Heartbreaking.

[ceile]

Just rec'd this email:

"I have a ________ who has a 7 year old daughter that is looking for Christmas items. She missed the Blue Santa sign up and thus far has been unable to find any help to get her daughter a gift for the holidays. She is not looking for anything fancy, just something for her daughter to be able to open up Christmas day.

Please email me if you know of any local Santas...."

I don't know what to say. Things are just so bad right now and even if a dem is elected in 08, I don't see things getting better any time soon. People w/out food, housing, jobs.....makes me want to jump off something really high.

[DaveJ]

1. Was this someone you know?

I'm having trouble understanding whether or not this is some kind of phishing spam. Regardless, you are correct that there is something seriously wrong. My wife and I are unsure whether either of our jobs are going to have any Christmas bonuses this year. Things are tough, and it is not because people are unwilling to work hard, but I think more because there are segments of society who want to take everything for themselves and leave the rest with nothing.

[ceile]

2. I work for social services agency

and this is from a coworker. So, no, not a scam. I almost wish it was. Reality is a real bitch sometimes.

[peacetheonlyway]

3. don't despair.... it's christmas time....

your email is proof that there is hope and as a community we will band together to help each other.

i find that I have a little extra money this holiday season, do you think this girl would want a nintendo or some other cool gift? what do you suggest?

let me know how I can help... I'll gladly ship off some little gifts to this girl.

what I found is often just sending money to the mom is easier then the mom can get what she wants and feel empowered.

I'm up for sending $100 bucks to the mom... do you have a paypal account? I can send it directly to you if you'd like..


remember, most americans are decent hardworking folks who have been betrayed by the press, by our lazy senators, by many many wolves in sheep clothing.. like the clintons...

we have to just band together as citizens and remember, we still hold all the power, not them.

let me know how to help!

[ceile]

5. You're very kind.

But I think I'll start by cross posting this in the TX forum.
And you're right: most Americans are decent, hardworking folks. You've just proven that!
:hug:

[peacetheonlyway]

10. I remember when my family was the one that churches gave groceries to on Christmas

and I remember how utterly emotional we were to have food on our table at a time my father was not making money.

you are a brave soul and everytime you help someone you grow one more angel's wing....

i'm sure there are some blue democrats in texas that will help.

sure of it!

[emilyg]

20. I'll donate. Tell me how.

[SoCalDem]

4. Everyone who has a little extra can help very easily

Contact about any church or grade school and you will probably be able to loacte a strugging family.

Our club used to do this every year.. we adopted a Family , but not for just the holidays..

We provided school supplies in August, took the kids Mother's Day shopping, got them birthday cakes.. took care of the Christmas & Thanksgiving too..

There were about 30 women in the club and our fundraisers during the year took care of this.. we usually raised about $1500 a year ( It doesn't take much).. and we had monthly food drives to collect canned foods, laundry soaps etc.. we just passed around a grocery list and people signed up for the items they would donate..

We got a new family every year.

[Neecy]

6. very sad....

I saw a listing on Craigslist the other day in which a woman offered to clean your house or office in exchange for Christmas gifts for her four kids. The Bush economy is great - for billionaires.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. One of my students lives in a house with 9 kids

They are being raised by an aunt. I asked him what he wants for Christmas and he said "electricity". His aunt can't afford to pay the bill.

It is days like these that I am ashamed to be an American.

[ceile]

8. ......

:cry:

[Neecy]

9. how does she heat her home?

That is truly sad, horrific.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I was afraid to ask

:cry:

[Neecy]

17. KCPL has a number of low-income programs

They also partner with local charities that help people who can't afford to heat their homes in the winter. It's too bad the aunt isn't out there looking for help when it exists, and instead lets 9 children live in a dark cold house. I'm going to think of that child for a long time and feel just horrible...

I've been meaning to ask you - I have a Mac G3 that I don't use and I've been wanting to give it to a promising student who might not have access to a computer at home. Do you know any kids who might be able to use it? It has a ethernet card but I have a dialup modem I can hook up to it, since I doubt most low-income homes have access to DSL. I have a monitor for it as well - it's just sitting here collecting dust and it could probably be put to better use.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Those programs are not as comprehensive as it seems

When we were first married, had a baby, and my hubby was on the road working as a musician, I went to the gas company for help with my gas bill. It took me a week to get all the paper work together they wanted and three trips downtown to the gas company (with my little baby). Then they sent a social worker to my house who went through my cupboards and closets. I was a college graduate at the time and was amazed by the paperwork and the hoops they wanted me to jump through. If I was in that position today, I would much rather get my bill paid through an agency than ask the gas company to reduce or forgive it.

I will take your offer of a computer to a friend. That is very kind. She is in a position to know far more than I do if a family could use it. Did you hear that KCK is giving laptops to all their students? Pretty neat idea!

[DaveJ]

11. While IPhone are being marketed to people who can afford them

Just paying the utilities is a challenge to a huge chunk of people -- millions and millions of people -- so yes it's kind of wierd that we need to rethink what a present entails these days. I guess t-shirts and shoes are more practical presents to many Americans anymore.

[Snarkturian Clone]

12. I have one living with 13 brothers and sisters.

The oldest 25 and the youngest a newborn. The young ones are being raised by the teenage ones so their behavior is HORRIBLE. The ones over 18 do not work- they just hang out all day. Their mom works 2 jobs... can't even get her on the phone.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I have had a few of those families too

It makes me want to put birth control in the water, like fluoride.

[DaveJ]

19. Some teenagers occupy a million dollar home down the street from us

That's the way the world works apparently. Their parents disappeared so they lived with their grandmother who later died, so now they have the house all to themselves. The house now seems to be in disrepair and they party constantly. But they probably will get by without any serious financial concerns unlike most of us who have to work for everything.

[FlyingSquirrel]

13. Just be careful, everyone

This time of year there are a lot of scams out there playing on people's emotions. They may expect that you will want to give them money rather than an email or a gift (or may re-sell the gift). Hate to have to say it but you really do have to watch out. Your average person in the above situation will look toward people they know, or an agency, and not email a random person - you have to wonder how they got your email, and if someone you know forwarded it to you, whether they were duped into doing so.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. That's why I tell people to contact a school

We have several families every year who really need help at Christmas. And we know the ones who really need the help from the ones who don't. If you called our school, we would definitely refer you to a worthy family.

[ceile]

21. Update.

Coworkers and others pitched in and I think it's going to be a great xmas for the little girl. Thanks to everyone who responded.