Question for the site admin....

[wimpy]

Now that it's the holidays I really like to give to charities and I even go to Walmart and pick a name tag off a christmas tree and purchase a toy for a boy or girl. It gives me a warm feeling when I get to give to someone that needs it just a little more than me. I know I should give more but I know its probably a worse feeling for a child to not receive a gift or toy on christmas than the rest of the year. So anyways my question is......would it be hard to get a toy drive or even a food drive for families and especially the children during the holidays? Who knows maybe it will get CAD on the map! I've served in the U.S. Marines and used to donate at least 1 toy to the toys for tots that the Marines do every holiday season. So anyways thats all I've been wondering, you definately will have a toy donater here! Thanks all and happy holidays!

[Ridge Runner]

While I think that is a great idea I'm afraid it may be a little late to do anything this year. First we would need to get the OK from the owners. Then decide where and how to give. Lastly come up with a way to handle it all. That's a lot of hurdles to clear in about 3 weeks.

My best suggestion for this year is to do what we can on a personal/local level. For several years now I have had my own special projects that I give to. I think that each of us, no matter what our personal financial position is at the time can ALWAYS find and help someone that needs it. I'll give EVERYONE here a BIG hint:

Check with a childrens hospital. They can put you in touch with the right places to contact that could use all the help they can get. If you are unemployed and have NO money then you have an even greater gift ....time. Go visit a local nursing home. You may ( WILL ) feel awkward at first but that will soon pass.

I got lucky and was able to combine the best of both. I actually kinda stole the idea from an Eagle Scout. A few years ago while on a family trip my daughter got sick and wound up in the hospital in Mi. A nurse there brought her a "kids" size blanket. It had been made by a Boy Scout that as a project for his Eagle Scout badge made 100 blankets and gave them to a local childrens hospital to give away. My daughter LOVES that blanket and still has it on her bed today.

To make a long story short my daughter wanted to do the same and give them to the hospital she spent so much time at early in life and that we are blessed to only have to visit on occasion for medical problems. The project soon out grew an eight year old girl and grandma came to the rescue which added the help of the local senior center and then some local nursing homes. You want to make an elderly persons day: Go to them and say;"I need your help".

We are not as involved with the blankets now as we were at first but the seniors and nursing homes got together and well they got with people that knew people that donated the money and/or material ect.....

To think it all started with a Boy Scout who only wanted to do a good deed.

Anyway........... my point is....... maybe we can't do anything collective this year but don't let that stop you from doing something on your own. Who knows where it might lead.


Ridge

[GMAN]

We have something locally called the "Santa Train." It is a charity that was started by either a fireman or policeman. I don't recall which. During the year they collect food, money and toys and distribute them at Christmas. The mostly rely on the local police to find out who is in most need. It is quite an event. They take Santa in a firetruck with lights and siren's to the kids who are receiving the gifts and food. They also have police and city buses with volunteers to help distribute the gifts. It is quite a site. My wife and I were involved in it until her health deteriorated.