The Christmas season is a time of giving and receiving among family and friends. For two Bismarck doctors, the holiday season has inspired them to give their service in exchange for a donated gift.

Byron Blowers, a chiropractor at Dakota Family Chiropractic Clinic, Bismarck, and his son Blake Blowers, a acupuncturist at Dakota Family Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Clinic, Bismarck, decided that on Dec. 6, they would charge no cash, but rather a gift to be donated to families in need.

Byron Blowers has been doing this since 1994, and Blake Blowers began last year.

"It first started with the inspiration from my mother. She was very involved with Community Action, and that's the organization through which the gifts are donated," said Byron Blowers.

"It's a good thing to do. It helps a lot, and it's a good opportunity for patients to get involved," said Blake Blowers.

"The patients are the ones who deserve the most recognition. The donations are out of the goodness of their hearts. I'm just the avenue through which they can make a difference in someone's life," said Byron Blowers.

The donated gifts were to be almost equivalent to how much the service would cost and wrapped up with a gift tag addressing the gender and age to which the gift could be given. About 130 gifts were donated, and if a patient didn't bring a gift, Blake Blowers said, cash value was donated instead of a gift. North Dakota Community Action Program then picked the gifts up to be taken to families in need.

Gifts such as toys, clothes, and gift certificates were donated for this event.

"The patients liked it a lot; it was a day of donation for everyone to contribute," Blake Blowers said.

It's a tradition the patients look forward to, Byron Blowerssaid. The whole day is a celebration with food and drinks.

They both said the event will take place again next year.

"It's just the right thing to do," said Blake Blowers.

(Megan Nitschke is a senior at Mandan High School.)