Please bear with me as I am a bit long winded at times....

As many of you know my wife and I bought out the company I had worked with for 17 years. It was going down and we seized the moment...albiet right smack dab in the middle of a recession. To date, we have had some measurable success. We may not be around 6 months from now but we are still here today 1 year and 8 months later with 5 fewer people in the unemployment line.

We feel that we have been blessed and have sought out a local charity that we could help sustain throughout the year, outside of a religious organization, both personally and from the business.

It didn't take long for us to discover a local "Needy Children's Fund". Now, understand, we have been in our town for 25 years and knew it existed but, could never find anyone around their building so we didn't think much of it over the years. Plus, 25 years ago our population was only 8,300 or so. Today, it is closer to 55,000. Kinda sneaks up on you.

Anyway, as we were looking for a charity to support we were re-introduced to the needs of the kids right here in my own home town. It is amazing what some are dealing with. Most folks in this upper middle income community never explore the community out side their very own, very nice sub-divisions. Most don't know that we have needy children...beyond the annual local "toy" drive. Don't get me wrong, the toy drives are good and it brings HUGE smiles to many faces that might have otherwise received little or nothing.

But, if these children need help at Christmas, they need help in January, Feburary...and the rest of the year. It is our hope that our success can persevere and help them all year long.

So my point is...this holiday season you only need look at your own kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews to see the future. Then seek out those that have little or nothing to encourage their own future. Our slightly inconvenient good graces today could pay unimagined dividends to the future. Help pay their way forward. Find a child...and help them.

Here are two of my three grandkids (if the pics attach) . All kids should have these smiles and the hope in their eyes that my grandkids do. Bring joy to a child that you may never know. You may never receive a greater gift than that.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, safe travels, and a prosperous New Year.

 

Great post Keith...we must share with those less fortunate than us. I support a local organization called "Warm The Children" that buys complete winter outfits for those youngsters referred by local social organizations...schools...etc. I have a poker tournament at my place each New Years Eve...$50 buy in...all proceeds go to the "Warm the Children fund. Just my...our...way of giving back to the community.


REPS sent!!!

 

I've never actually chosen a child in particular but I give pretty generously to the local food bank through payroll deduction. Hopefully my contributions touch many lives less fortunate than mine.

 

Great looking G-kids there! My Son in Law is unemployed again so I am doing my part to make sure they have a good Christmas.

 

great thread, awesome thoughts. Our shelters here see a lot more entire families the last 2 years, more so now. Give what we can even if it hurts a little.

I only wish we could dress like that in mid December!

 

Good on you Scott. I've always told my daughter and SIL that I can't afford two homes but they are welcome to stay with us if the need ever arises.