Santa Bear's 2009 Homeless Children’s Party #19 Update*****

The-Bear · Last edited by The-Bear on Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:26 am; edited 4 times in total

To date we have collected $300.00 for the homeless children. I expect another $200 from the two raffles. Not a great amount for 103 kids but I thank everyone who has helped.

The Mission Just e-mailed me. Due to the economic situation in MI the children could reach in 100 range. Wow,

I don't even have a reaction to that number.....................

The Christmas season is here for 2009. I have again committed to help the homeless children at The Holland Rescue Mission. With the economic situation as it was this summer we did not collect any donations from the summer bash dinner so I'm a little behind this year. But on a better note we do have a few toys left over due to a major storm that hit the night of the party. I have been told by the Director of the Mission that the number of homeless children living in the mission over the holiday could surpass the number of 60 very easily.

This day is something I feel very strongly about. I will need to rely on new and old friends to make this year’s effort a success. I would sell my right arm to help these children. But have you ever seen a one armed Santa? I'm thinking it would freak the kids out.

As you can imagine, being a small child in the Mission facility (think of a pleasant cross between a hospital and a college dormitory) surrounded by lots of other people all struggling with the painful decisions to leave something harmful behind or forced out by actual disaster (fire, eviction, loss of loved one) kind of sucks around Christmas. It is certainly the farthest thing from those Bing Crosby Christmas specials that a kid can imagine. Most of the children that will be excited on "Christmas morning" have not even checked into the shelter yet as many arrivals happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas day for many families. Each year, Santa Bear brings 4 presents for roughly 50 to 70 children. Their sheer joy and excitement drives me each year as well as the 15-20 volunteers that help me buy, gather, wrap and deliver the presents.

We are happy to accept all new gifts for children from babies to teens, both boys and girls. We also would like to invite you to share in the overwhelming satisfaction we experience putting on this project. The Christmas party is set for Tuesday December 22nd. You are welcome to help Santa give out the gifts. I have set up a PayPal account in the name of logdog@i2k.com for on-line donations and I will be raffling off a few chainsaw bears for the donators. You may also send money or gifts to our address if that’s more convenient. If you’d prefer, you can make any checks payable to the Holland City Mission and they will take care of providing Santa with the actual donation. Please let me know and I will get you my home address.

many of the members of GGLJT have helped out in the past, If you have experienced this event please post up so the new members can get an idea of the wonderful things this club has done for me and the homeless children of Holland.

I can never adequately express my gratitude for the help this club has provided over the past ,,,,,, Wow its come to the point where I can't remember a year GLJT has not been involved. Its been 9 years of Summer Bash Bear Dinners and the club has helped out at Christmas since.

I will leave you with two pictures of why I do this.

I can't see any better reason to to this for 19 years Please Help if you are able!

http://hollandrescue.org/

The-Bear · Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:41 pm Post subject:

Whtjp98, imperial, Nicky and possibly Budman on the short list of Elves trying to come up for the party. Let me know if you want on the list.

If you have experienced this event please post up so the new members can get an idea of the wonderful things this club has done for me and the homeless children of Holland.

Bear

The-Bear · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject:

update.

Jeepdiver · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

Bear,

Do you have a facebook account for this event? can you please post the link. I would like to send it out to all my facebook friends.

Diver

The-Bear · Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:30 am Post subject:

All I have at this point is the PayPal account. logdog@i2k.com

The-Bear · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

I received the first donation today. The economy is effecting everything.

Imperial07 · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

Still trying to find out weather or not I will be able to make it up there this year.

I will be sending you a paypal for what we raised during our toys for tots.

Bud_Man · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:54 am Post subject:

Hey gang!

This is a GREAT cause, and Bears a great guy. Get behind this. I know things are tough all around for people but, I have been to this mission to help Bear. These kids have it rough day after day. It’s a good cause and a great guy.

So you don’t have $20 to send him, send $10, $5, or even $1 Trust me every little bit helps. Or meet Bear and help him out the day of the event, the undertaking he has is huge that day. You will help needy kids and come out feeling better about yourself.

Bud

Imperial07 · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject:

Looks like we will be making the trip up this year.

whtjp98 · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

I know I can make it this year

The-Bear · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:52 am Post subject:

Imperial07 whtjp98

Imperial tell Nikki
I still have Tigger, he has been breathing through the straw for a year now.

Bud_Man · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:25 am Post subject:

Santa on his way to Bud's?

The-Bear · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:23 am Post subject:

OK Santa is confused by Bud's cryptic question.

You know I need an Elf with attitude and muscle. If your schedule will let you. Other wise we will have to put Nikki in training.

The-Bear · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:38 am Post subject:

To date we have collected $300.00 for the homeless children. I expect another $200 from the two raffles. Not as much as I would have liked for 103 kids but I thank everyone who has helped and not just donations. The last 7 years would have been much different without this organization. It's going to be a good year.

Santa Bear