Also moved by the holiday spirit here, but in a different way (thankfully!) than Terry. While dropping my son off at school yesterday, my wife overhead one of the girls in his class say that she was really cold. She was wearing a zip-up hoodie, and it was 24 degrees outside. Her friend asked her why she wasn't wearing a winter coat, and she said "Because I can't afford a coat like yours". She's 8 years old.
My wife told me, we talked to her teacher and the school social worker first thing this morning (to make sure it wasn't just a kid's story, to verify the family's circumstances); unfortunately it's true. So, today we're buying her a nice winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves, heavy socks, and leaving a Target gift card in the pocket. She's going to get everything anonymously this afternoon so she'll have it for the Thanksgiving break.
Sometimes it takes the overheard conversation of an 8 year old to make you realize how fortunate your life is, even when things aren't going perfectly. I spent almost $1k over the past week or so on books while a little girl was freezing because there wasn't money for a coat. She's not the only one either according to the social worker; she's just the one that we overheard. That sucks. I've seen squallor and worked with and helped many poor families and kids in Panama, Honduras, Philippines, Colombia ... but I wasn't expecting it here.
I'm doing some gathering of additional clothes (used and new) for the school for the holidays. If you've got anything you'd like to donate (the school is K through 5), please feel free to send a box my way. Toys and $ also welcome, it will all go to the kids and their families that need it at Martinez Elementary here in Colorado Springs. I know the world is falling apart with Sandy and Gaza and Syria, but all I can do is try to help out the little corner that I happen to be living in right now.
PM me if you've got any questions, or e-mail
ericks_dad@yahoo.com.
Edit: Someone asked me if PayPal was okay, it is absolutely ... just tell me how you'd like me to use it. Cash to the family (working through the school social worker), gift card for a store, buy clothes to give directly to the kids, toys for the holidays ... whatever you'd like I'll be happy to do it. Thanks very much for the inquiries so far; I know its been said before, but this site really is awesome ... the people here are like family, fantastic! (even with some of the crazy Uncles!)
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Originally Posted by George at C-Springs
