More letters to Santa asking for clothes and food

[ck4829]

With just 10 days to go until Santa shimmies down those chimneys, letters to the big jolly guy are coming in fast and furious.

But this year, mixed in with the letters asking for toys and video games, are an increasing number of requests for warm coats, food and help paying the electric bill to keep the heat on.

"The common theme this year seems to be a single mom with young kids, the parent has left, they don't know who the father is, or the father left and they can't pay the bills," said Pete Fontana, head of the United States Postal Service Operation Santa in New York.

Though many considered last year to be the toughest financially since the economic downturn, Fontana said, it appears that more people are struggling this year, both from the letters and the decreased amount of volunteers who sign up to fulfill some of the writers' wishes.

"We had one little girl write in and say all she wants is a winter coat for her mom. Nothing for herself," he said. "We had another letter for grandparents and they wanted to put a turkey with the trimmings for the holiday dinner … but they couldn't even get their medicine."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/sad-santa-letters-economic-woes-usps/story?id=12403172&tqkw=&tqshow=WN

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. "...it appears that more people are struggling..."

Way to nail it, ABC!

[DJ13]

4. "...it appears that more people are struggling..."

Nope, no inflation ......just like the government says.......

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. Teabaggers retort: Get a job, you welfare scum! (n/m)

[BeyondGeography]

3. Rec'd

[catgirl]

5. It seems only toys are collected for holiday gifts

I think charities should expand the collection and include warm clothes (new) and also include gifts for adults.

[Uben]

6. I went activist on this.....

.....60% of our students at the local school were identified as having needs. That isn't right! Two years ago, we started a program sending select kids home on Fridays with a backpack full of food for the weekend because a lot were getting little or no nutrition at home. That is a great program, but it wasn't enough, so we got together with the school and got them to allocate a room in the school building where we could store and display donated clothing and linens for those in need. Students are allowed to come by after hours and fill their needs discreetly at no charge. It has worked out beautifully, and surprisingly, donations have been robust. Coats and blankets are quick to leave the shelves but some kids just need clothes to attend schools. One of the teachers told me we had kids who were dropping out because of a lack of decent clothing! It takes about four hours a month of my time to collect and deliver the clothing to the school. That's just a bit more than a good nap! Please consider doing something, anything, for kids in your area. You might very well be one of the only persons this kid has for hope.

[knitter4democracy]

7. Thank you for this.

We had a couple people donate items to a teacher in our school who brought it all in for the kids to pick out presents for family and friends for free. She just made sure that they only took one item until everyone had had a chance. Don't forget the kids who want to give presents, too.

I teach kids who need those blankets and coats. It's scary out there.

[Uben]

8. I was amazed to see so many willing to donate

A lot of us have stuff in our closets we can't/won't wear or use, and most are more than happy to have someone take it off their hands, knowing it goes to a great cause like this. Organizing collection and distribution takes people willing to give a couple of hours each month, and I have found even that is not difficult, but it does not happen without someone willing to take the reins and make it happen.

My life changed 15 yrs ago when a friend made me aware of this fact....."Act on your environment or it will act on you." I took the advice to heart. That person is now my wife of fifteen years! (she was a teacher, too, as well as a mental health and family counselor). We are retired, so we have the time and resources to donate.

If you want to see a difference, be that difference.