Well, it’s that time again. Christmas is right around the corner and we are starting Operation Green Santa again this year.
For those newbies on the board, I will explain what Operation Green Santa is. We know that families with Lyme have a difficult time trying to meet all their medical expenses, work, and take care of their sick ones. Christmas is the time for giving, helping, sharing, caring and opening up our hearts and our wallets to others in need.
For many years' past, we have helped our LymeNet families that were strapped financially with Christmas for their children. This will be our 12th year of assisting LymeNet families so they can enjoy the holidays and have presents under the tree for their kids.
We have had FANTASTIC turnouts over the past years! The spirit of Christmas was certainly in the air on Lymenet. We had many, many Green Santa's behind the scenes shopping and shipping those special items to the families in need of some extra help.
Here is how this program works - For those who have fallen on hard times because of this disease, and who are part of the LymeNet family, please don’t feel bashful or awkward asking for our help. That’s why we developed this project. We are here to help each other!
FAMILIES NEEDING HELP
For families in need, here is the information I need from you when you e-mail me. First, in the subject header let me know it has something to do with Operation Green Santa. Please include your LymeNet screen name. My e-mail address is: [email protected].
The information you give me is confidential and will only be shared with the Santa that is helping to shop for your child/children. I know it is scary giving this information out to me, but, so far we have not had any problems and I will do my best to ensure we don’t have any problems in the future.
1. I need the parents’ first and last name and shipping address.
2. I need the child/children’s first name, age, male or female, favorite color, hobbies, interests, and clothing sizes. The more information you give me regarding your child, the better we can shop. If your child has a special request of a particular item, we will try to fill it.
3. We will NOT wrap the gifts, so, parents can look the items over and make sure they are appropriate for their child/children. Parents will be responsible for wrapping the gifts. The packages will come in the parents’ name to the shipping address they provided to me.
4. If I should e-mail you needing more information, please get back to me as soon as possible, as our Santa's usually can’t wait to get started shopping. We had a lot of shop-a-holics last year!!! (GRIN)
5. The only thing we ask from you is PLEASE send a thank-you card to the Santa's that shop for your child. Unless your Green Santa wants to remain anonymous, the return address will be on the packages you receive. A small note of thanks to our Green Santa's gives them that warm and fuzzy feeling, and helps to keep this volunteer project running.
6. You don’t ever need to tell your children that you didn’t buy the gifts. They will never know unless you chose to tell them.
7. THE CUT OFF DATE FOR REQUESTING OUR HELP IS DECEMBER 10th. That way we have time to complete all needs and have time to ship before the holidays.
TO THE SECRECT SANTAS
Those of you that helped last year or prior years, I thank you again for all of your assistance and help. You guys made this project the success it has become!!!
Okay, here is what I need from the Green Santa's -
Each year we give each child one large to medium size gift as well as a shoe-box filled with goodies. Remember to put something in the subject heading, so I know it has to do with Operation Green Santa/Christmas. Please include your email address and screen name so we have two different ways to contact you.
IDEAS FOR THE SHOE BOX – dependent upon age of child/children of course. Hair accessories, jewelry, Barbie dolls, trucks/cars/ candy, gum, hair brushes, make-up, small books, watches, nail polish, bath-n-body sample bottles, stickers, small bottles of cologne, trading cards, gift certificates etc. I think you get the idea. Put as many things as you can in your shoe- box. Make sure the items are appropriate for the age of the child/children.
MEDIUM TO LARGE GIFT – This gift should be between $15.00 - $25.00 item. Ideas may be given by parent as well as size, hobbies, interests etc. This item could be clothing, stuffed animal, books, gift certificates, etc. Over the years, we have been able to give several medium to large items to the kids because of the overwhelming response of our generous Santas. Hopefully this year we will be able to do the same.
Green Santa's you can go ahead and e-mail me. Let me know if you prefer to fill a shoe-box, a medium/large present, or both and if you would like 1 child or more. REMEMBER – Don’t wrap your gifts. Make sure to put your return address on the boxes, unless you would like to remain anonymous.
When I have a parent with a child/children request, I will contact you and give you a child/children to buy for. After you shop and have sent the package, please let me know it was shipped, so I can mark the child/children off my list and know they have been taken care of.
Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas!! Remember, we are spreading Holiday Cheer!!
