The past few days have been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted and have given myself hives so please forgive the typos.
A few days ago I put up a post offering $30 gift cards to the first twenty people who didn’t know how they were going to give their kids Christmas gifts this year. They went frighteningly quickly. When I got to the twentieth person I saw that there were still a few more people who needed help and my heart sunk. Then a few comments in one person said “I’ll take care of the 21st person”. Then another person offered a card for the 22nd. Then another. Then it avalanched.
In the past few days that post has gotten over 500 comments and so many heart-breaking requests were from people who need a small hand-up to buy food for Christmas dinner or from people who are planning on telling their children that there is no Santa because otherwise they wouldn’t understand why he didn’t come. You can’t read the comments and not ache a little because so many of us have either been there or see how easy it would be to be in their position one day. But here’s the amazing thing…every time someone would leave a comment asking for help someone else would leave a comment asking to help. And that’s why as of Friday morning, every single person who asked for help here is matched up with at least one person who will be sending them a gift card. In fact, so many people offered to help that we were able to give out multiple gift cards to people who had a greater need. And when things seemed dicey and I was about to call for an end to comments a wonderful man emailed me and told me that he’s so enjoyed the community on this blog that he wanted to donate $1000, no questions asked. So, ten people who were really struggling woke up this morning to $100 in their paypal accounts. Another reader offered $250 to a family in desperate need. A doll-clothes store owner sent sent seven beautiful Madame Alexander/American Girl dolls to wait under the tree for seven little girls who truly needed a single happy surprise in their lives right now. People getting the gift cards are vowing to pay the gift forward next year. Emails are flooding in from people in shock, in tears and so grateful. And the funny thing is that half of those crying, grateful people are the ones who are donating. They’re so happy to have finally felt something warm and true that they’re feeling a Christmas spirit for the first time since they were children.
I know exactly what they mean.
Thank you. Thank you for donating and thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for asking for help so that others can feel like miracle workers. Thank you for kind words and thoughts and for being you. Thank you.
I’m going out of town for the weekend to pick up my mom and bring her here for Christmas but if you’ve asked for help and haven’t received it by Monday then just leave me a comment next week and I’ll see if I can find another donor to help you. And if you still want to help leave a comment too. There are still people trickling in and we may need some angels to swoop in on Monday in case any of the matches flake out.
PS. I just want to point out that my traffic the last two days has been exactly the same as usual. What that means to me is that the people donating and the people receiving are all part of the usual community of people who regularly read and comment here. That. Is. Amazing. And I’m so proud to be part of this community. You guys are the best minions ever.
UPDATE: So many people have gone on their own blogs to offer up their own gift cards to people in need and it’s amazing. Thank you! One of those people is the amazing Maureen Johnson who helped a ton of people herself but still has twenty more people in dire need. If you still want to donate I have their addresses and I can set you up to perform a small Christmas miracle. Just leave a comment. I’ll be here for the next two hours at least if you can donate.
UPDATE AGAIN: A lot of you have asked if you could just paypal me money to give to the people in need. You totally can but I’ll have to pay taxes on that money since it goes into my account so it’s not as ideal as you getting matched with someone and sending them the card directly, but if you’d rather just give money you can paypal me at jenny@thebloggess.com. Don’t spam me or I will stab you.
SATURDAY UPDATE: As of right now (noon Saturday) I have emailed hundreds of donors and over 500 gift cards are scheduled to go out to people who need help. If everything goes as planned (Please, God, let it go as planned) everyone who has asked for help as of this moment will get at least one gift card and many will get several. Some got cash for medicine. Some got money so they could keep the electricity on and buy food for Christmas dinner. Some only asked for help in buying presents for their brothers or sisters so their moms wouldn’t be so worried. Some received help and then got more help than they needed and decided to turn around and become a donor themselves. I wish I could tell you what this has meant to me but there aren’t words for it. The emails and comments coming in from people who got a Christmas miracle are incredible but the ones from people so thankful to be able to help are even more moving. Right now we still have a few more donors available and another 20 are standing by in case someone who asked for a donation hasn’t heard anything from their donor by Monday.
