Everyone deserves something for Christmas and nobody deserves to go without, ever.

Ione Bickell has been at the Senior Center, now known as the Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center, for 24 years now. She started as relief help in the kitchen where she was quickly moved up to manager.

"I was kitchen manager for 15 years and I loved doing it,” says Bickell.

Bickell is now the administrator at the activity and nutrition center and in the past couple years has taken on a bigger role in, “Christmas for the Homebound”,  a program that delivers food, necessities and treats to homebound seniors in the area.

“The goal with this is to make sure that seniors at Christmas time don't have to worry about buying necessities,” says Bickell.

The first two years of the program were slow, but once word spread, the community was ready to support the cause.

“Immediately the community started making donations to this,” remembers Bickell. “You know, seniors are kind of forgotten this time of year and I think it’s really important to show them that somebody cares about them.”

While Bickell still oversaw the project as administrator, the project became Darlene Hiattte’s baby for many years. She would dedicate her entire house to the operation, collecting and sorting donations on her floor leaving only narrow paths to walk through.

Volunteers would gather at Hiatte’s and someone would always make food for them to enjoy while they worked packing all of the donations into laundry baskets. 

“It was a lot of fun,” says Bickell. 

The care packages include everyday necessities such as paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, trash bags and anything else seniors can use. They are also sure to include cookies, sweets and plenty of fruit.

Hiatte’s best friend and partner in crime was Donald Bryan who helped deliver the care packages. 

“They would load up their van with everything and they would go out there, then they would come back and pick up more loads,” says Bickell.

Bryan is no longer able to pick up the fruit or deliver care packages like he used to and Hiatte passed away on Saturday, Nov. 23 but their valiant efforts over the years made the program what it is today.

“Darlene really kept things going, big time,” says Bickell. “She is an inspiration.”

In addition to generous donations from members of the community, the Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center also receives a $1,500 grant from the Miriam A Edmonston Charitable Foundation.

“I had never thought about getting a grant for this and then one of our delivery drivers, Jan Douglas, came up to us and said, ‘Why don’t you apply at the Edmonston Foundation for a grant?’,” says Bickell. 

Audrain County Sheriff's Department, MPSD and retired teachers of Mexico are responsible for deliveries.

“It’s really interesting to see the Sheriff's department and the city police together with the retired teachers right there in the middle of it all,” Bickell points out. “It’s great that they do this. They want to do this.” 

They still need a little bit of everything as far as donations are concerned, though they haven’t spent any of the grant money yet. Donations are still being accepted through this week and care packages will be put together this coming Sunday, Nov. 8 to be delivered the next day. Any leftover grant money will still go towards the seniors.

“I just want to praise Darlene for everything she has done for us,” adds Bickell. “She was always so happy and I want everyone to know how happy she was to do this.”