This 98 Year Old North Carolina Woman Bought and Wrapped 1,000 Christmas Gifts

Just in case you are having trouble getting motivated today, think about Leila Mae Cummings. This 98 year old North Carolina woman buys and wraps 1,000 Christmas gifts every year.  She has been doing this for the past 11 years and she says she has no plans to stop.

Leila is the pride of Greensboro, North Carolina.  And she won't let a little thing like age keep her from helping children have a great Christmas.  She volunteers with Samaritan's Purse Operations Christmas Child according to our source WFMY.  Ms Cummings says it is a labor of love.  Not only do the kids benefit but she does too. She tells the television station, "It gives me something to think about and it allows me to think that maybe I am doing something good". She says she hopes to inspire others to do the same to bring more joy to children.

Cummings was born and raised in Greensboro and is no stranger to work. "I have worked all my life", she says. She tells WFMY, "I always had something to do, I didn't know when I wasn't supposed to work," she said. "We would feed the chickens and carry the wood, living on the farm you had a job to do."

Outside of growing up on a farm she worked at a post office there in Greensboro. She officially retired in 1982 but that hasn't really slowed her down. Her secret to long life is simple. Stay active. Leila is already preparing for next year.  That would make her 99 if you are doing the math. This 98 year old North Carolina woman bought and wrapped 1,000 Christmas gifts.  And I haven't even started. What an inspiration. For more details check out the story from our source, wfmynews2.com.

Do you have plans for Christmas Day this year? Well, tons of people are planning for their holiday dinner this year. Sometimes we want to be able to travel to a special family member's house or go out of town to visit those we don't see often. But, what about those who may not want to cook their own food? Some families don't have a lot of people to gather around a table and would rather have a small, quaint dinner. Then there are those larger families who just prefer not to cook at all.

Well, there are a few Charlotte restaurants that are allowing you to book your reservation for Christmas Day now. A few fine dining restaurants and some casual spots are allowing you to dine in on Christmas Day. You never know how busy times may get, so you may want to book your reservation early. Check out the full list below of some of the Charlotte restaurants open on Christmas Day. You can book your Christmas Day reservations NOW.

Starting off with a pretty popular local eatery in the Uptown area of Charlotte. Chima Steakhouse has a few Christmas Day reservations available for those not wanting to cook their own food for the holidays. Enjoy tons of food options such as seafood salad, a chima burger, lamb chops, chicken skewers, and more all on Christmas Day.

Here is another steakhouse that you may want to check out for Christmas Day. Dean's Italian Steakhouse is another elegant steakhouse that has reservations opened that day. Enjoy elegant and classic flavors such as prime steaks, homemade pastas, salads, and sweet Italian desserts. Sit dine and enjoy small talk over a plate of food you didn't have to sweat to make and enjoy the special holiday.

Up next is a spot pretty special to my heart, it's 204 North Kitchen & Cocktails in Uptown Charlotte. This is one of the first restaurants I tried when I first moved to Charlotte and the food is quite amazing. You have so many tasty small plate options, entrees, special cocktails, desserts, and a great ambiance to enjoy.

Head to McCormick & Schmick's that has multiple locations in the Charlotte area with reservations available. If you're looking for some great seafood to enjoy Christmas Day (like me) then this might be a perfect option for you. Enjoy beer battered fish & chips, buttermilk fried shrimp, crab cake sandwich, oysters, calamari, and more. 

Sounds like the steakhouses are where you need to be this Christmas, maybe? Now, we're talking about STK Steakhouse up next. Some may have already tried out this spot and others have been looking for the chance to give it a taste. Well, Christmas Day might be a good starter. Enjoy options like short rib, salmon, ribeye, lamb rack, and more.

More seafood, but an oyster bar is a great place to go. Caroline Oyster's Bar is bringing coastal seafood to Charlotte to enjoy on the patio or in the dining room. Reservations are open for Christmas Day so you can grab a great bite to eat. Enjoy BBQ shrimp, oyster Rockefeller, pimento fritters, wagyu burger, scallops, fish and chips, and more!

Ever had Japanese BBQ for Christmas dinner? Not I, but if you're looking for somewhere to go then you might have a spot to check out. Gyu-Kaku is serving up Japanese BBQ to help those who don't want to cook for Christmas Day. Enjoy options such as miso soup, dumplings, spicy tofu, and tons of BBQ meat options.