Secret Santa's

[monster]

I know it's kind of early but I thought I would go ahead and bring it up.

I'm not sure if you guys are interested in doing it again this year but I thought I better let everyone know that there is no way I can be responsible for it this time around. Although my class load is less this semester it is actually more work not only in volume but also brains which I seem to be lacking at the moment.

This gets to be a very time consuming project with organizing who is doing what and who needs what, answering all the email, etc. It's fun though and does wonders for the heart as well as those we are helping,.

I can contribute only a little this year, funds are going downhill at the moment...I guess I will have to be scrooge this year, LOL!

I probably won't be back on here for a day or two, if you need to get hold of me please PM me I think it shows up in my inbox on my email so I will know to come and check...

If you guys decide to do this again, keep in mind that there are days you may not feel up to dealing with the volume of email. Please take your health into consideration before volunteering to take this on, I don't want anyone to hurt any worse than they already do

Luv you guys,
monster

BTW - I wasn't real organized last year. Maybe if guidelines are set up, a limit placed to how much each person can be helped etc. it might go a little smoother this time around and more can be helped. We did manage to keep it pretty evenly distributed last tear but I'm sure it could have been even better. Thanks for listening to me ramble

[red1030]

Monster can you explain this to me more, I may be able to help. I am not sure. What ever it is that you did last year, I would love to do it, but I need to know more and I need to have a back up to work with me, because I never know when I will end up in a hospital or something and not be around. This has happened overnight before and I didn't get out for almost 6 months...so I always am cautious about volunteering because I don't want to fail on a committement. Also, I have a move coming up and I don't really know when it is going to happen. Tell me more about it so I can think about this...love Red

[Sithie]

You need a laptop for hospital time lol.

[Sithie]

We all try to put alittle back (those who can) and then it is given to the collector/distributer/Santa who last year was Monster. Then folks let her know what they needed, a bill paid to keep cable on, clothes for little ones, I was given money so I had something for my son for Xmas, which I have to tell you I will bless that person everyday for the rest of mine and his life. Anywho, that is the jest of it.

Sithie

[monster]

Red - We took donations via paypal, checks, toys. good used and new clothing for the IW's who are just barely eeking by. Mainly it was for the children but we also helped with utitliy bills as well. It involves alot of email and coordinating not only with those who can give but those who need a little help.

Everything was kept as confidential as possible. For the most part I had to email everyone individually so that email addresses weren't forwarded on to everyone else which got really time consuming.

It was mostly coordinated where the donations were sent directly to the people who needed it. Some sent gift cards, I believe i got a check or two and deposited them in my own account and then bought gift cards to mail. We took everyone at their word, no proof was necessary that they were down on their luck. Of course that can get a little iffy around Xmas time but we decided there was no way around it for the most part.

When someone emailed me with what they could donate I would coordinate as close as possible with a person in need. I would then (with permission) email that persons address to the donor and they would directly send their donation to the person who needed it.

You would be exactly what you love to do...coordinator of everything Christmas

Red, maybe it was because I was taking I think 5 classes at the time, but I got very stressed at several points during that time. You need to remember that stress increases pain levels and I sure don't want to increase anyone's pain level or put them in the hospital. I know you would be terrific at this but you really need to think about it before you jump in. I was also in the middle of finals at some point there so I am sure that didn't help. If it weren't for school I would be happy to do it again, but this time I really need every minute to do my assignments and study (bad, selfish monster, LOL!).

I hope this makes some sort of sense...need to get back to homework but ask the questions you need to know and I will be back in a little bit.

[monster]

Sithie, I am so happy we could help I have actually forgotten who did what which is bad on my part. There were so many on both sides. I still have the email folders with everyone's email to me...one day I will go back and read them but some were just so sad that all I did was cry...when I wasn't crying over everyone's misfortune I was crying over everyone else's thoughtfulness and giving attitude. I think I spent the better part of a month crying for one reason or another, LOL

I can't believe it was only last year we started this, it seems like it was years ago although this year has flown by....

