Metro councilman Scott Davis truly believes in the holiday spirit of giving. Each year he and several community-minded colleagues give back to their community in tangible and deeply appreciated ways. Several events over the week before Christmas were carried out to help brighten the spirits and enrich the lives of the residents of his East Nashville community.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” said Davis. “God has always called us to help those who are less fortunate than us.”

Christmas came early at the Cleveland Park Community Center on Dec. 18. Thanks to the hard work of Councilman Davis, his family and colleagues, and the contributions of the Dollar General stores, toys and books were presented to over 100 children. Nine families who had experienced special tragedies over the past year received special full bags of toys and gifts. Fifty additional families were also gifted. Pizza was served with soda, also.

Then, Saturday morning, Dec. 20, Davis and company were out in force, delivering Christmas dinner baskets to specially designated senior citizens and/or families.

“With the help of a lot of my friends and neighbors, we are giving out to our seniors and large needy families their Christmas dinner,” Davis said. “We wanted to go a little healthier, thanks to our great advertisers, like Kroger.”

Each recipient’s basket came complete with a huge free-range turkey, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, green beans, dinner rolls, and a 12-pack of sodas to wash it all down.

Davis attributed the success of the giveaways to the hard work and efforts of his friends, including Brenda Ross, Myron Dowell, Corey Holt, Ronnie Givens, Jason Stalcup, Capt. Herb Jenkins and others.

“I believe in contributing back to society,” said realtor Myron Dowell, who bought toys and contributed to the purchase of the turkeys. “We have a moral responsibility. I can’t enjoy my life if I’m not helping contribute to others. That’s community.”

Former pilot Capt. Herb Jenkins helped out with the food distribution, as he has been doing for the past five years.

“We are here to help the disenfranchised,” said Jenkins, who flew jet aircraft during the Vietnam conflict and finished his distinguished military career as the lone African American pilot flying F-4 fighter air support for Air Force One in 1968. “There is a need for food and sustenance in this community. We have a sworn obligation to assist those people that are less fortunate.”

The families of McFerrin Park were treated to a fantastic array of toys and gifts on Dec. 22.

Councilman Davis said the huge event was made possible “with the help of our friends at the airport, McFerrin Park, Myron Dowell’s team of realtors, and Steve Regal of Regal Homes.”