Navajo Child Drive Appeal 2011
Why you should give . . .
... a 7 year-old child told one staff member that all she wants is a mother....
A Message from Kathy Spitz
This is the 18th season of our Navajo Child Drive which began as a small project with our team of special needs specialists, addressing the absence of Santa from the poorest of our poor families who had at least one special needs child receiving services from us. We realized, after the first year that having Santa visit only one or two children in each family was not the way to peace and good will amongst siblings or relatives. Over the next couple of years we evolved into less families receiving a visit, but all siblings (0 -16 years old) receiving gifts. Outreaching to our own extended families and friends, we grew, until we had reached into many generous homes & businesses across the US. In 2001 we realized we still could enhance our Santa visits by including for each family a plastic laundry basket of "holiday" food for 1 meal, with a fleece blanket and plastic tablecloth. Let me clearly state, that it is NEVER enough. We may deliver to one or two households of that "camp" but the others go without. "Camps" is our word for each family enclave where several generations live sharing food, housing, finances, as well as child rearing responsibilities. It is a sad feeling for all of us.
Last Year's Drive
In 2010 Santa and his Elves, with the help and support of 64 sponsors across the USA were able to deliver baskets and gifts to over 155 families and the 450 children living in those households.
Our numbers were down from 2009 as all of our hardworking sponsors are balancing their checkbooks too.
Let me repeat, there is NEVER enough.
In closing, I send the good will and thanks from our Outreach Folks, our Families and myself. You are never taken for granted nor overlooked in the households your generosity touches.
You may donate now with your credit card on PayPal by using the button below or use the convenient gift form and mail your donation
Blessings,
Kathy Spitz
Gifts and Volunteers
Santa's helpers are "gettin' busy" in Eastern Navajo Agency (ENA). The ENA Special Education Department continues to provide services to over 920 special needs children. Care coordinators work with knowledgeable staff at each of the 21 schools to help identify our families and their children, their ages, and needs. "Wish lists" from our children have included the following items: winter blanket, Barbie doll, coloring books, art supplies, backpack, jacket, and sports ball.
We are all volunteers, therefore all funds raised and items received go directly to our families. Our only overhead is postage, paper, and ink as well as wrapping supplies and some fuel costs. We have been able to deposit funds into our Community Pantry account for the last few years allowing us to bring boxes of food to desperate families in emergency situations throughout the year.
Our Christmas food basket consists of a basket filled with a turkey, canned vegetables, onions, potatoes, cookies, bags of apples and oranges, coffee, tea and what is known locally as the "sheepherder's special" (25 lb. sack of Bluebird flour, salt, lard, baking powder, sugar). We always find room for a tablecloth & one fleece blanket to sit on top of each basket.
As Christmas comes toward the end of the month, most of our families are out of money and short on food. The holiday baskets make the drive more personal and meaningful. We estimate the cost for a family with four children to be $160.
We are proud of our partnership with Family-2-Family, a national food program based in NY which focuses on developing relationship between families with more to families with significantly less. But we desperately need additional "Elves" whether they are individuals, organizations, or businesses.
We look to develop year-round support for some of our most destitute families.
Please Give
Our target age population is birth through 16 (5 -16 year olds must be in school). New clothing items, caps / gloves / mittens, blankets, toys, books, stuffed animals are needed. We are not shy about asking sponsors to also send gently used blankets, stuffed animals, toys, books, shoes and other clothing items (adult sizes too) now or at any time during the year.
Our goal for 2011 is to help 150 families and 450 children.
For sponsors who would rather we shop, we put wrapped and tagged “Santa” boxes together for children, birth through 16, for $15 - $20. Typically the boxes might contain; a toy/stuffed animal or other age appropriate gift requested, a book, mittens / gloves, and cap / scarf. Toiletries and blankets have also found their way into some boxes.
$160 sponsors a family with 4 children including the Holiday basket and one fleece blanket.
Cash donations welcomed, but if you would like to send a Christmas presents, please read our 2011 Gift List [PDF]
TARGET DATES:
10/28 - 11/20 RECEIVE SPONSOR PLEDGES / GIFTS
11/20 - 12/10 SHOPPING DAYS and WRAPPING DAYS
12/10 - 12/19 GIFT DELIVERY AGENCY WIDE
We will continue to accept any donations after these dates for delivery before Christmas or to store safely for future use.