The kids have been good this year, Teddy Adams said.

He has five children aged 2 to 12 and especially recalls their exemplary camaraderie in that evacuation hotel room packed with tense siblings and a puppy.

“We really can’t do a lot for Christmas this year. We told them it was going to be a small Christmas and they’re being good about it,” Adams, of Port Neches, said.

Adams has polyostic fibrous dysplasia and is on a crutch and disability. Over his lifetime he’s had 40 surgeries for week bones, having broken his left leg four times, his right hip four times and his left hip two times.

But a trip picking out toys for his clan gave him holiday hope. He and Kristin Dennis received support from Community Care-Prayer Outreach in Nederland. They chose toys just right for the children from a sea of balls, dolls and games.

“It means a lot,” Adams said, emotional as he described the financial strain of evacuating twice this hurricane season.

Nationwide, times are tough. With thousands facing layoffs and home losses, many families that make charitable giving part of their holiday tradition may be stressed for funds to fill their own stockings.

A survey of charities serving Mid-County needy indicates the season of giving is in full force, despite economical strain and devastation from Hurricane Ike.

Community Care-Prayer Outreach

Tracy Droddy, assistant director, said Kristi Thompson volunteered to help match families with gifts to make them smile Christmas morning. Droddy said money and merchandise comes in strong and leaves to support those who need it most.

“It’s been a little down,” she said about this year’s collections. “But it’s amazing with this economy people are not saying ‘I can’t afford it.’ They are still in that giving mode,” she aid.