Letters To Santa - Operation Santa

Part 2

I read over my letters several times thinking about what each child and family might both want and need.  One of the letters was so specific but the other was not and said simply "any help that you can give."  I called friends with children around the same ages as the children written about in the letters to ask for suggestions and wandered up and down many aisles in the stores!

After multiple trips to a few stores, all the presents were purchased.  Next step getting the boxes!  A quick trip was made to buy them, and then armed with my packing tape and scissors, they were soon set up in my living room and ready to be packed.

I took all the purchases out of the shopping bags and grouped them for each family.  Once I had everything figured out, I set out packing.

The first family was Tamiko's 9 year old son and 8 year old daughter.  Among other things their box included Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble, Legos and Barbie, swim caps and goggles, books, a science kit, a basketball, notebooks and pens, winter caps, and some plates, dishtowels, and a new scarf for mom.

The second family was Arlena's 8 and 4 year old sons.  Their box included things such as tennis balls, rubber bouncing balls, a frisbee, stuffed superheros, puzzles, a soccer ball, toy trucks and cars, crayons, pens, sketch paper, Legos, fleece blankets, plus some gifts for mom.

Lastly, I wrote a letter from Santa and included one in each box.  They have been delivered to the post office and are on the way to their intended recipients. 

All I wish now is that I could know what the families reactions are when they open them. 

Choose Kindness

Today is December 14th, and there has been much in the news about the one year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.  I am ever amazed at the ability of some of the families to turn their tragedy into activism and a positive message.  For a while I have been following the activities of the families of Emilie Parker and Daniel Barden.  They were two of the young victims, and their families have blogs and Facebook pages dedicated to sharing the positive messages of their children and being kind.  What strength it must take to do so, but what a honor to their memories.

In thinking about them, I have realized that choosing kindness is something you never regret.  You might regret spending too much, eating too much, wasting too much time, saying an unkind word, treating someone as you would not want to be treated....but you will never regret choosing kindness!

  

Ornaments

It is time again for me to leave Christmas Tree ornaments for some finders.  This is one of my favorite items to give away, and I have done so every year since starting this project.  I have hung them on trees in parking lots, left them on benches and car windshields, hung them on hooks under restaurant bars, etc.

I know some have found happy, grateful recipients, and I feel certain others have been overlooked or thrown away.  The world we live in leads to so many people doubting a random kindness.  I certainly hope most of the ornaments I have selected this year make it home onto someone's tree.

Letters to Santa - Operation Santa

PART 1

Three years ago I was watching the local news the week before Christmas and saw a story about the United States Postal Service Letters to Santa Program (also known as Operation Santa).  It was the first time I had heard about the program, and since they were looking for more helpers, I got involved.

Operation Santa is a program that some post offices throughout the United States participate in by gathering letters to Santa from needy families put into the mail addressed to "Santa, North Pole."  In the cities that have been participating for a number of years, some social service organizations and school teachers encourage needy families to send letters to the post office knowing there is a program in place.

The letters are then organized into piles based on the number of children, any identifying information like last names, addresses, etc. are blacked out with a marker and each letter is given a number.  There is a separate room in the post office set up with a Christmas tree and various decorations and all the letters are there to be read by individuals willing to take a letter and make a family's holiday wishes come true.      

The room in my post office just opened so I was there the day after Thanksgiving reading the most touching letters written by mothers, fathers, grandparents, older siblings, little children, etc.  Each letter told a story of the family's situation and holiday wishes.  

As a volunteer you simply have to show a photo identification and then document which letter numbers you took.  The first year I participated I took 7 letters and shopped for all the children.  My kitchen was lined with boxes and letters so I could match the items I purchased to each child's box and then bring them all to the post office.  

When bringing them to the post office I simply had to indicate the letter number on the outside and the post office would then look at the records and put the correct mailing address on the box.  The whole process is anonymous to the giver and the receiver.  It is a true Secret Santa program.    

This year I read though all the many letters and selected two for a total of four children.  The first letter writes about Daryl and Orlando ages 8 and 4, respectively.  Their mother writes of her struggle to get by and provide for her boys.  This letter was also accompanied by a letter from their school principal about the family.  The second letter is from a woman named Tamiko writing about her 9 year old son and 8 year old daughter who both love to swim and to read.  

While there will be many letters that go with no response as the need is greater than the number of volunteers, I am pleased to be able to make a difference for these four children.  I will blog again when I have there boxes put together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Crafting Craziness

Lately I have been on a crafting kick!  I go through these phases sometimes when I am desperate for a change and something new to focus my energy on.  You must know the feeling of just wanting to have something to show for your time.  It is so easy to get home at the end of the day and just sit in front of the television until suddenly three hours have passed.

Photography has been a hobby for a while now but within the past couple weeks I have moved on to cross stitch.  Visits to the fabric and craft store, watching YouTube instruction videos, stitching and then ripping out and then stitching again.  It is amazing how learning something new is relaxing in a way and turns the evening into a time when something can be accomplished.

I was talking with a co-worker about my latest adventures this week and he mentioned he has recently gotten into woodworking.  During our conversation he mentioned that doing projects such as arts and crafts can train your brain to be better at problem solving and has other benefits.

More to come on my crafting projects but for now a small present of playing cards.  Since playing solitaire, poker, or even go fish can be fun for you and your brain!

Good Things Are To Come

As I have written about before, I am a believer in positive thoughts and the other day I was trying to stay positive on a difficult day.  I happened to walk by an art store and spotted this magnet in the window....

It seemed meant just for me to see.  I walked into the store and picked up three....one for me and two for others.  Three seemed an appropriate number as I recently visited author Henry David Thoreau's home at Walden Pond and was struck by a quote.  He lived in an extremely small home with a bed, desk, and three chairs...."one for solitude, two for friendship and three for society."  

Place Card Holders

Several months ago someone gave me a set of six place card holders that are different glass animals.  There is an owl, hedgehog, peacock, etc.  While I am not one to have dinner parties, I did love the set and use them to hold photos on my bedside table, notes on my desk and even recipe cards when I am in the kitchen.

   

This week while shopping I saw a few pumpkin place card holders that fit the season and caught my eye.  Hoping the finders enjoy them and find a way to put them to use holding something special.