Cowboys deliver Christmas cheer to area families

Posted 12/24/19

By horseback and wagon, a group of local residents recently brought some Christmas cheer to families around the northern Big Horn Basin

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Cowboys deliver Christmas cheer to area families

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By horseback and wagon, a group of local residents recently brought some Christmas cheer to families around the northern Big Horn Basin. The “Cowboys for Christmas” delivered Christmas trees, food and gift certificates to 23 families in Powell, Cody, Deaver and Frannie.

“We just wanted to make sure everyone’s covered,” said Janet Kelleher. “You don’t ever want somebody to be hungry on Christmas or a little kid not to have a Christmas tree.”

The effort came together quickly, starting with a conversation among friends over a Nov. 15 dinner and culminating with deliveries just three weeks later, on Dec. 6 and 7. The idea “just kind of popped [up] and we decided to roll with it,” said Cayla Norris, one of the organizers.

As for the unique cowboy theme, that came from the participants’ backgrounds. All of those involved have some kind of connection to horses or mules, Norris said, whether that’s through cowboying, outfitting, ranching or riding.

“The reason that we kept that cowboy element is because that’s just our way of life,” she explained; Kelleher added that the group “wanted to make it that true kind of Wyoming thing.”

When the friends announced their plans on social media and elsewhere, community members and businesses chipped in donations, which helped buy Christmas trees from the Cody Boy Scouts and food. Meanwhile, some people reached out to ask for help while others suggested the names of people who could use a holiday boost.

“There were a lot of people that didn’t know they were going to get it, because someone else nominated them,” Kelleher said.

Those recipients were particularly surprised when the Cowboys for Christmas arrived with a wagon and a team of horses. At one apartment in Cody, “the kids came running out to see the horses because they were so excited,” Kelleher said. “It was cool; it was really cool.”

The cowboy group was also met with appreciation as they made their rounds, seeing “just pure happiness and joy,” Norris said.

And it wasn’t just the recipients who got a kick out of the effort, either.

“We had quite a few people pull over along the roads and take pictures and ask us to stop so their kids could pet the horses,” Norris said.

The organizers also got a boost from the experience.

“None of my family’s here — they’re all back East — so the holidays are a little hard,” Kelleher said. “So it kind of made it a little better. Made me feel good.”

In addition to Janet and her husband Joe Kelleher of Clark and Cayla and her husband Caleb Norris of Powell, the cross-county group included Jerry and Samantha Hill (along with their son Wade), Mike Apanashk and Kristy Lewis, Neil and Kay Yates, Tyler Marr and Zack Cook; others also leant a hand.

The Cowboys for Christmas hope to make their deliveries an annual event — and to make next year’s effort bigger and better.

“Considering we put it together as quick as we did, I think we did really well this year,” Cayla Norris said. “But we’ve noticed some things that we can change for next year to make it run a little smoother.”

And while the Cowboys for Christmas were able to deliver goods to each of the families that were suggested this year, Janet Kelleher said she’s been amazed at how many local residents are in need.

“It’s really kind of sad that there are so many that need a little extra help,” she said. “Holidays are a tough time.”

Anyone wanting to assist with next year’s Cowboys for Christmas event can look up the organizers on Facebook and contact them via Messenger.

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