Kim Maxwell, mother of Brittany Project founder Brittany Maxwell, hands out one of more than 100 Christmas trees the organization donated to Murfreesboro families this year. (TMP/ J. Philleo)
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The Brittany Project made Christmas a little brighter for dozens of Murfreesboro families Friday night by giving out more than 100 Christmas Trees.
The trees were new and gently used artificial trees, and came with a full compliment of lights, ornaments, and a topper.
The Brittany Project was begun last year by former Murfreesboro Police Department officer Brittany Maxwell, who passed away before the project could come to fruition.
Her parents, Joe and Kim Maxwell, and several of Brittany’s former co-workers carried on the project after Brittany’s untimely death.
“It’s helped in finding peace in doing something that Brittany really cared about, and getting to know the people in the community that she cared about,” Kim said, prior to handing out the trees Friday night. “I didn’t really understand the impact she had in that community – she loved the kids in the neighborhood where she worked.”
The trees were distributed during the Community Christmas Dessert Party thrown by New Vision Baptist Church at McFadden Elementary School.
Brittany served the Franklin Heights community with the MPD, and got the idea for the project after a child came up to her and told her that only rich people had Christmas Trees.
“She was heartbroken and she wanted to do something about it,” said Melissa Cooke, an MPD dispatcher who remembers Brittany as an officer who “was always chasing after the bad guy.
“That’s what she did and she did it well,” Cooke said. “I was always on the radio when she came on shift. After she passed, it was tough not to hear her voice on the radio anymore.”
Another MPD dispatcher Jennifer Smith, who has also picked up the Brittany Project torch to carry on, said that when they found Brittany’s list of families needing trees, there were 30 names on the list. They ended up giving out 41 trees last year.
“Then we decided to continue doing it, and it’s something we’re going to be doing for awhile,” Smith said.
Cooke said that picking up where Brittany left off and carrying on her Christmas tree project was bittersweet.
“It was good to see her dream come to fruition, but it was sad that she wasn’t there to see it … but it was great to see the smiles on the children’s faces – these were children who had probably never had a Christmas tree.”
Brittany’s family – Mom, Dad, brother A.J., and grandparents Brenda and Ron Ross and Alene Maxwell – used the Brittany Project as a tool to get them throughtheir time of grieving during the holiday season last year. Brittany passed away Oct. 23, 2010.
“It kept us focused on something positive and helped us put one step after another,” said Kim, who wants to see the project double again next year.
“I appreciate all our volunteers, all of the businesses that participated, and everyone in the community who has taken part in the project, and New Vision Baptist Church for allowing us to be part of the Community Christmas Dessert Party,” Kim said.
She specifically thanked Dr. Russell Boyter, Bill Taylor School of Karate, 536 Salon, Old Tyme Pottery, Walmart, and Storageplex.
The Brittany Project will be applying for its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status next year. For more information, e-mail info@thebrittanyproject.org. Kim hopes to have the web site, thebrittanyproject.org, up and running this week. |
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