The Story Of Give A Christmas
September 2, 2002 we lost our son in a hiking accident. He left behind 2 babies. Both were helped at the Children's Hospital and Children's Miracle Network. I needed something to be able to cope.
This started out as a different project. I am a homemaker. So I went searching Nancy’s Notions website to find something I could do in my spare time.
I started writing to a few of the places and told them I had plenty of time to sew, but not much money to buy the material. I got a reply from one person. It happened to be Benjamin’s mother. Benjamin had cancer and stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while undergoing treatment. His mother made him a pillowcase so he would have something from home. Benjamin did not survive. His mother started making more pillowcases to donate to Ronald McDonald House.
This story touched me so deeply, I started doing the same thing. Every payday I would buy some material. Usually, between $10 & $20 and make pillowcases.
Then one day I got to thinking… (dangerous for me lol).
My kids never got Christmas stockings when they were young and had toys donated. (single mom low income). I bet those kids at Ronald McDonald House don’t get a Christmas Stocking. So started my project… Every payday I would go and buy some Christmas material. I made a pattern and went to work. Started out with about 10 and they went so fast I decided to keep going. Next thing I knew, I had about 50.
I called the nearby Ronald McDonald House to see if they could use them. They said yes. So, just before Thanksgiving, I delivered them. No 2 alike. I also gave them the pillowcases (about 25). I kept buying material and making stockings wondering where I was going to take them to.
Had an appointment for my yearly mammogram. Right across the street is the local Abused Children’s Center. Another bright idea hits. Maybe they could use them. So I went in and asked. Sure enough, they said yes. So I went home and kept making more stockings. A week before Christmas, I delivered about 75 stockings. No 2 alike.
I did get a few donations of material. I even sold 3 of them.
This year, my goal is 500 stockings. They will go to the Ronald McDonald House, The Children’s Center, and anyplace else I can think of where there are kids not home at Christmas time. All of the stockings were in their own ziplock baggie.
Donated in Geno’s memory in the names of his babies.
I am very proud to say the the website, design, and hosting is donated. We have several volunteers this year. And hope to add more.
Please check out the GIVE A CHRISTMAS website
http://www.giveachristmas.com
