Yes, Virginia, A Happy New Year Indeed

I have loved receiving the photos and stories of the children for whom our Yes, Virginia fund made Christmas magic.  It has been like getting a present in my inbox everyday.  :O)

This morning I woke to find the best New Year's morning gift waiting via email - another set of photos, another set of smiles, another heartwarming story of our efforts brought to life.

This email is from Jackie in GA.  Her one wish for her grandson was for what every 12 year old boy wants (OK, ok - 12 year old girls love them, too - Carson is 12 and hers has morphed into a permanent attachment to her hands) - a Nintendo DS.

Our fund managed to provide this ONE special gift for her grandson - a grandson who understands the dire financial straits in which his family currently exists, but who still has hopes, dreams, wishes like any other boy.

I had fielded some concern from a few folks about using the fund for pricier items like this DS, Ashley's iPod, etc.  I explained that in terms of distributing this fund, these children received ONE special item, as opposed to other children who received four, sometimes five wish list gifts.  It all balances out.  A five year old child's world is about far different items and interests than a 12 or 16 year old's. 

Again, I promise I was a good steward of both your trust and your donations, carefully weighing everything before spending a dime.  Those dimes were stretched far - providing smiles, hams for Christmas dinners and leftovers, a twinkle in the eyes of so many kids who were able to hold onto their belief in Santa, and an overwhelming shot-in-the-arm of hope and reassurance for their parents.  You all dun good.  :O)

(I had mentioned that our fund still had just shy of $200 left in it - I misspoke.  I checked when I got back from Seattle and we actually have $298.17 to build on!  Our total, after all those little Paypal fees were deducted was $2264.98.  As the year moves on, I'll remind everyone from time to time about the link so if you feel like foregoing a Starbuck's one day and tossing in $3 instead, we can slowly build the fund up even higher!)

Now, I'll let Jackie in GA take it from here... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda,

At our house, Santa usually leaves all the goods out, unwrapped, in front of the tree.  Thanks to our wonderful DGMS family, there was an out of the ordinary, wrapped package this year.  Eric was thrilled with the Game Cube he could see sitting out although we are all pretty sure he knew it was Randy's hand-me-down with a couple of his recycled games.  Because of the gift from you folks, we were able to use what little we had to pick up a couple more used games at Gamestop.  Thank goodness for good old, cheap Gamestop (especially cheap on older game systems).  We hit the clearance aisle at Walmart where we were able to secure a University of Georgia football for next to nothing and raided the dollar store for stocking stuffers.  

After learning of what you folks had made possible, my son (some of you know him, Randy in GA) went out to do what little shopping he was planning to do.  When he got home, he told me that the money he had set aside to buy a gift for me he had used to get Eric another game for the DS and hoped I wouldn't be hurt.  That in itself was the greatest gift he could have given me.

We were all poised on the edge of our seats as Eric opened the surprise gift.  We had wrapped that package in about three different boxes each one larger than the last and watched as the anticipation just kept growing.  He finally got to the last one, and as is typical of kids his age (he's 12), we immediately heard "OMG - it's a DS with Guitar Hero."  That was followed by "How'd ya'll  - I mean Santa - do that?"  We had known he had his hopes pinned on getting Guitar Hero, but he was also very aware of the bind we were in and wasn't expecting it at all. 

Eric has had the DS almost permanently affixed to his hand since he opened it.  On Monday, he had put it down long enough to try out a friend's new bike and immediately took a tumble from the bike while doing wheelies.  He is now sporting stitches under his chin and a splint on a badly sprained finger.  After getting home from the emergency room, he grabbed the DS and proudly announced "I can still play with my hurt finger."

My daughter and I will never be able to express what a blessing you folks were to us in fulfilling this Christmas wish especially since this is the last year Christmas will be entirely focused on just Eric.  His sister is due to deliver a baby boy in February, and we all know what a baby can do for and to a Christmas celebration. 

Now just shut it up because yes, I am about to become a 54 year old GREAT-grandmother.  Can I say my own "OMG" now and slink off to my favorite spot on the couch of confusion?  Somebody please pass the chat room tequila! 

I want to thank each and every one of you for your love, your caring and your generosity for not only my family but for our entire DGMS family.  It makes me so proud to count you all as very special friends. 

With much love, gratitude, appreciation and wishes for a more prosperous New Year for us all.

Jackie

  

  

 

 

Comments

[Lori in Texas]

I would just like to say that, as one of the people who donated, I have absolutely NO problem with the way that ANY of the money was spent. Granted, I'm sure I was not able to donate as much as many other people did, but it has never crossed my mind to question how the funds were spent. From what I've seen so far, every penny was spent perfectly.

Thank you again, Linda, for doing this. Your life has a ripple-effect that has reached so very far and touched so many others. We are all blessed to be a small part of who you are and what you do.

[Chris K]

Thank you a million times Linda for what you do, you really are an angel!!!

[Another Lori in TX]

Our policy has always been that we spend a certain amount of money per kid, but they may all have different numbers of presents. With a 17, 13, and 10 year old, the things they want have different price tags.

You did GREAT, Linda!
Thanks

[Shawn in Lakewood CA]

I for one was happy to contribute what I could and did not even wonder about how the funds would be spent. I trust Linda more than many people I know IRL and knew she would be sure to spend wisely.

I am so happy that Ashley got her iPod, and Eric got his DS. And the rest of the children who had christmas dreams fulfilled as well as some hope / faith.

This blogmunity ROCKS!

[Ame in upstate NY]

I did not donate wondering who would get what - I donated so someone would get something they normally wouldn't be able to. I think Linda did an amazing job both collecting and distributing, and I am proud and happy to have been able to be a part of it. And I will donate monthly all thru this year to make sure it can happen again! You rock, Linda!!