Believe

Periodically, I stop by Kmart. They often have cute, cheap clothes. Who knew, right? Yesterday I walked in and in the entrance is a giving tree for the Salvation Army. I have read a lot of controversy about SA and their homophobic ways, so I have been avoiding the bell ringers a little more than usual, even though I know all the good they also do. But it was hard to miss this tree.



The gifts for children were supposed to be picked up no later than Dec. 14th. Yet, there were easily 30+ names left on the tree. It broke my heart. All these children are going to get nothing for Christmas. I stood at the tree reading all the things the children wanted and needed. I called my Mom and told her of all the children left on the tree. And as I talked her into joining my crusade, people overheard me as walking by and soon there were 5 or so people looking at the tree with me. They all pulled off a child from the tree, which was awesome. I pulled off 6. I picked 3 boys, ages 6 months, 2 years and 11 years and 3 girls, ages 8 months, 5 years and 13 years. Only $42 later, they all got what the needed from their tags.


Unfortunately, they were no longer collecting at Kmart. So I went to the Salvation Army, which was closed for the weekend. My parents will take the gifts there tomorrow and I can only hope that they make it to these children before Christmas.


I did what I could. I wish I could have grabbed every child off that tree. I hope I made some sort of difference. I just need to believe I did.

Comments

Anonymous said…
You did make a difference, just by the thank yous and God bless I received from the ladies working at the Salvation Army, when I dropped them off. MDoc
12/21/2011 6:03 AM
jdoc said…
This is fantastic! Good for you sweet sister.
12/21/2011 10:20 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder"

I was always a bit skeptic of this phrase. How can being away from a person make you fonder? With time, you will slowly start to forget the sound of their laughter and the scent of their hair. You will forget the way they dance and the way they like their toast. Sure, when you see them again, when they laugh or dance, all those things come rushing back. Being away may make you yearn for them, but you no longer know them as well as you used to. At least that is what I used to think. I should have know this phrase was true since whenever I would see my sisters again, it was like no time had passed. I don't know what it was that made me realize all that I took for granted, maybe it is being away from home for so long or my travel mishaps or my friend's car accident or maybe just that I am getting older, something made me see how I took everything for granted in my life before I came here. It was so easy, I could go up the stairs or across the hall or get in my car and spend a day
Read more

Target

I called my Mom to tell her that the parents are back and that I am responsibility-free in the evenings and weekends again. She didn't answer, but returned my phone call soon after. I told her my news, and she shared with me that she was about to head into the new Target. We are a family of Target-lovers, what's not to love? As she walked in, she said "it's huge." I tried talking to her, but could tell that she was distracted. She started to ask me something, "Did you... you should see the card section, it is like the one in Grand Forks." I, again, tried to change the subject back to what I was talking about. I finally let her go because she needed to finish shopping in there before returning home to watch Lost, throwing in "it has a Starbucks" before we said our goodbyes. A few minutes later my phone rings. It is my Mom again, she called to say "You should see all the food they have. They have a lot of organic food, organic oatmeal and or
Read more

What do I do?

All week I have made some attempt to tell the parents I am leaving. It started on Tuesday, all night I tried to tell them, but everytime I was about to bring it up, one of the parents would leave the room or the baby got hurt, etc. Wednesday, I made plans to go to the neighbors when the parents got home, but I made an attempt to tell them anyway, but S was glued to my side. I kept trying to distract her with food and television, but no go. I could have just said "I need to talk to you parents, go away", but I know her well enough to know that would have only peaked her interest and she would never go away. Last night, I was SO ready to tell them. The father asked me to watch the girls for 15 minutes while he weed-whacked the yard. I said sure, thinking the mother should be home any minute and then I could tell her when he is outside (I decided that if I can't tell them both at the same time, I will tell the mother alone). I waited and waited and waited. Not only was it 8
Read more