CANTON, Ohio — Canton native Justina Gorman has taken the term “season of giving” to the next level.
Ever since she was a child, Gorman has loved giving back to those less fortunate than herself.
She remembers her mother encouraging her to pick tags from their church’s giving tree. Each tag was a present they would buy for someone in need.
“My parents just kind of instilled that giving attitude in me my entire life,” Gorman said. “I would be like, a little girl (from the giving tree) wants a Barbie. I want to give a Barbie for another girl.”
Now, as an adult, she continues her family’s tradition.
But in an even bigger way.
“For the giving tree at St. Michael’s, I was able to do 79 specific requests this year,” she said. “Then, I was able to do five trash bags of stuff to the Sam’s Center, and that was just my holiday gifting.”
Giving that many gifts takes a lot of planning.
“I do start (buying gifts) typically around the day after Christmas,” she said. “I will say, I have already purchased stuff for next Christmas, which is kind of ridiculous, but it happens.”
She said she wouldn’t be able to provide so many people with gifts if it weren’t for coupons and finding sales.
“Most of this stuff was probably from the Target after-Christmas sale,” she said. “Probably at least 75% off, if not more.”
Her goal is to keep increasing the number of gifts she gives each year.
“I love being able to give back to my community,” she said. “I think it means so much to help Stark County thrive and grow and just become happier and healthier.”
