probably helped you find what you’re looking for at POC Hardware, where she works with her father, Teddy Hawes. Judith lives in Port O’Connor with her husband Justin, sons Stephen and Blake, and near many of her relatives, including her mother, Jacque Berchard.

Christmas time is a perfect time to recognize Judith’s primary contribution to folks in Port O’Connor: the Angel Tree Program. She has been working with the program for the past 15 years, finding recipients and finding people willing to “adopt” a child. Parents provide the sizes of clothing and shoes of their children, then donors purchase these items for the child they pick. All this is done with strict confidentiality.

Presents are brought to the hardware store where Judith and her helpers sort them out and gift wrap them. If someone wishes to help a child but doesn’t have time to shop, they will do the shopping.

Judith stresses that this is truly a community effort. It really extends beyond our community, as the toys are provided by the annual Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run. “From the boats that deliver the toys and all their support crew, the volunteers that unload those boats, the people that haul the toys from place to place, the next group of volunteers that unload and sort the toys, then pack each child’s bag, the ones that adopt the kids, or donate to the program, the ones that shop when someone else can’t, the ones that help hand out the goodies to the parents…there’s just too many to name. But overall, it takes all of us in whatever area to pull this amazing program together.” Judith says.

This year there were more children served than ever – 63. That’s 20 more than last year.

“We get thank you’s from all the parents when we hand out the gift,” Judith said. “And every year there’s a couple that stand out and remind me why I truly enjoy doing this and being a part in bringing a Merry Christmas to a child that may not have had one. I’ve shared tears with parents overwhelmed with the generosity of the community.”

Toy Run arriving in Port O’Coinnor, bringing toys for POC children and many others in the surrounding area. -Photo by Mike Hessong