[snowbear]

Monster...don't you EVER put yourself down!!!!! You did an awesome job!!!!!!! You also had a VERY heavy heart because of people's needs and all the b.s. that you dealt with too. I don't blame you for not being able to do it again. You have way too big of a heart and carried everyone's burdens!!!!! I'm glad that you said you can't do it again this year...(cuz I would've emailed you to ask if you're "crazy" and then I would have to go to your house and kick your butt) after everything you went through last year. I'm not trying to scare people out of taking this on....but it took it's toll on you so I just want everyone to know that it's going to take someone special to fill your shoes Monster!!!!

[monster]

You're right my fuzzy friend, it did take a toll but that's not why I'm backing out this year. My grades fell last semester...doc appt's, WC hearings, pain kept getting in the way of my classes. I literally missed at least half of most of my classes. I just have to really concentrate this semester to bring them back up.

Snowbear is right though, it does take a toll...it will make you sad, frustrated and angrier than you have ever been with your own case at times...it will also make you laugh, smile and cry all at the same time as well, so there are up and down moments.

Thanks for the kind words my fuzzy friend I'm almost willing to take it on again just so you'd come see me...besides I haven't had a good butt kicking for awhile and think I would look forward to that one just so I could finally meet you!!!

BTW - I LOVE your new friend It's absolutely adorable and I hope one day he finally gets where he's going !!!

[red1030]

Monster I am still confused. You have people from this chat forum who send money for those in need and then you have people who let you know that they need help and you send money. How is this all recorded? Has anyone looked in to what it would take to make it a tax deduction for people contributing? And did anyone think about how to acquire money outside of this forum alone? There are a lot of organizations that give to this type of situation but i would have too find out how it applys and if it would to what we are doing.

Next question...you said that you would have the person giving the money give it directly to the person in need, is this correct. Was that how it was done all the time, because then you said that you put money into your own account...now I am confused again. Explain exactly how you recieved it, how it was determined who would receive what..etc. I am very organized and so is my life.....I even keep a time schedule every day of what I am going to do and when which includes my nap times...hehehe...so I guess I need somemore information...Red

[monster]

Red - Once it was suggested, I posted my email on the forum. People who needed contacted me and those who could give contacted me as well. I then tried to email all the givers with the list of what was needed. We did our best to match what we had with what was needed.

Because we tried to keep it anonymous, those who were home bound or who didn’t want to use paypal sent me a personal check. That way the person who was donating was kept anonymous.

In order to save money on shipping, everyone who donated physical items was given the address of the person they were helping. That way money was not wasted with a package being sent to me, only for me to have to pay for postage a second time. It was up to the person sending the package whether they wanted to remain anonymous or not.

I did think about how to acquire money outside the forum, but didn’t have time to pursue it. I’m not sure how people would feel about it coming from ‘outside’ of our family but I do know it would be helpful. As it was, it was like a big family helping each other out.

I believe we managed to help all but one person in need. She needed a way to get to her daughters for Christmas. I was working on a round trip bus ticket when she contacted me and let me know that her surgery or something had been scheduled for that time frame (can’t remember exactly what happened but it wa something along those lines).

We did what we could for those who asked…that’s all there was to it. There was no verification to make sure everyone needed what they said. If they needed it, we tried to help within reason.

Most money was handled through gift cards as far as I know, although with money that was received I directly paid a few bills on peoples accts after getting the info I needed from them in order to do it. (SSN's, etc.)

Some of the things that were needed if I remember right were flannel sheets, toys for the kids, etc…If someone had not seen the post about the Secret Santa’s and sounded really down and out I would contact the Santa’s and ask them “what do you think about asking so and so if they need a little help?” and we would go from there…

I really have to get back to my homework but will come back in a bit. It was the first year of doing this and I definitely didn’t have it down to a science. No one was turned away and I think it helped everyone on both sides of the fence

Back to homework for a bit