That’s one hell of a Christmas miracle, y’all.
Thank you for making me believe again.
UPDATE (10am Sunday morning): As of this minute (barring any mistakes) we’ve matched everyone who asked for help with at least one donor and we still have a few donors on standby for emergencies. So far over 600 gift cards have gone out to provide a Christmas miracle for strangers in need. If you wanted to help but haven’t heard from me please leave another comment. I’m sure by Monday we’ll need more to fill in any gaps. Now if you’ll excuse me, my hands are about to fall off.
UPDATE (2pm Sunday): With no marketing, no push, and no fanfare, somehow hundreds of willing donors have come forward to send 650 gift cards to people in need. Many people who wanted to contribute a $30 card came back and told me that instead they gave $50 or $100 or $200. As of right now over $22,000 has been sent out in small electronic chunks all over the world to make Christmas a small bit brighter for a complete stranger. People have contributed in (and have been helped in) America, Canada, England, Germany, Australia, Asia…and they continue to help. Every time we get down to our last donor someone else steps forward. I wish I could share all the emails from people who felt that this gave them the hope to get through the next year and the strength to keep looking for a job or a place to work because they now had faith that people cared. There were even some who admitted later that they were considering suicide until this gave them hope. Some of those people considering suicide? Were the donors. Some felt isolated and depressed in the holiday season and being able to have someone somewhere count on them made them feel connected and less alone. I know just how they feel.
Thank you for letting me be a part of this.
UPDATE: (A few minutes from Monday morning): Wow. Just…wow. In less than an hour it will be Monday morning and so far pretty much everyone who asked for help is going to matched with at least one donor. I still have another hundred emails to mail out before I can go to sleep but it looks like well over 800 gift cards will be sent out if everything goes through as planned. I’ve been running on adrenaline and caffeine for the past 4 days but I can tell I’m about to crash so I’m going to call this as of right now and say that this has been the most successful, unplanned, disorganized celebration of awesomeness that I’ve ever accidentally been in charge of.
If you still want to help then please leave a comment because we’re about nine donors short right now. I wish I could do more and I’m sorry that I can’t but I’m so incredibly proud of the fact that we were able to help hundreds and hundreds of people (both givers and receivers) make Christmas magical. If you were matched with someone as of comment 1033 and you don’t get a response from your donor by 11am Monday morning then leave me a comment. We have a few donors on stand-by to help people who may have fallen through the cracks. With any luck by noon tomorrow we’ll be done and I can finally sleep and shower and actually maintain eye contact with my family for more than five minutes at a time.
Thank you. To the donors and to the recipients and to the people who came to cheer on both. Thank you.
You’ve made all the difference.
Final update:
Done. It’s Monday night and over 900 gift cards were sent out to people needing help. I’m sure we didn’t get everyone but hundreds and hundreds of people were helped. Some got enough to buy their children new books. Some got money to put food on the table on Christmas. One 9th grader asked if anyone had a used laptop for her disabled mother before coming back and asking to delete the comment since so many other people needed help. That young girl will be surprising her mother with an ipad from one of our amazing, regular readers. One woman emailed to say that because of the support she got they were able to save their house from foreclosure. I wish it could go on forever but I have to stop before I get sick. If you don’t get an email from me matching you with a donor by midnight, please donate to your local food bank. There are still so many people who need help this year just putting food on the table.
Some small miracles happened here in the past five days and I don’t know exactly how I fell into being involved but I’m so glad I did. It may be the lack of sleep but I’m finding it hard really understand what happened here and why it feels like such an important thing to have been a part of. It was just a series of small gifts sent one by one to perfect strangers in need. It doesn’t change the world.
Or maybe it does.
Thank you for changing mine.
