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The main problem that they have is the town has a population of about 3500 people. The local economy sucks.
Hell, we gave them a check for $146 after one show and you'd think we were giving them the keys to the city or something. One of the volunteers CRIED!
I got a wonderful card from one of the volunteers with a letter inside talking about how great we were, etc. I was embarassed. I wrote her back:
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you very much for the card and the note. They were very nice!
So Clare and Vicky told you about us, huh? I wonder if I should be afraid.
While we appreciate the sentiments we’re not ‘amazingly generous’. We only help as much as we can. The people who have donated to us – be it money or items – are the generous ones. We’ve gotten to meet many of you firsthand and know the work that you are doing. These folks have never met any of you but still are willing to help. THAT is amazing. It’s not often that people surprise me but those who support our efforts to help you do it every time they make a donation in the can or give us cash to send off to you.
Each time I talk to Clare or Vicky on the phone they are always saying thank you to us never realizing it is to them that we are grateful. They, and you and the rest of those who volunteer their time, show compassion to those who are unloved, unwanted or otherwise in need. THAT is something to be grateful for. We donate money and items. YOU donate something far more valuable. Yourself. So every time you get an envelope in the mail from Hearth & Home Gifts it is merely our way of saying, “Thank you for a job well done!” I only wish we could do more.
You all have enriched our lives already. The addition of these guys to our home has been far more fun than words can say. They make every day an adventure and it is thanks to your efforts that they now thrive in our home. Right now Dot is sleeping in my lap and Cider is sleeping next to Misty. Without Northwoods they would never have survived to make it here.
So, who should be thanked?
I hope that we get a chance to meet everyone the day the new shelter opens. We want to be there with our Northwoods family when the doors open for the first time so we can see people going “OOH and AHH” over something that we were all able to help bring into being.
We look forward to several visits in the coming year (at least as long as you all can stand to see us) and are eager to help in any way we can.
So, on behalf of Paul and Ken I’d like to say “Happy New Year” to all of you! We wish you all good health, continued happiness and much success.
Sincerely,
Will Bowden & Family Northwoods Volunteer (SMILE)
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