Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Generational generosity to celebrate MLK Day
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Family traditions can create lasting memories. And as we found out last week, they can also make a lasting impact.
Michelle Buckhanan has been doing a day of service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for years. This year, she was joined by three generations of her family.
"Wow, you guys got them done quick," Buckhanan exclaimed.
When you have an assembly line going, organization is key.
"One, two, three," she counted, handing out socks.
Each item is lined up neatly so it can be grabbed and added to the bag.
Buckhanan organizes an essentials drive every year.
"This is our tenth year. We're so excited we made it 10 years," she said.
Her family joins her on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to help her pack bags with socks, underwear, toiletries and other essentials.
"This is a scarf," she said, going through the items.
All to be donated to those in need.
"It's always been a big deal for me," she said.
A big deal to her, and now the rest of her family, too.
"He's been doing this since he was three years old," Buckhanan said, pointing to her son, Max Barnes.
Barnes has been by her side the whole time.
"Pretty much because I had to, because I live with my mom," he said with a laugh.
Over the years, though, something he had to do has become something he gets to do.
"If you just take a little time out of your day to give back, I feel like that's the most important thing," he said.
Granddaughter, Lauren Ward, is also helping pack bags. Her little brother, adding cookies at the end.
"It makes me feel really happy," Ward said. "It's always nice to give back to people that don't have what I have."
Buckhanan collects the items for weeks at her store, Yarn Junkie and Gifts, in Butler. Her goal this year was 100 bags. They ended up collecting enough for 150, along with blankets and scarves to keep people warm.
"You only need a few people on your team to really encourage you to keep going," Buckhanan said.
And with her family by her side, they loaded the donations onto a truck. It's a few short hours of work that will help so many.
"It's just part of who we should be. We should just be people who want to give back because we have what we need," she said.
All of those essentials bags were donated to the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge.
Buckhanan, who grew up in Milwaukee, said it's important to her that people can walk in and grab what they need. For more information on Yarn Junkie and Buckhanan's essentials drive, visit Facebook.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].