PS. Final tallies: Over 900 gift cards were sent out by 689 people who were so thrilled to help. 450 people who needed small Christmas miracles received donations for medicine, food, or presents under the tree for their children. No large corporations got involved. No one only offered to donate if they got something out of it themselves. With no sponsorships, no ulterior motives and with only a simple need to reach out and help a perfect stranger, 689 everyday, normal people (Jewish, Christians, Atheists, Muslims and more) sent out over $40,000 worth of donations to make sure Christmas came.
I just want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to the anonymous person who sent me an Amazon Gift Card.
I don’t know who you are, and you helped someone who was not desperate, but you made my boyfriend’s YEAR. He CRIED, seeing a gift wrapped up just for him, and he cried when he opened it, and THAT was the best gift I’ve ever gotten.
THANK YOU times a MILLION. Merry Christmas!
This is amazing Jenny. Absolutely, breath-takingly amazing. I can’t believe I didn’t see this before now! I really hope you do this again next year – I’m ready and willing to help!
I just wanted to say thank you again to Jenny and those that helped my family. Because of you my kids had a great Christmas and I will forever remember what was done here this year! I am looking forward to being on the helping end next year. May you all be blessed!!
I was originally poster #1027 and wanted to try and express my complete gratitude for the help from our angels. Beth, Jen, and “One of the Bloggess’s elves”… thank you so much for the kind and generous gifts for our family. Thanks to your amazing giving, my kids had a great Christmas. The boys were so excited about their legos and books and my daughter LOVED her slinky and sock monkey most of all. Every time I see them, I will forever think of you and be reminded of our most amazing Christmas ever. It is not the presents under the tree, but the spirit of Christmas and kindness of strangers that made this a Christmas I will never forget. You gave us so much more and for that I am eternally grateful!
This experience as a while has been so amazing! While we are grateful that we were able to have been matched up with wonderful donors, my husband and I have vowed that no matter what, we will be a donor this next Christmas. Even if it is only $1 a week saved, it can make a huge difference to someone (like it did for us) and we want to be able to pay it forward.
And, we had another Christmas miracle that came a few days late…. my husband was contacted by an acquaintance about a job opening. As we speak, he is at an interview for the position… first interview he has received in almost 5 months! If you are a praying person, please say a quick prayer that everything goes well and that we are finally able to get the break we have been waiting and praying for!
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!
It is a Blessing to know that there are people with like mind and spirit. I am a 31 year old mother of three children ages 10, 15, and 16. Every year my children spend Christmas with their paternal family as they can afford to provide them Christmas. I do not allow this to get me down because I am a walking testament to God’s grace. By the age of 16, I had two children. I defied all odds because I refused to be a statistic; I graduated high school early, went on to college, obtained a degree in Psychology and began graduate school in Forensic Psychology. I purchased my own home. God has granted me with determination and motivation (I had no support). Oh, and my children are honor roll students and MVP athletes.
Through my years of struggle I still gave back. As I have been unemployed for the past 3 months, I have done small things that did not require much money. I was able to provide a little girl with a bedroom set and décor (purchased from the dollar store) for Christmas. I perused my garage and happened to have mismatched furniture that created a complete set. I also provided paint so that the family could paint all the pieces the same color to have uniformity.
This blog has inspired me to create an association for the community I live in. “CHANGE! (Pennies count too)” will be a way to collect pennies from now until next year to adopt a family for next Christmas.I also am going to search clearance racks as I normally do for my family, to purchase (when I have extra money) clothing, toys, etc. for those in need next year. Maybe even do a “CHRISTMAS IN JULY”. (I am going to dedicate my garage for the storage)I am so excited. I am inclined to take my last $10 and go shopping now. I know the dollar store has 50% Christmas décor. That will be my start. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY The greatest gift that I could have received is to come across this blog. I hope everyone has a Blessed upcoming year.
***ALTHEA*** If you would please contact me, I would like to get your friends Hospital contact information so I can send her a card, and a few other little pick me up’s, my email is Sfultz6411 @ yahoo (dot) com , so please email me and let me know, financially I cannot provide anything as I was in need myself this year, however I have everything I need to write a letter of inspiration…Thank you and I will keep your friend in my thoughts and prayers!
