What about the kids?

[Ed62]

I'm talking about the kids who will have a very slim Christmas if others don't help out. For the last 3 or 4 years, we've been picking a name off the "Angel Tree" located in a local mall. This name is the one we'll buy for. For me, it doesn't matter if you're white, black, pink or whatever. If you're a kid, you deserve to enjoy a nice Christmas.

This year we didn't make it to the mall to pick a name. But one of our daughters came over last night, and told us about a family who was down on their luck. They have 4 kids. The wife has very serious health issues (maybe fatal), and they have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mortgage on their house. The husband works, and makes a decent wage, but the bills are just too much for them. Our daughter and her husband bought a few things for the kids, but they can only do so much. I've been putting my pennies away for a jointer, and I had enough saved to get one. But some things are more important, and a kid's Christmas is one of those things. So the jointer purchase is on hold. It's not like I'm giving up a jointer, just pushing the purchase date up a little.

It's all about the kids, and it's not too late for you to help out. When you do, you'll have a feeling of "Making a difference" if only for a day. It's definitely worth doing.

Ed

[Mrs. Wallnut]

You are right Ed it is about the kids. You are doing a great thing by helping out the kids by that you are helping the parents who were probably worrying about how to buy the kids some presents.

Bless you and your family on Christmas.

[siliconbauhaus]

Last year we canceled gifts except for the kids and instead we bought for a family living nearby who was evacuated from katrina.

You do what you can

[John Hunter]

My local wood workers clubs makes toys for the kids in various organizations in NW Indiana every year.

Ed, what part of NW Indiana are you in? I am in Lake Station.

[cabinetman]

About 4 years ago around Christmas we got involved with "Save The Children". We picked a child in the U.S. and donate on a regular monthly basis to her welfare. Each Christmas we add to the gift. We get pictures and a continuing update on her life.

We will probably never get to meet her but know that whatever help we can give sure can't hurt.



YOU HAVEN'T FAILED, YOU JUST HAVEN'T FINISHED

[michael.scheller]

Pulaski County Transplant

My local wood workers clubs makes toys for the kids in various organizations in NW Indiana every year.

Ed, what part of NW Indiana are you in? I am in Lake Station.

John,

I'm originally from Medaryville in Pulaski County. I went to West Central HS and we used to play Lake Central HS in football. They changed their name at one point? Same place IIRC?

Been in the military for 26 years and both of my parents have passed so I don't visit there often.

Mike

[Ed62]

It's nice to know there are so many others helping out. God bless all of you.

John, I'm in Cal Township, just south of Ridge Road. Just a stone's throw.

Michael, I had a good friend who lived in Medaryville several years ago. I don't know what it's like now, but there wasn't much there at that time. A few cows and a few college kids.

Ed

[Russianwolf]

My Parents started me on this years ago. One year they came to us kids (I have 4 living siblings) and asked if we could all return one gift and do something for a family who didn't have a Chistmas. We each reached under the tree and pulled out the biggest gifts we had (cause the biggest ones are always the best when you are young) and they were taken back and exchanged for gifts for a young couple with a 3 year old daughter.

Our Christmas haul might have been a little lighter (and we were far from wealthy as was), but we understood what a little could mean when less was expected.

Through the years I've kept up doing for others (Christmas in April, Habitat for Humanity, Christmas angels, adopting pets). Then I met LOML. And a person with a bigger heart I don't think exsists. Even a couple years ago when I was unemployed and we were barely making bills, she made sure that the Christmas angels were still done and the Homeless veteran she passed got a couple bucks (Even the $5 we received from a raffle at a car dealer where we had no intention of buying).

[John Hunter]

John,

I'm originally from Medaryville in Pulaski County. I went to West Central HS and we used to play Lake Central HS in football. They changed their name at one point? Same place IIRC?

Been in the military for 26 years and both of my parents have passed so I don't visit there often.

Mike

Mike,

I go over to Jasper Pulaski game preserves shooting ranges a couple of times a year.

[John Hunter]

It's nice to know there are so many others helping out. God bless all of you.

John, I'm in Cal Township, just south of Ridge Road. Just a stone's throw.

Michael, I had a good friend who lived in Medaryville several years ago. I don't know what it's like now, but there wasn't much there at that time. A few cows and a few college kids.

Ed

Ed, You should check out the Northwest Indiana Woodworkers Association. We meet over in Merrillville. Here is a link to their webpage. http://www.lakenetnwi.net/member/woodworkers/ We are having our yearly Christmas party on the 21st.

[Ed62]

Thanks for the invitation, John. Maybe I'll check it out after the holidays. It looks promising.

Ed

[onedash]

I'll make a quick pitch for Toys For Tots.....I think they might have stopped for this year already.
Disney donated a million dollars this year. Biggest one TFT ever got.
I usually have an allotment so I can spread the payments out over a year but didn't this year. So we gave a few more toys.
Its also a great charity because there is almost no admin expense. I have seen charities approaching 40-50% admin cost. I don't care how good a cause it is if they are going to only use half of the donation for the intended purpose....


Semper Fi

[RickCarpenter]

A lot of churches have programs for toy give-aways too. Check your church, and if you don't have a program in place: start one! Or volunteer at any church in your town doing a toy give-away, I'm sure they'd love the help. Our church recently hosted its 18th annual Santa's Helpers program.

Rick