By Jackie Rybeck

Feature Writer

It’s the holiday season: decorated homes, Christmas music, hot chocolate and twinkling lights.

Let’s not forget the hordes of shoppers flocking to stores with their long lists, standing in mile-long lines purchasing carloads of gifts to make certain everyone gets what they want.

People love the notion of Santa, but is that what it’s all about?

Not so, according to the Whitney family, whose magic and wonder of Christmas has revolved from receiving all they desire to a greater pleasure of giving: the rightful essence of Christmas.

For the last 12 years the Whitney family has chosen to donate to a charity rather than exchange gifts at the annual Christmas party.

“We take turns hosting the party,” said Greg, the oldest son. “And whoever hosts the party gets the right to choose the charity that will receive a donation.”

There are five siblings, Vaughan, Greg, David, Brian and Dawn. And with 13 nieces and nephews, 14 grandchildren and plenty of daughter and son-in-laws, it’s possible to have well over 40 guests at their holiday festivities.

“As our children started having children, we wanted to establish the importance of the holiday,” smiled Greg’s wife Linda. “It seemed a perfect time to provide our grandchildren with good values to live by and instill a strong sense of family, which was giving, not just receiving.”

Youngest sister Dawn agreed. “This tradition not only helps others, but also starts teaching the youngest members of the family, while reminding us all, of the true spirit of the holidays.”

This year, it is Greg and Linda’s turn to host the Whitney clan Christmas in their Auburn home. And this year’s selected charity will be a donation in memory of Dawn’s husband, Pete Simpson, who recently passed away from a sudden heart ailment.

“The Margaret Murphy School on Rodman Road is the recipient this year of a 12 by 12 sandbox with a shade roof,” explained Linda. “It will be filled with sand and construction toys in the spring, and will include a raised section for handicap accessibility.”

“Not only will the family be making a charitable donation,” said Greg, “we will also be constructing the sandbox in April which is Pete’s birthday month.”

Dawn is the curriculum coordinator at MMCC and the children were near and dear to Pete’s heart.

“He created a paved bike path and basketball court,” said Dawn. “He would invite the children to see his construction equipment any time he was working in the area. He loved seeing their bright, excited expressions as they sat in the driver’s seat and pretended to drive.”

The family envisions a mini construction site where the children can play, imagine and explore, just like Pete did with them.

“We know Pete would have loved this,” said Dawn. “And we are sure the many kids at Margaret Murphy will get much enjoyment from the sandbox. Even the Simpson family will join us in April,” she added.

In this fast-paced world, the Whitney family hopes to have instilled a tradition of thinking of others and hopefully not just for the holidays.

“Our oldest grandson got it last year,” said Linda. “He shared with me that he knew there were kids out there who did not have as much as him. He and his mom now go shopping for toys to donate and that excites him.”

This holiday gathering will have a festive, yet reflective atmosphere.

“At every family gathering, ‘Uncle Pete’ was the one on the floor playing with the kids,” said Dawn. “Where there was children’s laughter, there was Pete. Building a sandbox for the students at MMCC is the perfect tribute. Pete was a strong advocate of the Margaret Murphy Center. He would be proud to have a giant sandbox built in his honor. Not because it was for him, but because it was for the kids.”