I am here to say I am soooo beyond grateful for this, I would have never thought in a million years that friendly strangers would be so willing to help, this blog is amazing…not only for this…but also for the many other too funny for words posts that I love to read!
You all made miracles happen…no matter how small the donation, gift, prayer, wishes, thoughts, good grace’s, or whatever… it was larger than life to the families who recieved it, including mine! I was even graced with a new friend who, without this post, I otherwise would have never known, for that I am also thankful! People connect in so many different ways…and yes our hearts are little more open this time of year…but I vow I will keep my heart this open and light all year round, I want to always feel this blessed, this happy, this giving, and I always want to know that if I fall, or if any of you fall, there will be someone there to help you get up, brush off your knees, put your pride back together, and move on, head up, shoulders back…we’re going to make it after all!!!!
This post, specifically, has changed sooooooo many lives,(and continues to do so) whether they were donors, donee’s (lol), passer by’s, giving prayers, asking for prayers, or whatever the case may be… there isnt one person that was here over the past two weeks or so, and isnt a complete sociopath, that wasnt completely moved by this in some small way (most were moved in a huge way)….I dont know if you realize it Jenny, as I know you are still recovering from the hard work you had to put into this, but this changed live…. truly…YOU changed lives… If you hadnt started with this first 20 gift cards… this would have NEVER happened… not here… and soooo many children would have woken without a gift….so many parents would have been heart broken to have to explain…. too many people would have had nothing to eat…. several without heat or electricty…. and some, as you well know, may have even ended thier life simple because they feel as though no one cares and they have not a single friend in this world…. and all serveral thousand lives… you single handedly changed ….for the better…… YOU alone started this small little snow ball without having a clue as to what it would turn into….. but your simple, kind hearted, good deed, turned into this world of strangers feeling sooooo moved by you, by 20 gift cards, to help, to give, to care…and others (myself) pushed aside our sometimes selfish pride…and asked for help…. and most, if not all, were granted some kind of help…. YOU made this happen… Take a moment, step back, and think about that….If I ever questioned about one person being able to make a difference, I never will again…. SO now that I have went on this HUGE tangent…. I just want to say THANK YOU!!!! And I want to ask that everyone remember …if you give a smile, you will get a smile… If we all could take this kind warm hearted spirit with us all year I believe we could all make a difference…just by remembering that EVERYONE has stresses, EVERYONE has bad days…EVERYONE has problems… and even a smile, or a ‘Thank You’, or a ‘Please’, or a ‘Have a Nice Day’, can change someones day.. and potentionally change their life….. Small miracles that we are ALL capable of …Try to be more kind, always be thankful for what you have, hug and kiss your loved ones, I believe we were all brought here and into eachothers lives for a reason…
This is a miracle I will never forget, and I know alot of others wont soon forget either….
And whatever religion you are and whatever you believe in…you will all be blessed, whether you were here to help, to ask for help, or just a passer by, you will all be blessed… and I truly believe that 2011 will be a much better year!!! … Never lose faith, Never lose hope… and know there is ALWAYS someone out there that cares about you and your situation….
I missed this at Christmas and I just want to say that this warmed my heart. We struggled but made it thanks to the generosity of others. Toys for Tots made sure that there was a stocking and a present under the tree for my daughter… a friend made sure that she picked up double ingredients for a couple of her Christmas dinner dishes and dropped them off…my parents both in their 80’s spent probably more than they should have on new clothes for my husband, my daughter and me. Every year I worry about Christmas and making it a little special and every year somehow it works out thanks to people like the readers here. So to all of you Thank You.
