- Re:Christmas Cheer for kids needed - Wolfeboro Community Forums

My wife and I have for many years supported the State Employee Union Operation Santa Claus. YOu get the kid's list, you pick and wrap the presents (you get both clothes list and toy list and have to have at least one item from each list) and deliver to the nearest Welfare Office. Every child gets two packages so siblings don't see a difference between donors but no limit on what you can stuff into the two packages. At times we have received lists where all the child wants is warm clothes! We take the packages to Laconia now that we are living here. Every dime you spend goes to the child, gets my vote as a cost effective charity!

Well this year in today's Concord Monitor I see they still have 450 families without a sponsor to buy for the kids. We are doing two sisters this year, 7 and 9. Here is the article:

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire state workers are asking the public to help give Christmas gifts to 3,000 needy children.

The State Employees' Association has run Operation Santa Claus since 1960 to ensure the children have packages to open. State social service workers say without outside help, the children face a Christmas without gifts. Many need new winter clothing, not just toys.

The SEA is appealing to the public for help because 450 families still lack sponsors. If you would like to help, call 603-225-3825 which is the Operation Santa Claus Headquarters.

The deadline for collecting gifts is Dec. 1.

Thanks for mentioning that OC. I had heard about it last year so I signed up this year. I have two young brothers, and I am thrilled to be able to give them a gift. I don't have a lot of extra money; my budget is tight, but the pleasure I'm getting from this is amazing. I talked it over with my grandson and explained what I wanted to do and he was all for it. He said he would forego Christmas stuff for himself to help. What a proud moment!!! You don't have to spend a fortune, so how bout it folks. Sign up. You'll feel so good when you do. There's nothing like giving to give you a really big high.

Way to go, Liquidsilver, the earlier we teach kids about compassion the better. The pendulum is swinging back for the "ME" generation. Amd yes, the SEU Operaton Santa does bring you a lot of joy! You always wonder what reaction the kids have when they open those packages on Christmas Day.

When my wife and I worked for a charity that gave sick kids crib quilts, we learned of a private elementary school in the Boston area where parents chip in to a kitty, the kids learn about all sorts of charitys and then can vote to decide who gets part of the kitty. The charity we worked for happened to be one that shared the kitty one year. And the little people in the school made us a "quilt" out of notebook paper squares, each on drawn or colored by a person, and then put together into a wall hanging with paper clips. Really Super! And when we used to do the quilt-a-thons at the Gunstock Craft Fair week, the grandkids would help, knowing they were doing so for the sick kids.

As to our family, this is the last year we'll give presents to other than children. Next year we'll make donations to the NH Food Bank and to Salvation Army in people's names and send them a notice. At our age, other than socks and underwear, what do you really need.