http://www.post- trib.com/news/1342726,gshelter.article Alumnus spreads cheer December 22, 2008 By Lisa DeNeal Post-Tribune correspondent GARY -- When Armando Feagin, 17, saw tears flowing from the eyes of his younger siblings and his mother, Yolanda Feagin, while in the basement of the Ark Shelter, he was ready to come to their defense. However, the tears were of shock and joy as each of them received bags of toys, electronic equipment and envelopes of cash from a special Santa who has experienced troubling times. Eric Smoot, a 1991 alumnus of Horace Mann High School and a member of the Indiana State Track and Field Hall of Fame, arrived at the shelter Sunday with a group of assistants and four vehicles loaded with Christmas cheer. This is the seventh year Smoot, owner of Redefined Fitness in Wilmette, Illinois' North Shore community, has delivered on a promise to give back to women and their children staying at the Ark -- and recently added, the Rainbow Shelter -- during the holidays. Smoot made the decision through a suggestion from Judy Jemison, a former employee at the Ark Shelter, who raised Smoot. "My biological mother was a drug addict -- she is now in her 12th year of recovery - and I told Judy after I graduated from college and got my business up and running, that I wanted to give back," Smoot said. Jemison said that first year, she gave Smoot a wish list from the clients staying at the time and Smoot ran with it. "I never knew it would grow to be this huge," Jemison said while drying her eyes. "He is such a good young man and he really believes in giving back." Redefined Fitness is Smoot's company which is a personal training and rehabilitation center for private clientele. Smoot and his assistants gave out more than $25,000 in gifts and cash at the shelters. "I tell the clients about the mission and they jump right in, buying whatever are on the families' wish lists. Then I buy a lot of random toys and gifts. The idea is all of the wrapped presents can't be opened until Christmas, but the kids and mom get to pick out stuff from the random pile," Smoot said. This year, ten families -- 10 adults and 32 children -- staying at the shelter, benefitted from the random acts of kindness. Yolanda Feagin, was weak at the knees when she opened her envelope containing two crisp $100 bills. She burst into tears when Smoot reached in his pocket and counted an additional $200 to hand to her. "This is for mom," he said. "You kids got to take care of her because you only have one mom." Armando and his siblings, Aaron Jeter, 11, Gloria Jeter, 16 and Santiago Jeter, 12 broke into tears and smiles, hugging Smoot for their blessings. Applisia Jeffers of Gary, arrived in the room with her seven children. She smiled in disbelief before breaking down as her children received huge bags of wrapped packages and envelopes with $200 each inside. When Smoot handed her some gifts and an envelope with hundreds of dollars and some additional money from his pocket, she was at a lost for words. "Thank you, thank you," she reached around, hugging Smoot by the waist. Renitta Stout, director of the Ark, wiped tears away. "I love seeing this every year! Eric gives so much to these families. "Some have lost their jobs and homes and trying to get their life together and they have beautiful children. I just want to see them have a great Christmas," Stout said.