Hello,
I am original posts: 1669, 1682 & 1786. On Christmas my family and my sisters family gathered around a tree that was nothing more than a piece of paper my nephew had scribbled on with a red and green crayon. We spent the day talking and thanking the Lord above for what happened here. We talked about our Christmas angel and how the generosity of a stranger had made our lives easier and our Christmas better. For once in our lives we got to be part of something bigger, something so wonderful that words cannot even properly describe it. We will always remember this Christmas and the help that we received from people who are simply amazing. We will always remember this Christmas as being the best one we have had. Knowing that my niece and nephew had a toy to open and that we had enough money to buy a nice Christmas dinner, and some food for this week was the best Christmas present I could have received. I wanted to come back to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart Thank you.
Catherine
This is amazing! god is so good!
I just read this wonderful post and comments today and felt my heart filled with so much Love and Joy from what all of you did here. You all were wonderful. I hope to be part of something like this next year. I felt so much love pouring from this post and all the comments. As I read each update, I would get chills all over and my heart overflowed. I wish I would have known this was going on sooner. We didn’t have much but we had a lot more than some of these people had and we would have been willing to share. I make jewelry (haven’t sold much). I could have shared that with some of these wonderful people along with what little money we could have contributed.
May you all have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous New Year and may all your dreams come true.
Wow. I’ve just spent a very long time reading through the comments here and the original post comments. I’ve been sobbing all the way through, so it has taken much longer to get through than it normally would. And that’s a good thing. We’ve had a rough couple of years, but our kids are very small and don’t know yet that we’re not giving them much. A thrift store find goes a long way in our home. Our thoughts are more with our younger child’s health and my health than anything, so we feel lucky just to be spending our holidays at home and not in the hospital this year! I’m not asking for help-I’m saying that I feel lucky. And we give as much as we can (hand-me-downs, collected items from other people giving away, etc.) to others all year, but I always feel like it’s just not enough. I certainly hope that one of these years, I’ll be in the black (instead of constantly dwelling in the red!) and be able to contribute to your amazing efforts, Jenny! In the meantime, I’m just going to step back and be in awe of every single one of you helping out and sending best wishes to those needing help. 🙂
hey, jenny! ive been away from your blog and the internets in general for nearly a month. i work retail and have been a total grinch this year. i am blessed enough to have been approved to work overtime, minimumly, until mid frebruary. i was able to get gifts for everone on my liist and even a tiny tee that sat on my dining room table. after all my purchases were made and all the bows were tied and nametags attached, i went to buy foor for dinner and my debit card was declined. . i had $2.48 in my bank account. luckily, i had some cash and was able to split tender and had enough for my husband and i to eat. that being said, i wish i had been in the wonderful world of the bloggess in time to donate something for someone less fortunate than i. like i mentioned earlier, i have been a grinch, but have much to be thankful for, and ifi have enough money to buy a coffee every day, i have enough money to give to someone else. please, i hope you do this some way some how next christmas and i will certainly be on the list to donate. if there is anything i can do. at this late point , please let me know. i would love to be a part of something so wonderful. jenny, you are awesome.
(RE: comment #1754 – Dec 22) First, a huge huge huge thank you to Jenn the bloggess, and to the donor of the sleep apnea pillow for my daughter. You will be forever in our hearts as this pillow may save her life, the doctors tell us!…I would thank you publicly here, but you probably want to remain anonymous… nonetheless, thank you for your incredible kindness and heart attitude in helping her. She is overwhelmingly grateful, and you have truly blessed me as her mom.
(RE: comment #1754 ) 2nd, I did receive one response from someone that said they wanted to contribute a small amount via paypal for my daughters monthly prescribed medicines which come to $126 monthly…, of which she hasn’t had for 5 weeks and is now going downhill again fast. I emailed my info, paypal email, physical address etc as requested to the 1 person who requested it & commented on a desire to help in a small way, but never heard back from them.I have helped all I can. My daughter is desperately in need of these meds, so if there is still anyone with a desire to help for this, it would be greatly appreciated. As stated this is not a new request, but just added comment to #1754. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY TO SO MANY! This IS community caring! Have a blessed New Year!
