Greetings from Elf Central. I have been going hard at the keyboard working the wish lists, want lists, and desperately needs lists. That last one never fails to break my heart and uplift it at the same time.
The heartbreak comes from being allowed into the worsts of these families' lives. The struggles, the fears, the pain, the turmoil, and the uncertainty. Reading their stories is a constant reminder that life is just hard. It just is. And that life does not care how good a person you are, how much you love your children, or how hard you work - bad things happen to good people all the time.
But the uplift also comes in their stories. The determination to stay positive. The resiliency through one setback after another. The focus on protecting their children, providing for them. The desire not for miracles, but just a little breathing room, a respite if even for a moment. The uplift also comes because I am able to tell them that YES, we can help. That there is an incredible collection of hearts who want only to reach out, no strings, just love.
In the past couple days we have welcomed two more families into our sleigh. Five more children. I want to share some excerpts from the emails so you see how much this effort means, even if you will never meet these people. Your "touch" through the ether is real and felt.
(This is from a mom we have helped in the past. I am removing some of the more personal details to protect their privacy. As she begins she is talking about wishing last year was the last year...)
It is beyond frustrating, and I have seen it up close, that the systems that are supposed to be in place to help are so often constructed as bureaucratic mazes and full of so many roadblocks that people just give up. But it is inspiring to me how these parents are leading by example for their children who now just want to help others. And again, the desire to join our ranks as an elf herself one day. For the record, that does happen a lot. Those we have helped in the past do not forget. They become part of this amazing family of ours and begin helping when they can.
We will be providing a gift card for groceries. And working on Christmas magic for the kids.
And today a single mom was sent our way by a DGMSer. She works two jobs to keep a roof over her son's head. She has shared a photo with me. Along with her own challenges with autism and disability, he is non verbal and severely autistic - and he is also just about the most beautiful, glowing child I have seen. The love in which he is wrapped can be felt through the photo, through the emails I am exchanging with his mom. What she asks for him are comfort items, not toys. For herself? Warm socks and pajamas. And just the opportunity to take a breath. We will provide all that and more. (Note: To start I did send an e-giftcard to her choice of grocery store while I have been writing this. She just wrote to say she had received it and cannot believe it, as "After tomorrow we have no food so I will go out grocery shopping tomorrow!" If you ever wondered about the power of this group, here it is.)
Their stories are real and play out every single day in so many households across the land. That some find their way to our shelter, to our community, to our sleigh - well, I personally believe we end up getting so much more than we give. Your donations are the power behind this sleigh. If you can help in the push, please use the methods below.
We have a little less than a month to go. Just think about the magic we can still make.
Love you all,
Linda
Paypal - [email protected]
Venmo - @Linda-Sharp-29
Zelle - [email protected]
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