Christmas is a time a giving and joy - the most wonderful time of the year.

But when there are no presents, no food and no money in the house, those visions of sugarplums only serve to remind families of what they don't have.

"Lucy" had been a stay-at-home wife and mother for 28 years. When the marriage dissolved and her ex-husband failed to pay his fair share, she found herself lacking even the most basic necessities as Christmas came and went. There was no Christmas dinner. Her children had no presents.

Her pain was indescribable.

Another year passed and another Christmas season approached. The situation wasn't much better for the single mother receiving no assistance. Her divorce led to depression and years staying at home with the children did little to prepare her for work that would allow her to support her family.

But the second Christmas was far different from the first.

Why? She got help.

Derby's Operation Holiday gave her the help she needed to provide a special Christmas for her children. Several years later, she still remembers the pain of the Christmas without and the relief and joy she felt after Operation Holiday-Derby stepped in to prevent that pain from coming back another year.

She has a good job now. Her family is doing much better.

She gives back to Operation Holiday-Derby in the hope of bringing that same joy to another family who can't find it on their own.

"We were so appreciative," Lucy said. "We didn't waste one thing. When you have gone through having nothing, you appreciate it so much more."

Shanda White, one of the organizers of Operation Holiday-Derby, said the program is available to those in need anywhere in the U.S.D. 260 boundaries.

She said the income guidelines to qualify for help are very similar to those that qualify families for free and reduced lunches at school.

On Friday, Dec. 12, volunteers will gather food and toys from the many businesses that have boxes to help collect donations. They will count and sort the food and toys received. Operation Holiday-Derby also accepts cash donations.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, workers will box up the food for families from 1-10 people. Monday, Dec. 15 is pick-up day.

Not only do families get food that day, but each child up to the age of 14 in the family receives one large and one small toy or present.

"Donations from people in Derby are our sole means of support," White said. "It is really neat that the community supports this project and the benefits stay in the community."

Lucy knows how it feels to have someone there to offer support when you find yourself in need.

"We try to support things like Operation Holiday now," Lucy said. "We know what it is like and we want to help others who feel like that."