HomeTown Heroes Christmas Tree Lot in Charlotte – Kids Day

Over the weekend, Mel, Reece, Betsy, my Dad, and I all headed over to the HomeTown Heroes Christmas Tree Lot in Charlotte for Kids Day. This time last year, I was introduced to HomeTown Heroes, at this same Christmas Tree Lot, and I have been doing my best to support them ever since!

Who are HomeTown Heroes?

Every year they have three Christmas Tree lots, the one on Mallard Creek and two in Monroe, NC where 100% of the proceeds go to the Families of Hometown Heroes. Who are the families of Hometown Heroes?

“Hometown Heroes is dedicated to those kids that need some big friends. Our focus is to make these children and their families OUR families. “Big Kids Helping Little Kids” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a promise to make a difference in the lives of some kids that can use our help.”

HomeTown Heroes Website

HomeTown Heroes on Facebook – Keep up to date on all the Hometown Heroes Events!

My kids have been looking forward to Kids Day for a few weeks now and we had this all planned out. But things don’t always turn out like you plan. On November 29th, my Mom lost her battle with cancer. She put up a valiant, gracious fight and I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. My Mom was the “Matriarch of Holidays”. Every year, we would all head over to her house to decorate the “Family Tree” and to me, it symbolized the beginning of the Christmas Season. This year, there won’t be any going over to “Mimi’s” to decorate the tree.

We have to carry on whether we feel like it or not. We have to move forward, but keep our eyes on Heaven, because that is where my Mom is. Sitting on a cloud, legs crossed, looking down at us and smiling. She wants to laugh, but because we aren’t laughing and smiling yet, she can’t.

Last year, I knew HomeTown Heroes came into my life for a reason. But I did not know what that reason was.  While I am still not sure of the reason, I do believe HomeTown Heroes came into my life to show me there is always Hope. Even when someone loses their battle with cancer, there is always hope that one day, someone will win their fight with cancer, that someone will find the cure for Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lymphoma, Childhood Cancers, or any other kind of stupid cancer there is. There is Hope in coming together as a united front to show cancer, it might win by taking our loved ones, but it can’t win by taking our spirit. We are much stronger as a group of people, than on our own. And HomeTown Heroes shows that everyday to the families they have “adopted”.

When we arrived at The HomeTown Heroes Christmas Tree Lot, we were not disappointed!

The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs were showing off some pretty spectacular vehicles!

Santa Claus, the Monkey Joe’s Mascot, the Charlotte Motor Speedway mascot, Chick-Fil-A Mascot, and the Bobcats Mascot were all there too!

There was Free Pizza and Soda – and even Monster Drinks!

The Christmas Tree Lot was filled with fresh cut Christmas Trees!

There was a bounce house!

And of course, the biggest event of the day was watching the Carolina’s Medical Center Helicopter Land!

After eating some pizza, checking out all the vehicles, we decided to look for a Christmas Tree – Gosh they were all so beautiful it was hard deciding which one to choose. It was also hard for me mentally too. Knowing this Christmas my Mom was not going to be here to celebrate it with us. It is HARD dealing with the loss of a parent (or spouse or child or friend). Your whole world is shattered…it is messed up…it is confusing….put on a smile for your kids…but inside you are dying…pick out a Christmas Tree your loved one will never see….receive a “Merry Christmas” card and feel like screaming “Who is it Merry for…not me!” But then, you realize, wow, I sure was lucky to have had this person in my life. She taught me this, that, and the other thing….You begin to realize that although you may still be angry, sad, and depressed, there are little glimpses of Hope…little glimpses of memories that put a smile on your face…

These glimpses may be very small, but hold on to them…They may come and go in just a matter of seconds, but you will remember them….One day, you may very well be the glimpse of Hope someone is looking for…the Hope someone needs to go on…whether it is a smile or a “Hi”…you might just save someones day. That is what HomeTown Heroes represents to me….the Smile someone needs that day.

And I have learned….maybe when I smiled at that person in the grocery store and they just gave me a dirty look, that maybe, it is not that they are not nice…it is that deep inside they are hurting. They are truly unable to smile back at you….but smile anyway…You never know when you just gave someone a glimpse of Hope.

Thank you HomeTown Heroes, for being there for those families when all they need is a little Hope.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and if you haven’t yet purchased your Christmas Tree…Check out the HomeTown Heroes Christmas Tree Lot!

Typical hours are as follows: Monday – Thursday, 3PM to 9PM; Friday and Saturday, 9AM to 9PM; Sunday, 1PM to 6PM.

Locations: 

Two lots in Monroe – One in front of Hospice and one in front of Walmart

One lot in Charlotte – On Mallard Creek Church Road where the annual BBQ happens