One of the best things about the holiday season is to bring as much joy to as many people as you can. And for the past two decades, Steve and Gloria Jordan of Pascagoula have been doing what they can to achieve that goal.
About 20 years ago, Jordan decided he wanted to do something good for others. His business, Turf Masters Lawn & Care, a grounds maintenance company, was doing well, so he wanted to give back to his community.
In early December of 2003, he took $500 to Wal-Mart and walked around the toy department trying to identify those who might be in need and gifted them some money to help with their Christmas. He felt a little awkward doing that and never knew if he was offending anyone, but the recipients were grateful and he decided to keep doing it.
“We have 13 grandchildren and on Christmas morning we know that they will celebrate the birth of Christ and have the traditional presents to open. Not everyone is that blessed, and we are in a position to put a smile on a child’s face,” Jordan said.
In 2005, he approached the City of Pascagoula Recreation Department and asked if they could identify, through their after-school program, a family they could help. City officials did and even suggested a name for the program – Visions of Sugarplums.
Two years later in 2007, Jordan wanted to increase the reach of the program so the department suggested they contact each elementary and middle school in the Pascagoula School District and at Resurrection Catholic School and ask them to choose three children from each school who could benefit from the program.
Once the children are selected, they’re invited to the annual Thanksgiving camp put on by the department. On the day before Thanksgiving, the children are taken to Wal-Mart. They are each given $300, and along with their parents, volunteers, employees of Turf Masters, and the Jordans, they set out on their shopping spree inside the store.
There is, however, one requirement that Jordan insists upon, and it means the most to him and his family.
“With their money, the children must buy something for one of their family members so that they can also experience the joy of giving.”
Cassandra Shoemo, Director of Summer Camps and After-School Programs for the Pascagoula Parks and Recreation Department echoes that sentiment.
“It’s a great program. It’s amazing that Steve Jordan, his wife, and their family take the time to do this, to come out each year. And what’s great is seeing the faces of the children light up as they get to shop for not only themselves but for others.”
After the shopping spree, every child’s purchases are bagged up and are available for pick up on Christmas Eve. The children are then treated to lunch at Raising Cane’s. This year, the First Baptist Church of Pascagoula joined in by donating bibles and gift cards to the families.
While Turf Masters is the driving force behind the Visions of Sugarplums program, Jordan says they couldn’t do it without help from his staff, his family, the city, Raising Cane’s, and this year, First Baptist Church.
He estimates over the years they’ve taken about 500 children on shopping sprees and considers it more of a blessing to him and his family than it is to the children. And as long as they’re in a position to help others, the Visions of Sugarplums program will continue on because as Jordan believes, children deserve to have a Christmas that they can remember.
