By DEVIN McLAUGHLIN

STAFFORD - Families in need were treated to a hearty helping of Christmas spirit at the King of Kings Community Church.

The dinner table was filled on Friday with the types of holiday goodies one might expect to see : potatoes, vegetables, and turkey with all the trimmings. The meal was topped off with a hefty supply of homemade Christmas cookies.

Afterwards, youngsters attempted to crack a pinata filled with a variety of sweet treats.

As the evening progressed, the approximately nine families in attendance, including 21 children, gathered beside a guitarist as they sang traditional carols.

Later, the sound of bells preceded the entrance of Santa Claus, who sat with the eager children and handed out gifts.

For at least two of the families in attendance, these were the only Christmas presents the children will receive this year.

The special party, organized by the Helping Hands Mission of Barnegat, gave a little Christmas spirit to some of the many needy families in southern Ocean County who "can't get into the system," according to William Beuckman Sr., founder and director of the mission.

"We have people here from Lanoka Harbor down to Tuckerton," he said. "They love this."

Beuckman said the nonprofit charitable organization works hard throughout the year to provide food, clothing and medical supplies to families who otherwise would be without the necessities most of us take for granted.

With approximately 15 volunteer members reaching out to the community, the mission solicits donations through coin jugs in stores and at annual events such as Barnegat Township's Founders Day festival.

"It's all volunteer and all donations," Beuckman said. "We'll take anything we can get, and everything we get we give back to the children."

Families who find themselves in difficult financial situations may call the mission for food or prescriptions.

"We can give them anything but money," he said. "If we can't help them, we can direct them to other agencies or other mission groups. We'll stick with them until they get back on their feet."

"Our motto is, if they need it, we'll get it, and if they need it and we can't get it, we'll find it."

Beuckman and his crew "found" most of the gifts for the party right in town.

"We received a lot of toys from the Stafford Police Department," he said. "The King of Kings donated this hall for us and the (Manahawkin) ShopRite donated all the food."

The Village Harbour Civic Association and the Manahawkin Baptist Church Senior Youth Group also provided generous contributions, Beuckman added.

The contributions enabled the mission to purchase the one item each child said he or she wanted most for Christmas.

Among the items were dolls, toys, and a boom box, obtained from mission volunteer Lydia Diaz, from the International Vitamin Corp. of Freehold.

"It's what it's all about," Beuckman said. "People in the community gave; people on the job, individuals, everybody's just giving."

Beuckman, who currently operates the program from his home, hopes to one day build a mission headquarters for 70 children. "It will be for emergency stays and will have a school and everything."

In the meantime, Beuckman and the volunteers will continue to exemplify the mission's statement : helping children with helping hands.

The Helping Hands Mission is always looking for volunteers. For more information or to offer assistance, interested parties may contact Beuckman at 978-0311.

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