cathy b
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
WHEW! my desk is wet and I haven’t cried this hard since I was 8 and I didn’t get the bike I wanted for my birthday. And now I want to give. I know you are done and sleeping, but I am so in the next time you do this. I am always late on trends (too bad this is one of the best to subscribe to), my friend shared your blog with me yesterday, if there is still a need let me know. But I am guessing you are on the hook for next year and I would love to pitch in. Anyway, anyhow, let me know…
I have never been so devastated to have missed reading this blog for two weeks. (I had surgery at the beginning of the month, and was playing crazy catch-up with my life for weeks after.) I don’t have much to give, but I’m so terribly sorry to have missed this opportunity. Is there anything I can do even though it’s after Christmas now? Does anyone’s child need a few “late” gifts from Santa and a letter of apology from the Big Guy for not getting there on Christmas Eve (broken reindeer harness and all made him miss a few houses)?? PLEASE let me know.
This is incredible! And heart-warming and tear-inducing and inspirational. I’m sorry I came to your blog too late to participate in this. I will stay tuned for future opportunities. Thank you!
Crying. Crying hard. This was – well, this was absolutely one of those shining moments that restore a person’s faith in the inherent goodness in people (and I’m a bitter cynic, at that). Thankyou for doing this, and for all the lives you’ve improved in this short time.
I also came to this blog a bit late. I just want to thank Velma for her post about modestneeds.org . I have since made some donations to that site and am struck with some of the stories on there. They will make you cry there too. Modest needs goes on all year.
I’m just catching up on my Reader and I got to this post and I’ve been sitting here at my computer crying for the last I don’t even know how long. This just breaks my heart in the best possible way, I wish I would have seen it while it was going on so I could have helped out. People are amazing and constantly surprise me. Thank you for doing this, you are a truly amazing person, and I love you even more than I already did.
I just wanted to say thank you again. My boys and I had a very different (better!) Christmas thanks to the readers here.
I am bookmarking this post, so anytime I need a reminder that people are fundamentally good, I’ll have a place to go.
I came to this beautiful blogsite just 3 days ago, after an unemployed Facebook friend told me about it. I was taken away with this heartfelt, wonderful idea you came up with to help others — the stories of the people who were in need, the stories of the people who wanted to give. I wish I had known sooner, though I am one of those who has difficulty asking for things. I am always the one who wants to give to others, and this year it wasn’t possible. Like everyone else I’m now at the end of my rope and don’t know where to turn. I’m 68 years old (though I don’t look it). Lost my job in June 2006 because my boss decided to give my job to his wife, since she was about to lose hers. In January 2008 I also lost a part-time job I had for 14½ years. Having spent 17 years doing volunteer work (and accomplishing many great things) for my high school alumni association, I never thought all that experience and expertise would not get me a new job.
On top of the financial struggles, in September 2009 I had ovarian cancer surgery. I didn’t have the $2,050 for the hospital deductible. I had to swallow my pride and ask all my alumni friends on Facebook if any of them might want to send me $10 and a greeting card. I was hoping 205 people would. I was lucky and got more than I asked. But now, having exhausted my unemployment benefits in March 2010, like so many other 99ers, I am close to destitute. I have no money to pay my rent this month and I am scared to death I’ll wind up in a homeless shelter. (I have no immediate family members living anymore, no one to move in with, and my studio apartment is too small to take in a roommate.) If there is someone out there who would be able to help me I will forever be grateful. I would even offer something (some work) in exchange for the help. It’s hard for me to ask for help. But last month I even wrote a “Letter to Santa” (and dropped it off a Macy’s) saying all I want for Christmas is a job. I want to be working again. That is my New Year’s wish, that there will be a job for all of us soon.
Beautiful… just beautiful. You were chosen for a reason. Lucky you. Clearly, you are a loving, trustworthy, beautiful person.
Thank you for sharing this story. This is just what I needed to start my Monday!! Please add my email to your list for next year. I would love to help. My family helps with the Angel trees for our local area every Christmas. People underestimate the wonderful feeling you get when you give. Great job!!
Kelly
Sorry I’m late to the party but this? This is the best, funniest, happiest thing I’ve read this week. Thanks.
