Braden Gully went to sleep Friday night with a stomach full of roast beef and ham, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes ... and a brand-new bicycle beside his bed.

Spending Christmas in a homeless shelter while his parents work to get back on their feet didn’t mean going without Christmas for the 10-year-old.

Once the weather improves, he’ll be out on his red Tony Hawks BMX “Stunt” Bike, a gift from the Susquehanna Valley Motorcycle Club.

He’ll be reading more Dr. Seuss, wielding a light-up Duncan yo-yo, playing Sorry with his family, building with a K’Nex play set, doing mind puzzles from an activity book and playing with loads and loads of Tech Decks — finger skateboards.

Santa also outfitted him from head to toe — a digital watch, Spiderman cap and gloves, jeans, sneakers, and the usual under garments, too.

His sister, Kayden, 2, received crayons, toys and clothes as well, and gifts and gift certificates were given to 16 others at the Haven Ministry shelter in Sunbury.

“We take the holidays seriously because these are people who don’t usually get things,” said Catherine Teisher, Haven’s executive director.

There are 18 people at the shelter, she said. Two families with two children each and 10 adults. The teenagers among them received individualized gifts and $50 Wal-Mart gift certificates. The adults received similar gifts.

And all feasted on a big Christmas dinner.

Resources for the gifts come from donations, Teisher said.

The shelter, founded by an ecumenical group of Valley church congregations in 1990, exists for emergency assistance.

“To help people with whatever they need to get back out there as contributing members of society,” Teisher said.

Adults stay usually a couple of months, providing they’re looking for work, saving money and doing what they need to do, she said.

Braden’s mother, Jean Gully, and step-father, Wesley Brumlow, once lived in Northumberland. Then Brumlow lost his job with Systematic Filing in Danville and they could not afford the rent any more.

Just after Kayden was born, Gully suffered a number of medical complications that prevented her from holding a job, and they are ongoing.