During the holidays many parents expect to get wish lists from their children so they can better shop for them, but for Sgt. Cecil Sharp, shift supervisor, Naval Base Kitsap’s Security Department and his wife that simply wasn’t the case.

In early December Sharp’s youngest son Christopher, 15, spoke with his mother about what he wanted for Christmas. He told her that the only thing he wanted for Christmas he got for his birthday a month earlier. So instead of his parents buying him stuff he really didn’t need, he asked his parents to help him carry out his only wish.

“I’ve had time to take a look at my life thus far and I realized that I already have everything I need. So why should my parent’s waste money on gifts for a child who simply wants something?  I asked my parents that my Christmas money be used for people who might not have anything to eat on Christmas day,” said the younger Sharp.

After discussing the request, Sgt. Sharp and his wife gave Chris $100 of his Christmas gift allocation to use for his cause. $100 was just the tip of the iceberg for the younger Sharp who then called upon the Bremerton Commissary to assist him in his efforts.

“While shopping with my mother at the Bremerton Commissary on Dec. 11, I contacted the manager, Sue Marcum, and asked about a donation to the St. Gabriel Catholic Church “Christmas Basket” food program. She said that at the time there was nothing available, but she would see what she could do and would get back to me later in the week,” said the younger Sharp.

On Dec. 15, just like she promised, Marcum called the younger Sharp to notify him that the Bremerton Commissary would let him purchase $50 worth of items for his food drive.

On Dec. 18, the younger Sharp arrived at the Bremerton Commissary and met with Marcum to select his food drive purchases. But before he started shopping, Marcum told the younger Sharp that the original donation of $50 had grown to $75 and that several other shopping carts were set aside filled with donations from various vendors.

With all the added donations, the younger Sharp felt really good about doing something nice for others.

“I felt very excited as I was filling the shopping cart full of groceries. It did my heart a lot of good knowing that hungry people would be eating well this Christmas.”

After his shopping spree, the younger Sharp and his mother took all of the food donations to his church. It was at that moment that the younger Sharp realized what a great thing he was doing.

“Imagining the look on the needy peoples’ faces when they see the food they’re getting really made me feel good.”

And for the older Sharp, seeing his son do such a great deed for others was very heart warming.

“I am very proud of him for his thoughtfulness and compassion. What Chris was able to accomplish can be a lesson to us all, in that initiative and effort can make a difference to those in need, no matter how large or how small the contribution.”

Even though the holidays are over, the younger Sharp encourages everyone to follow his example because it really does make the soul feel good.

“Giving to a charity that you know will give everything you donate to your cause makes you feel really good, he said. “I know that I’m a lucky child to be born into a life of safety and security and I know that there are many people that are not so lucky.

“So I encourage everyone to be thankful for what they have and never take it for granted, and to also keep in mind that even a little can do a whole lot for someone who has nothing.”