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 the last few years we have helped families that were strapped financially with Christmas for their children. This will be our 5th year of assisting families so they can enjoy the holidays and have presents under the tree for their kids.
We have had FANTASTIC turnouts over the last few years! The spirit of Christmas was certainly in the air on Lymenet. We had many, many secret Santas 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, 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; otherwise, I may not open the mail. 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/teen. 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/teenagers first name, age, male or female, favorite color, hobbies, interests, and clothes sizes (ex. Sm. Med. Lg. XL or sz. 8/10/12/14 depending on top/shirt/pant size). 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/teen. 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 Santas 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 Santas that shop for your child. The return address will be on the packages you receive. A small note of thanks to our Secret Santas 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 8th. 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 Secret Santas -
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.
IDEAS FOR THE SHOE BOX - dependent upon age of child/teen 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, CD's, 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/teenager.
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, CD, 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.
Secret Santas you can go ahead and e-mail me. Let me know if you prefer to fill a shoe- box or buy a larger item. REMEMBER - Don't wrap your gifts. Make sure to put your return address on the boxes.
When I have a parent with a child/teen request, I will contact you and give you a child/teen to buy for. After you shop and have sent the package, ***** Please let me know it was shipped, so I can mark the child/teen 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
[ 11. November 2006, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Julie2763 ]
Posts: 494 | From Michigan, USA | Registered: Jul 2002
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bg2711
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1865
posted
TO THE TOP --- HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Posts: 1131 | From Ohio | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
Wow, I can hardly keep up with everything!! It's wonderful how many Santa's are willing to help. These kids deserve a great Christmas!!! We have matched 21 kids with Santa's so far!!
Ho Ho Ho Green Santa
Posts: 494 | From Michigan, USA | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Thanks to all the Green Santa's and to the wonderful elves!!
Ho HO HO
Posts: 494 | From Michigan, USA | Registered: Jul 2002
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Cobweb
Unregistered
posted
A Shout out to my GREEN SANTA.
I got home yesterday from the Rally-after an eventful bus ride and long drive home-my eyeballs felt like they were going to fall out.
I should have stopped to use a restroom-but I kept thinking if I just sit here,loosen my seatbelt, put the pedal to the metal, I can make it home.
I pulled up in front of my house, made sure I had the right key in hand to unlock the door and made a desperate dash to the porch, trying to remember which muscles the urologist told me to squeeze if experiencing "door key incontinence"(not kidding -it's a real medical term-in case anyone can relate)
But then I tripped over a package left by FedEx behind the screen door which caused me to forget which muscle group I was concentrating on. I scooped up the box and ran to the bathroom with it. It was a package from my GREEN SANTA.
Love, Kindness, Thoughtfulness-how quickly despair can turn to hope .
Moral of the story-even though you have to change your clothes from time to time, getting a package from your Green Santa will change your heart.
stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
i guess you found it c/c/w cee ;chief executive elf dave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
quote:Originally posted by Cobweb:
Love, Kindness, Thoughtfulness-how quickly despair can turn to hope .
Moral of the story-even though you have to change your clothes from time to time, getting a package from your Green Santa will change your heart.
From all of us to all of you!
Carol, you made me cry.
I wish I could have been a Green Santa but I can't even get anything for anyone (or do the shopping) and there are no holidays here.
It makes me really happy to hear how it was able to brighten up a crappy time. I feel liike I'm sharing in it somehow. Thanks
I hope you and the kids got cool stuff.
Now do that laundry.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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Cobweb
Unregistered
posted
"It makes me really happy to hear how it was able to brighten up a crappy time." Trueblue
No pun intended-right?
As for the laundry- I peeled it off and threw it into the bathtub-where I forgot about it. Ha! Until I saw it again today, but I can only deal with so much reality at a time-so I left it there.
Maybe it will get washed next time I take a shower.
Hey- Cave was offering a course on how to be a Troll. I could offer a course on how to hijack a thread.
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
quote:Originally posted by Cobweb: No pun intended-right?
As for the laundry-
I can only deal with so much reality at a time-so I left it there.
I could offer a course on how to hijack a thread.
Me pun, never. Right, reality... I should probably get the clothes out of the dryer.
(I could probably assist you in teaching that course. I think it's good when we find something we excel at, don't you?)
... now back to our regularly scheduled program...
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
This is my first time here but I have been reading some of your posting and I see all the support we can get from others suffering from LD. Thank You to All.
Posts: 8 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Dec 2006
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