Imagine having your Christmas ruined because someone you thought you could trust stole all your Christmas presents and returned them for refund.

Then imagine the kindness of the human spirit prevailing, and getting back what was taken.

That’s exactly what happened to an Americus family on Dec. 23, said Ellice Fancher, executive director of the Middle Flint Regional E911 Center.

However, Fancher said the Christmas was saved, thanks to one Americus police officer and a shift of her dispatchers. The dispatchers were recognized for their kindnesses at Wednesday’s meeting of the Middle Flint Regional E911 Authority.

“We got the call from a mother of five, whose friend stole her kids’ Christmas presents and returned them to Wal-Mart for the money,” Fancher said. She added that the woman had called to make a police report.

“The shift of dispatchers took it upon themselves to make Christmas for these kids,” she said.

Fancher said donations were made and dispatchers on the shift had their relatives out shopping for the children.

“While they were on duty, they were gathering all kinds of stuff to give this family back their Christmas,” Fancher said.

“This is not part of their job,” Fancher said. “When something happens ... we are human, and we want to do what’s right.”

After their shift, the dispatchers met with the Americus police officer who took the report in Americus, and he took them to the woman’s house, so the they could deliver the presents. The dispatchers had worked for 12 hours.

“They took time when they could’ve been getting their own families ready for Christmas to give Christmas to a needy family,” Fancher said.

The Americus Times-Recorder could not obtain a copy of the police report regarding the incident, and therefore, could not get the officer’s name.

Dispatchers and family members recognized were Charlie Griffin and his wife Janice, Felicia Hawkins, Sheila Hewitt, Kim Isaacs, Shona Dailey, Kimberly Schimek (mother to Dailey) and Evelyn Thomas.