Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Holidays for 2004
So I hope all of you have had a great year. For many of us it is a time to give thanks as we begin our Holiday Season. The weatherperson says we are in for a long and cold winter and it looks like it has already started, so once again I am here to remind you that not everyone has had a good year. Unfortunately, there are those that suffer greatly around us, both physically and mentally- the homeless.
Ten Years ago on a very cold day in San Francisco I was celebrating a wonderful Holiday Season when something very unexpected happened. I looked into the eyes of a very cold homeless person rubbing his hands together for warmth. That moment not only changed my life but it also changed a lot lives of others around me. I instinctively took my leather gloves off and handed them to him. He was so grateful that I said to myself, "I can do more of this" and I did. Warm Wishes at the end of 2004 will have handed out over 150,000 items to help keep the less fortunate warmer during the winter months. Having started with Gloves then Socks and Caps, we later incorporated Rain Ponchos and Scarves, all new and packaged in oversized Fannypacks or, as I call them, StreetPacks. In the last few years we also added something to warm their insides, a Holiday Card made by one of 5000 bay area children. For most of these street people, this will be their only holiday card.
Please copy and send this letter or email it to friends, relatives, clients, fellow workers, boss, holiday mailing list, and church members, or just put it up on your bulletin board at work. Warm Wishes is a heart- warming holiday project that makes everybody who gets involved feel good, and it also brings people together for a worthy cause.
Come one, come all and join in the fun! Experience the true meaning of giving this holiday season. This project is for anyone of any age, so bring your family, friends or just yourself. Warm Wishes needs volunteers to stuff fanny packs and/or distribute them one on one to homeless people.
Warm Wishes is a grassroots organization with very little administrative overhead. We have never payed an employee. It is our intent to keep these costs at an absolute minimum so that each donation can provide the maximum benefit to those it was intended for. If you are able to support someone less fortunate this holiday season, we could use some immediate contributions. If times are financially tough and you can't send a contribution, maybe you can actively participate or just say a prayer for the less fortunate. |
