An Iron Range family receive a Best Christmas Ever surprise

When families experience the loss of a loved one, it’s hard to get into the holiday spirit while grieving. Although facing those hardships can sometimes be eased by help from your friends, neighbors, and support from the community.  One family on the Iron Range who fell on tough times had a Best Christmas Ever surprise planned for them.

For over a year, the Lawrence family has been searching for their son Jeremy. He has been missing since August of 2023. A couple of months ago, another heartbreak for the family as Debbie Lawrence lost her husband Gerald.

“Life got hard when our son went missing a year and a half ago. We still have no idea what happened to him, where he’s at,” Debbie said. “He was on his way home from Duluth. we haven’t heard of things since. So that’s been very stressful. Then to have my biggest support, my husband pass away, that was a shock too. So that’s overwhelming.”

Despite their hardships, the Lawrence family bond is still strong. They also have a community supporting them to brighten their Christmas this year. Don Liimatainen, the founder of Best Christmas Ever, personally surprised the Lawrence family with several gifts with help from their local church.

“I’m working as the captain for this family. So what happens is we get nominations from the community that write in. Not only locally are we rallying, but also nationwide,” Liimatainen said “People are jumping on and we’re going in to surprise a family that’s fallen on crazy tough times, through no fault of their own. So the family that’s receiving these gifts have been a really, really tough couple of years for them. We’re just coming alongside of them to be able to give them a little Christmas cheer.”

Members of St. Holy Spirit Catholic Church stood in the street singing carols to surprise the family. The best Christmas ever also has a fundraiser supporting the Lawrence family grandkids Max and True’s future education.

The presents were a welcome surprise. Although the Lawrence family is grateful for the gift of a community that helped them when they needed it most.

“Even through situations that are bad, you have to remember to keep your head up,” Debbie Lawrence said. “Hang on to hope that there still are people that care. No matter what they say, there’s still a lot of good in the world.”

For more information on donating to the Lawrence family through Best Christmas Ever you can read more here. Also for other stories happening this Christmas you can read more here.