I've chatted with Donna & we decided to focus on two families for our card club's "Christmas Angel" project.
Here's the information on the first family:
The Heim family; I mentioned them at Card Club. The family lives in a trailer park on Baer Creek Road. There are 4 kids (Scott, a freshman at FHS; Cody, who has graduated; and John – attended FHS but didn’t graduate...and Sarah, a senior). Sarah is a special ed. student; she just delivered a premie, Dakota, who will be hospitalized for some time; currently she weighs 2 lbs. Sarah’s boyfriend (Dakota’s father) lives with the family. Sarah will probably try to complete high school requirements through tutoring. Grandpa is on disability & Grandma is a manager at McDonald’s. Very little money is available; at school, a phone message asked for contributions for gas money so the family could visit the baby. Clearly, this family is in need; horrific situation for this young woman...and one which complicates not only her life, but also the life of the family.
Joan Martter gave me the information above. I don’t have sizes, etc.; during an earlier collection at school, money was collected to buy gas cards as Dakota has been in intensive care & the family – who had no $$ for gas – couldn’t even visit the baby! Anything would be appreciated! Pam
The second family has quite a different story. I can't reveal the family's name because Mom would be totally embarrassed; there is no potential for agency help. The family includes Mom, Dad, and two kids -- a girl in 5th grade & a boy in kindergarten. The parents have lived separately for a number of years & Mom, who receives no financial help, cares for & supports the kids. She’s trying to move towards a divorce, but Dad is difficult, making her life miserable. Mom owes money to her dad, to the lawyer, and to a caretaker who helps her with the kids as Mom has a full time professional job which requires outside time, as well as two part-time jobs just to make ends meet. She is careful with her money but really struggles from pay to pay.
ReplyDeleteGift suggestions:
For both kids—books, they love to read & 300-500 piece puzzles, Disney videos (Santa Paws, Harry Potter films, Mrs.Doubtfire), fun socks
Girl:
Pierced earrings, other jewelry, hoodie / sweatshirts (Fairview & others, size 16 or woman’s small)
Boy:
Any animal “stuff” – stuffed animals, games, coloring books, etc.
Top: size 7; pants, size 8 (he’s tall); hoodie / sweatshirts, Fairview & others
Mom:
Likes horses (maybe a horse calendar?)
Warm socks – navy, brown, grey
Books
Caretaker: since I got the information on gifts from her, I really can’t get any particulars…maybe a gift card to Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl’s or Penney’s?
Pam
Hi Pam this is my first BLOG experience. Thanks for looking into this project for us.
ReplyDeleteThis two families sound like some help would be greatly appreciated.
I will get back to you this weekend with what I will be bringing. Peg
This is my first experience with a blog too- I will also look at this over the weekend and let you know what i will be doing so we do not replicate too much. thanks for doing this- it beats a bunch of emails going back and forth.
ReplyDeleteI looked in my gift stash. I like to pick up items when I find them for next to nothing. I have a craft that makes bracelets for the 5th grader and a 2011 scrapbook calendar for her.
ReplyDeleteI have Mary Kay bottle of body lotion and one of my kitchen towels for the Mom.
I have a 3 pack of tiny newborn booties for the new baby and a little jeans jumper.
I believe I will have a set of 12 airplanes for the kindergardener.
And lastly I will make a tin of cookies for the
Heim family.
Happy to make someone happy this time of year.
Peg
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI hope that getting onto the blog isn't too troublesome for everyone; it will enable us to stay current on our Christmas project. Peg, your gifts sound great -- your stash is spot on! I haven't gotten myself / gifts organized yet, but will post ASAP!
I KNOW these families will be very appreciative of whatever we do. Our Christmas gifts will be a very welcome and totally unexpected surprise!
Pam
Pam- I am in for as book or two on animals for the kindergarten boy, a puzzle as indicated, and a hoodie for the 5th grader. I have some coupons for JCPenney i don't need, so i may look for something there for the mom, or do a gift card. same with the Heim family but it may end up being a gift card at wegmans or Penney's.
ReplyDeleteI'll do horse calendar and socks for mom; earrings for the daughter; hoodie for the son. Gift card for the Heim family.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is being so giving, that is great.
ReplyDeleteJust making sure - we are supposed to wrap the gifts right?
ReplyDeletedebbie, pam is having internet problems right now but we talked about this- yes- i plan to wrap my stuff-
ReplyDeletekiki
Hi! I have a family game for the second family and Wegman gift cards for both families. Glad to be part of this gift giving!
ReplyDeleteDonna
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteFinally got out shopping -- was fortunate with weather and purchases, too! For the Heims I picked up a Giant Eagle gift card & a couple cute outfits for the baby. Also, in my gift stash, I have a Christmas mug, snowglobe, & figurine. For the other family, I bought a sweater for Mom & one for caretaker, hoodies for the kids. Also, puzzle & dvd.
You've all been so generous! I hope you're as pleased with our gifting this year as I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pam