“this has been the most successful, unplanned, disorganized celebration of awesomeness that I’ve ever accidentally been in charge of.” Awesomeness indeed. Go you!
Hey everyone im sure this is way to early to post about christmas but i just wanted to say what was done was absolutely awesome and alot of families got the help they needed even if it was a few gifts up to their house payment because they were about to get evicted. I helped out a family with 200 so they could pay for their 3 yr old sons glasses. His glasses were only 100 but i sent an extra 100 to buy him some gifts or have a nice christmas dinner. It was a couple weeks before i heard from them but i went to my inbox and there was a picture of a little boy smiling with his new glasses on holding a picture of another little boy from africa. Apparently the family had decided to take the other 100 dollars i had sent them to help a child in africa. They sent the little boy some toys and school supplies. It brought tears to my eyes to see that i could help someone and that someone that i helped turned right around and did the same thing and in the process is teaching their child to understand the meaning of giving. Beautiful… BUt the reason i am posting today is because i just wanted to throw in a comment to see if maybe the christmas help(if its going to be done again this year) maybe start the list early. First get the people that are donating to start doing what they can and then have the people that need help post up until the holidays. i know alot of people like to do their shopping early and you can find some of the best bargains early as well. Also i would like to share my story here as well. I am 30 yrs old I have 4 children with a 5th child on the way. I have had alot of complications with this pregnancy which forced me to quit my job and stay at home on bed rest. I have preeclampsia so if i dont keep my blood pressure down its automatically a trip and long stay at the hospital and with other children here its kinda hard to be in the hospital and putting all the burden on my husband. he has enough as it is with me being bed ridden. We dont recieve any government assistance because im only off on maternity leave but not getting paid. He makes decent money but it pays the bills and food alone. Dr. bills are becoming a burden the kids just went back to school so school clothes and everything stacks up. Hopefully i will deliver with no problems and be able to go back to work soon to help him out. But my reason for posting our story is because as much as i love to help another family i dont think we will be able to donate this year if we are able to i will post something even if its 50 dollars that can buy a gift for a child. We probably could use the help this year if the truth be told but i dont want to take away from someone who is probably worse off than we are. But if there is anything left in the pot that would be able to help out our family this christmas it certainly would be appreciated and hopefully next year we will be able to repay the favor in double. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this.
Christina S and family
Jose 35
Cheyanne 13
Lakota 8
Jesse 7
Torianna 2
and our newest should be joining our family on december 2nd as long as he decides not to come early
his name will be Nicolas
Just a shout out to you and Dawn to say that you are appreciated still every single day since that Christmas Miracle of 2010 happened. I think about it all the time and thought you just needed to know. 🙂
I just came across this post and teared up a little bit reading it. What a wonderful way to use your powers for good (instead of the random entertaining insanity you usually use your powers for). Are you going to do this again for Christmas 2011? I’ll volunteer to be your first donor!
I just wanted to say Thank you again for doing this, my small miracle from Beth last year has stayed in my mind all year! I dont know how to repay anyone for their generosity. I was hoping to be able to pay it forward again this year, however things just arent working out for us. I have made some pretty large donations to food pantrys and volunteered my time, but the financial aspect of my life has gotten worse, and we just cant seem to dig out of the hole! We are slowly catching up on our mortgage(only 2084 behind now) and the kids wont have much(if anything) this year, and my 3 year old has to have oral surgery in the tune of $5000 after insurance but all I see is that I am blessed from every where! I have my family , a roof over my head, and the satisfaction knowing that I tried my best this year and gave back to my local community. I just wanted to say that you Jenny and my donor Beth are always going to be angels in my heart!
