Staying Golden: A Lifetime of Service

It’s the season of giving but for one West Fargo woman, giving back is her job.

Sue Baron is making a difference here in the valley, one kid at a time.
 
These may look like a bunch of worn down crayons but to Sue Baron, they are so much more.
 
“The coloring crayons and I was just going to get some coloring books and drop them off at a shelter,” says Sue.
 
Sue spent most of her life working in the hospitality industry, 14 years as a waitress for Denny’s in Fargo.

It was there, that she started picking up the leftover crayons from the tables.

Instead of throwing them away, she saved them for kids who didn’t have any.
 
Sue says, “I had the blinders on like so many people.”
 
What she saw at the shelter changed her life.
 
“I then quit and put my notice in and I took that leap of faith and it’s really gone well.”
 
She turned her focus to the children.
 
“I knew deep down I wanted something different. You know like, I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life.”
 
Sue always knew there were needy children all over the world but she didn’t realize how big the problem was in our own backyard.
 
“We have around a thousand homeless. Right here, right here,” says Sue.
 
She started the Golden Drive Homeless Kids organization.

The name, inspired by her favorite TV show.
 
As the theme song goes, she traveled down the road and back again.
 
Sue says, “I hit the streets. I went door to door and then I had a friend ask if we’d like, they did bike runs, bikers you know? So they offered to do a run and that’s how the birth of the event started.”

This past year was the 4th annual Golden Drive Homeless Kids Community Event.

It’s an event for everyone to come out, enjoy and give back.

All the money and gifts raised go back to organizations, like the YWCA, Youth Works and Churches United.

It’s an event she hopes only continues to grow.
 
Sue adds, “I just hope it continues thriving that one day Sandy’s parking lot might be too small, you know?”

Sue’s dream doesn’t stop there, giving back is all year round for Sue.
 
Sue is busy this month with her Christmas Gift event.

She’s distributing collection boxes to area businesses, hoping to get them filled in time for the holidays.

“The kids that are experiencing homelessness in our community so they can you know feel like they are wanted; they are important. They are not overlooked because they deserve a Christmas like any other child.”

Children in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead will receive gifts, just in time for the holidays.

Admitting she’s not perfect and neither is anyone else, she reminds me it doesn’t take much to be a better person.

“If you think you can’t make a difference, just try saying ‘Hello’ one day to somebody that’s always down; there’s something real little.”
 
Sue credits her strong faith in her day to day fortunes but there’s one thing that we all have in common.

“Hope. We all want hope, we’re all hoping for something and I just see the faces of the kids and with this Christmas drive and with our community event at Sandy’s Donuts. It’s all one and the goal is to raise as much awareness as possible.”
 
Her willingness to give back is truly something to be thankful for this holiday season.

The gift drive goes until Friday, December 16th.

If you would like to donate to the Golden Drive Homeless Kids Christmas Gift event, the drop off locations include: Advanced Auto Body, Bell State Bank, Blaz’n Tan, Culver’s, Eyemart, Metroflex Gym, Seip Pharmacy, Starbucks, Western State Bank and the KVRR News studio.

They are asking for new gifts for ages infant to teen, as well as, any baby supplies.