Fill the Christmas stockings!
Donation protected
This year, Santa Bob and Mrs. Claus are making a special effort to serve the Thurston County Food Bank in Washington. We will be there a whole day in mid-December so that children can have their photos taken with Santa and whisper their Christmas wishes in his ear!
One holiday morning last year, we mingled with the crowd of hungry people and helped hand out the homemade stockings lovingly sewn by volunteers for all the children who came that day. There was very little to fill them -- some used books, cocoa packets and a handful of small stuffed animals -- not nearly enough to go around, because the food bank was literally packed families. I recalled the joy my own children had getting up Christmas morning and seeing what Santa had left in their stockings, and I thought, "Maybe we can help next year."
I asked what would help most when buying things for the stockings, and was told things like crayons, scissors, art supplies, other school supplies, toothbrushes, small stuffed lovies -- and books, always books -- would be wonderful. I've squirreled away things all year, but I know we're still woefully lacking in goodies.
You have all been so kind in the past, and I'm hoping you can kick in again and help with this project.
Alternatively, I hope you'll reach out to your own food bank through these rough times. I'm sure many of you already do. I learned today that this particular food bank expects to serve 5,000 clients for Thanksgiving; about the same amount at Christmas. That's up from 4,200 last year. For many people, the economy has never recovered. Many families are homeless, even some who are working. They often run out of food before the month ends. The situation is the same most everywhere. My daughter tells me of schools in her area that are now working to serve two meals to students each day because it is all the food many of them get.
Bob and I feel so fortunate. Both of us grew up in families where money was tight, but I can never remember going without a meal or receiving a thing or two from Santa. We are blessed, still, to have "enough," and to be able to share -- with your help, we'll get those stockings from flat to full. Merry Christmas, everone!
One holiday morning last year, we mingled with the crowd of hungry people and helped hand out the homemade stockings lovingly sewn by volunteers for all the children who came that day. There was very little to fill them -- some used books, cocoa packets and a handful of small stuffed animals -- not nearly enough to go around, because the food bank was literally packed families. I recalled the joy my own children had getting up Christmas morning and seeing what Santa had left in their stockings, and I thought, "Maybe we can help next year."
I asked what would help most when buying things for the stockings, and was told things like crayons, scissors, art supplies, other school supplies, toothbrushes, small stuffed lovies -- and books, always books -- would be wonderful. I've squirreled away things all year, but I know we're still woefully lacking in goodies.
You have all been so kind in the past, and I'm hoping you can kick in again and help with this project.
Alternatively, I hope you'll reach out to your own food bank through these rough times. I'm sure many of you already do. I learned today that this particular food bank expects to serve 5,000 clients for Thanksgiving; about the same amount at Christmas. That's up from 4,200 last year. For many people, the economy has never recovered. Many families are homeless, even some who are working. They often run out of food before the month ends. The situation is the same most everywhere. My daughter tells me of schools in her area that are now working to serve two meals to students each day because it is all the food many of them get.
Bob and I feel so fortunate. Both of us grew up in families where money was tight, but I can never remember going without a meal or receiving a thing or two from Santa. We are blessed, still, to have "enough," and to be able to share -- with your help, we'll get those stockings from flat to full. Merry Christmas, everone!
Organizer
Deanna Partlow
Organizer
Olympia, WA
