KAYSVILLE—In 1986, Frank and Barbara Frodsham started what has now become a tradition of bringing those who were homeless to their farm and giving them warm hats, gloves, socks and other essentials to make their Christmas a little bit brighter. Initially they started it to help a friend who was going through a divorce and wasn’t going to see her kids for Christmas. 

They said, “‘Let’s go find some of the homeless in Salt Lake and bring them to the farm and give them a warm meal,’” said Scott Ellenson, co-chairman of Family Community Christmas. “They had a total of 17 guests. This year we’ve had over 1,000.” 

Frank and Barbara ran Frodsham Family Christmas for a couple of decades, said Ellenson. “They got older and Frank passed away so Barbara was going to stop doing it. JC Bolton and I had a conversation that we were not going to let that happen.”

Bolton has been volunteering for the last 25 years and this is Ellenson’s 17th year. “The Frodsham family asked that the name be changed, so it became the Family Community Christmas,” said Ellenson. “That’s what it is all about is families.”

This year’s event was held last Saturday at the Agricultural Heritage Center in Kaysville. “We were able to have the pony rides inside so that guests could stay warm,” he said. “We had families sign up and they were matched with a volunteer. There were games for the kids and families got black garbage bags to go shopping for clothes.”

There were 1,000 books for kids to pick from, said Ellenson. “Everyone got warm socks, hats, gloves, hygiene kits and kids got a new wrapped toy. We had 17,000 toys and everyone got a blanket. For the last 30 days we’ve had wrapping parties. Last night we wrapped 300 presents.”

The key theme this year was the number 1651, he said. “We’ve partnered with Jodi Lunt and the Davis Education Foundation. As of six weeks ago she said there are 1,651 homeless kids in Davis County. It resonated with us. Interform of Centerville donated T-shirts for all of the volunteers with 1651 printed on the front.”

“I worked at the Frodsham family farm cleaning horse stalls,” said Bolton, co-chair of Family Community Christmas. “We’d help the homeless on Saturdays. Scott and I didn’t want this to die. It’s worth the sacrifice so it doesn’t go by the wayside.”

It’s an important thing to keep going, he said. “It gives families the opportunity to serve other families. That’s hard to find.”

“J.C. is a good friend of mine,” said Aaron Sorenson who has been volunteering for the last five or six years. “My wife started helping and my boys too. We’re going to do this every year. It’s become a tradition. This is our favorite part of Christmas.”

Sorenson said he’s had a lot of meaningful experiences as a volunteer. “I see parents who could get stuff for themselves but they didn’t care, they just wanted to get things for their children.”

One family had little boys and they were all wearing shorts, he said. “They were looking for pants because they were freezing. They needed something right that minute. That’s where some people are at.”

“This experience has been amazing,” said Xitlaly, who was with her little boys finding the things she needed. “They even give you things for people in your family who aren’t here. One of my boys is home.”

The staff welcomes everybody, she said. “They hear our story and they are so nice and they’re smiling offering help. The two boys (Sorenson’s sons) are so nice with my little ones. They make us feel like friends.”

It’s a gift for volunteers to do this, Ellenson said. “It’s a gift for us to give back. If we can bring a smile to a homeless kid’s face for an hour and give them an ounce of joy – that’s pure joy.” 

For more information about Family Community Christmas visit fccofutah.com.