From the Green Santa
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so happy you are able to do this again for us, Julie!!
Thanks so much!
Julie... How many kids were helped last year? It's so amazing that this is our 12th year!! Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
We helped 29 children last year and a few adults! I am excited to get started - gets me in the Holiday spirit!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
That's really great!
Posted by KarlaL (Member # 29631) on :
I'd like to apply for my 16 year-old daughter, but when we went through the whole process 2 years ago no one responded to our application. So I ended up regretting telling my daughter about the Green Santa program in the first place.
KarlaL
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Hello Karla,
I looked up my records two years ago to see if I had your information. We did have email correspondences and I can send you copies of those if you want. The reason you were denied help in 2010 is because you had signed up as a Lymenet member the day you asked for help. I have to be careful about these situations. I did offer you suggestions on local help for your daughter.
If you would like your daughter to be added to the Green Santa program this year - it will not be a problem since you are now considered an active Lymenet member.
I normally would of just sent a private message but I can't have others thinking that people asking for help are ignored......I really try my best to be fair and answer every single email and pm that I receive.
Please send me your information and I will add her to the list!
Julie
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Just to clarify for other members that might be unfamiliar with the program. If you have children that need help for Christmas, all you have to do is email ([email protected]) or pm me with your screen name and information about your child. If you are an active Lymenet Member, that is the whole process!
And if you would like to help a child or children, all you have to do is email or pm me and let me know if you would like to help 1 child or more and if you would like to purchase the medium/large present, the shoebox, or both!
Thanks to everyone that has made this program possible!
Ho Ho HO Julie
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
Do you have record of how many children you helped each year that Green Santa is in operation?
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
We average about 30 children per year!
Lots of happy faces on Christmas morning thanks to the Green Santa's on Lymenet!!!
Julie
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
And thanks to you for coordinating this effort!
Posted by sk8ter (Member # 8671) on :
sign me up pleaseeeee!!!!!!
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Will do sk8ter - I will send you a pm Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sign me up to help! Give me something easy because I'll be in the middle of moving!
Posted by Jessig627 (Member # 36240) on :
Hi! Please sign me up to help too! :-)
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Thank you everyone! Sending out more pm's!
Julie
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Don't forget, if you want to be involved with this wonderful program, email me at [email protected] or send me a pm!!!
Ho HO HO
Julie
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
My children were incredibly blessed by this program last year (and years before.) Julie, what you are doing is amazing.
In earlier years, I was a Green Santa; then had to become a recipient. This is an amazing program, and all of the Green Santas are absolute angels.
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Ho Ho Ho - back to the top we go!!!
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Hello all - we still need more Green Santa's.
Julie
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Back to the top!
Ho Ho HO
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
It's still not too late to sign up!
Julie
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I hope you get more Green Santas!!!
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Thank you! Yes, me too - we are short about 7 Green Santa's - hopefully more will come soon. I plan on matching up children with Green Santa's tonight or tomorrow morning.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I can do a bit more if needed, Julie. One day we're moving the next day we're not. I think we finally settled on NOT!! Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Thank you! This year is going to be a challenge with the match-ups! Hopefully we will get a few more Green Santa's to step forward soon.
Ho HO HO
Julie
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I hope you get more Santa Helpers!
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
sk8ter - your mailbox is FULL! I am trying to match up Green Santa's
Julie
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
I need Green Santa's for shoeboxes! Right now I have 3 children that don't have anyone to buy them stocking stuffers Even if you can take 1 child - that would be a great help. 2 are from one family and 1 is from another. Let's make this happen!!!! Email me at [email protected].
Ho HO HO
Julie
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Up.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Julie, where are you now? Everyone covered yet?
Pam
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Hi Pam - I just have one little boy right now that needs a shoebox. I actually have a Green Santa that could probably take this one, but her mailbox is full and I am not able to contact her.
Julie
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Anybody have Sk8ter's email address??
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Hi Julie,
I can fill a shoebox for this boy.
I'm PM ing you.
Greta
Posted by Julie2763 (Member # 2841) on :
Thanks Greta - pm sent! Thanks Lymetoo for your help
Sk8ter - if you are out there, don't worry - we have 5 more days for sign-ups so I am sure we will get more children.
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Even if you can take 1 child - that would be a great help. 2 are from one family and 1 is from another. Let's make this happen!!!! Email me at [email protected].