I also wanted to come back here and send out a Thank you for pairing me up with a sponsor last year, Every little bit helped out. We were very thankful. Over this year things have gotten somewhat better however we had to up and move into a new home the beginning of this month, which was very unexpected. My daughter is going in for surgery on January 10th for a Verafleangeal flap that has to be fixed for her to speek properly. So times this year are going to be tight again. It is so hard trying to buy for 5 kids, are 2 of them teenagers at that. I came back on here to Thank you again for the help last year, and to apologize as I was going to try my best to find you again and offer someone else some help this year to return the favor. However I am not going to be able to do so. I do not know if you are planning on doing this again. But If so, I hope that love is spread everywhere again this year!!!!
sweokgrl@gmail.com
Almost a year later and this still makes me choke up. All y’all are awesome, beautiful, amazing people.
I just ran across this, and hadn’t heard about it last year. What a beautiful angel you are! If you have plans to do this again, count me in! Thank you for the beauty that you are! Keep shining!
LKS
lksweelee@msn.com
Hi everyone, I just wanted to check and see if you were doing what you did last year helping out people at Christmas. Up until last year we have always tried to help out another family. Things changed and we had to move and between that and trying to pay for my wifes grandmothers funeral Christmas was not goinng to be a gift giving Christmas. I had some people from here try to help me out but I guess a mix up as to where I am living caused a bit of a problem. being disabled and trying to live on a disability pension is tight but with my wife working we get by month to month. Our son Josh who is 26 and autistic is a great kid, well not realy a kid a man with a good heart. I dont care if I get anything for Christmas I just hate the thought of Josh and my wife not having nothing. I totally understand thats not what christmas is all about is the gifts but seeing there faces last year christmas morning hurt more than i thought it would. My wife was working and they fired her basically because a big mill closed here and over 1000 families have no income also so my wifes store was not getting the business so the first to go was the manager. She has never been out of work this long but this time its really hard finding a job. I was just wondering if you are going to have what you did last year and if you have a list or blog could we be considered. I would be so grateful and would pay it forward again as soon as possible.
Again thank you for what you are doing and for what you do. Prayers are with you for this season and bless each and everyone of your hearts.
Bill Buick
I stumbled over here.. just as I did last year.. in need of a Christmas miracle. I will never ever be able to thank Jenny and my Christmas angels enough for what they did for my family last year. At the beginning of the year one of the angels helped pay to have an abscessed tooth removed. Later in the year on the prayer of angels- and a shot in the dark I contacted the other angel as we had absolutely no food and this city is not big on food pantries- she did not hesitate. This year has brought so many trials but in the last month seems worst of all…my son is a cancer survivor and I had surgery a month ago and they found a rare cancerous tumor. I find out soon if there is cancer anywhere else in my body (praying there is not- that would be a Christmas miracle in and of itself) either way I start treatment immediately before Christmas. My son asked if he could go on anti-depressants..I’m trying to hold it all together because I have a little boy that turns 3 right before Christmas. I know I can’t ask for anything…this place is the maker of miracles.. Jenny- you inspire me.. Mr. Buick your story brings tears to my eyes and I wish I could help. Thank you and God Bless everyone…
Thank you Regina, I so wish I could help everyone out and would if I could. Just been these past few years with economy and everything we just havent been able to. You so right to that this is a place of miracles. God Bless you all and my prayers and thought are with each of you during this time and all year round you are Angels. hugs from my heart to yours.
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me and mi son michael really need some help with christmas this year i have a two year old little boy and i am a 21 year old mother.I have been looking for a job but cant get anyone to call me back.I am so ashamed i dont have the money to buy my son the things id like to.Ive been trying to get out of a bad relastionship with his father michael for a long time.but i feel kind of hopeless.If anyone could make a little donation please contact me my email is ambercchrl@comcast.net
we lost ever thingin are5 bedroom double wide to a fire this year an we need help for christmas grandma check was cut 300 short this month.we are really having a bad month.i hope you can help ever body needs one gift any way
As the co-founder and co-owner of Random Acts of Christmas and the creator of Giftapalooza, my hat is off to you for your wonderful kindness. You and your followers are pretty incredible people. x
I know it’s an old articular but still a good read! Charity at Christmastime is our business, if you ever need to fundraise around the holiday season Mistletoeing.com counts it an honor to help!
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