Volunteers Helped Make Shriners Holiday Clinic a Success

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The “Holiday Clinic” the Shriners Club of La Feria held this month wouldn’t have be a success if it had not been for the help of dozens of volunteers with the organization.

Some of them drove vans to pick up children and their parents at the various ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border.

Others prepared meals for the more than 200 children plus their parents and additional relatives.

Another group of volunteers prepared goodie bags, toys, note pads and many other things the club gets largely from donations as each youngster goes home with a package and gets to see Santa Claus due to this time year.

Other volunteers dress up as clowns to lighten the spirits of those in need of health services.

Among the colorful individuals are Douglas “Skittle” Hinojosa, Allan “Honey” Jones and David “Hot Rod” Harkins.

The three have been clowning around for nearly 40 years altogether and will keep on doing it for as long as they can.

When asked why they do it? They each said because of the gratification they get from helping others.

“I do it because of my admiration for the Shriners hospital and because I love these kids,” Harkins said.

Added Jones, “We do it because we love to brighten the lives of these kids.”

Arvid Bergman, another volunteer, said the same.

“The only thing we get paid for this is coffee and a smile,” he said, and continued, “and to see these kids get fixed.”