Thank You.
December 5, 2009
I cannot thank you all enough for everything you have done for a family you don’t even know. Locals showed up at my door with gift cards, people as far away as Switzerland and Germany donated money via Paypal, there are promises of packages coming to my mailing address in the coming weeks.
There are no words to explain how beautiful the spirit of this has been. I talked to Mom yesterday and did not tell her about the money just yet (it won’t get here until Tuesday or Wednesday). She was so grateful for the gift cards and cried three times on the phone with me. I expressed my concern for her safety and she told me she can’t think about that right now. It’s all I can think about.
Her biggest concern is her kids. Making sure they eat, making sure they are taken care of physically and emotionally. It’s been a difficult week for her, as you can imagine, and her kids are upset and taking it out on her. But because of her friends rallying around her, and her father getting her a freezer, she has food. She has a home. The electric company (which is local and run by locals) even gave her a bit of grace on paying the deposit.
Her school council paid for the boys’ field trips, totaling $60. Teachers opened their wallets to put food in the kid’s lunches. Her church has adopted her and the boys as their “Santa Family.”
I can’t help but think ahead to January and hope she will be okay beyond Christmas. It’s the realist in me.
I will continue to take donations for them, both Paypal and snail mail in the hopes we can get her standing on her own two feet. We raised over $1100 so far, and I hope it will keep trickling in for her, even if it’s in $5 increments. Every dollar helps. Every dollar could be toward a meal for those 4 little boys. $5 could put fruit and sandwiches in their lunches, or be a roast chicken for dinner. $10 could be the difference between mittens or bare hands. $20 could pay part of a bill.
I cried many times the other day when the donations were rolling in at breakneck speed. The way you all opened your hearts, spread the word across your Twitter streams or your blogs, the way you gave selflessly; it all touched me so very deeply. You guys are wonderful, beautiful human beings and I’m proud to know you, even if I didn’t before. Thank you. From my heart to yours, thank you, so very much.
December 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
And Thank You, Karen, for all you have done to organize this.
Ren´s last blog ..Christmas Lights
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December 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Karen, you are such a lovely person for doing this, fair play to you woman. My heart breaks for your friend going through this at Christmas is very difficult.
There is not a lot of spare cash at the moment so I just donated $10 which sounds much better than the 6.40 euro it really is.
Best wishes.
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December 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
People are amazing, and they really are willing to share what they have. Thanks for having the courage to ASK.
Rachael´s last blog ..Mushroompalooza
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December 6th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Oh, this made me cry. People really are so amazing. YOU are amazing for doing this for that family–what a kind and generous heart you have.
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December 7th, 2009 at 9:57 am
amazing. (donated the other day)
question though, and i am wondering if it is canada-ese or what–what do you mean “she didn’t have a freezer?” are you talking she rented a place to live and there were no appliances? she rented a place to live and there is no refrigerator? i am confused b/c not having a freezer doesn’t seem like a necessity in life to me. i have lived without a freezer myself. it is much harder to live without a refrigerator. (i have done that too. oddly enough.)
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Karen Sugarpants Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@mouthy_broad, There is a fridge with a freezer on top but it’s small. With 4 growing boys, she really needed a freezer – especially since friends were storing some donated frozen food for her. (Frozen veggies, bread, some meat). Anyway, her dad ended up getting one from a friend.
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December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
iz late! giving moneees nao!
thank you for setting this all up for them.
i’m happy you’re on my team.
xo
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December 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I heard about this a bit late, but I figure they can still use any help they can get, right? Just sent along a little cash via PayPal. Once you give her the money let us know… if she needs anything specific, I bet we could wrangle up particular items. I don’t mind shipping! Keep us updated.
MommyGeekology´s last blog ..GTT – Ring, Fling and Swing
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