Webster, MA Kids Need Christmas!

I have a Christmas  wish for the kids of Webster, MA and your help is greatly needed.  Please help spread the word!

The 2015 Coloring Book, Crayons, Puzzles and Backpack Donation For The Children In Need Of Webster, MA Is Now Underway!!!

The Webster, MA Public Schools have a 60% poverty rate.  I am collecting new coloring books (non-violent and non-holiday themed) and crayons (24 packs of Crayola Crayons), backpacks and more for each child of the Park Avenue Elementary School, Webster Middle School and I would love to include the high school kids of the Webster High School in Webster, MA.

A $3 donation will purchase a full size coloring book and a package of crayons for a child.  A $6 donation will purchase a backpack.  Lots of kids carry their items in a grocery store plastic bag and the need is huge.

ALL CHILDREN in the public schools receive free breakfast and lunch due to the high poverty rate.  Many kids do without and for the past several years the school opened to offer breakfast and lunch to the kids during the summer to ensure the kids are eating.  These fabulous kids need help!

This will be the 6th year the adults in my family don't give gifts to each other. We take what money we have an donate it to these great kids.

For LOTS of these children this the ONLY gift they will receive for the holidays.

With your donations I personally go out and buy these items.  I package all of these at my home and with help of friends they are brought to the schools and delivered to the children at the schools on the date the schools tell me.  To me this makes Christmas for my family.

If the goal is exceed the extra will be used for more backpacks and school supplies.  When I say the need is great it far exceeds what I can comprehend.

How all this happened: The first year I did this I had a little extra money and an idea. My daughter was new to the school system and I didn't realize the need and the poverty rate until she went to school.

I decided I wanted to help and I purchased 550 tablet sized "Chicken Little by Disney" coloring books with the stickers inside from Ebay with the goal of giving each child of her school a coloring book for the holidays.

Chicken Little had been out several years before and the seller wanted to move them quickly.

When they arrived (the day before Thanksgiving) I completely underestimated the sheer size of 550 tablet sized coloring books which arrived in multiple display boxes.

I laughed outloud as I saw their size and then I realized I made a HUGE mistake!!!

I was one of the children growing up who received from the food pantry and the generosity of strangers who put used clothes in bags on my front porch. My parents used to sharpen our pencils with knives because we couldn't afford to buy a pencil sharpener.

Our heat was set very low and a pen most often would not work for homework or my hand got too cold to hold it while trying to press hard to get the ink to write.

I didn't remember when I placed my order that when you don't have money at all you're going to have (most often) EITHER a pencil or pen to write. Most children in need WILL NOT have crayons and I had forgotten this very important part when you have a coloring book.

Thanksgiving day I had the pleasure of being with my family at my home. I was surrounded by my loved ones and I told them my story - one they experienced first hand as well.

I had the idea of posting an ad on Craigslist and also posting on Facebook to my friends telling them I was looking for new crayons. Within one hour I was shocked and overwhelmed to have had a very real donation from a stranger of over 200 boxes of crayons !!!

I had asked for the 8 count of Crayola on Craigslist. I literally was in tears as was many of my family members.

The donation kept momentum until I had collected all 550 boxes of crayons, 550 individually wrapped candy canes, school supplies for the children and teachers gifts (dry erase markers, erasers, paper towels, facial tissues and more) a week before the donation date.  This was for one of the schools.

I was overwhelmed by the love from strangers and the holiday spirit was flourishing!  Many of these donations came from people I had never met and now have the pleasure of calling them my friends.

The donation day was beyond moving to say the least. The principal escorted my mother and I around. We invited everyone who donated to come but many wanted to donate and said it was too overwhelming to walk around and see the faces of these little ones.

It was so nice to see each child and know that they would be bringing a coloring book and box of crayons home because of the kindness, generosity and love from people they have most likely never met.

Selfless acts of kindness which made me smile with my heart. The sounds of excitement and looks of surprise from the children was INSPIRING. One little girl cried tears of joy.  It was a wonderful feeling being a part of this and a feeling I will never forget.

Now the donation has grown to full size coloring books (non-violent and non-holiday themed) 24 count boxes of Crayola crayons, backpacks, school supplies and more!!!!! My goal is to give a gift to each and every child in the public school system in Webster, MA.

Donations come from all over the United States and last year we had a donation from India as well.

Above is a picture of the donation last year. As the donation unfolds I will post pictures as I get the items this year.

Thank you for considering to be a part of this! This is what the holidays are truly about. If it wasn't for you this wouldn't be possible!  Thank you for making a difference and being the difference!

Let's let the holiday spirit shine!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Liz Lahens