While this blog is generally focused on content and technology issues, I wanted to share a brief story from my day. While Congress fights over tax rates for the wealthy, this is a difficult year for many families.
Today I stopped at the main NY Post Office (33rd & 8th), headquarters to the USPS "Operation Santa Claus" program. I registered, then grabbed a stack of requests from children whose parents can't provide gifts this year. I'm not one to easily show my emotions, but I read letter after letter, with tears running down my face. If I could have, I'd have brought them all home. Here are a few letters that I chose.
Julianna, age 9, who lives with her mom, 2 sisters and a brother. Her mom works long hours to buy food and "Hannah Montana" clothing for her. Julianna is excited that they now live in an apartment, as they just got out of a shelter. Her request: "Santa, please give us clothes so my mommy will be happy."
I-Jae, age 8, who lives with her mom and her 4-year-old sister Irianna. She asks "Santa, this year my mother cannot buy us any gifts or clothes. Can you find it in your heart to help my mommy, since I lost my dad when I was 2 years old - he's with the angels"
11-year-old Carla asks just for a "pretty necklace or anything that an 11-year-old girl would like".
8-year-old Justin lives with his grandmother and his younger brother and sister. He's hoping for a transformer toy for himself, a Ben 10 toy for his brother and a baby barbie doll for his sister.
If you live in the NY area, I'd encourage you to stop by the main post office (33rd & 8th) and pick up a few letters. While it's gut-wrenching to read these, there's no better feeling in the world than knowing that you're brightening up Christmas for a kid who otherwise would have none. I can't imagine anything I could do this holiday that would make me feel better.
Here's the letter fromI-Jae in its entirety:
