Save Christmas Update

Thank you all so much for helping save Christmas for my friend, the single mother of two kids who [very] recently lost her job. I told her that I needed to see her on Friday, either for lunch or after I got off work. I told her I had to give her something important.

We met at the local Chick-fil-A and I bought us both lunch. Then we sat down in a booth and I handed her a big red envelope. Some people had sent checks made out to me, which I turned into cash (large bills so it would all fit in the envelope) and some people sent checks made out to her, which I placed into the envelope along with a gift card, a regular card and other stuff that I had received for her. I also added $20 for gas money.

I had totaled u everything the night before: $560, $25 gift card, 2 boxes of presents for the kids, 1 box of note cards & 1 book of stamps!

But since I had to stop at the ATM that morning I decided to round up the amount to an even $600 and then I got another $100 donation that afternoon.

My friend tried to act mad that I was trying to make her cry in public. She looked through everything in the envelope. I told her that this was from over 20 people, some who knew her and some who didn’t and from all over the country. I told her we all just wanted to give her support and hope and that this was for her and her kids, so they could have a nice Christmas and get what they needed.

She said that she appreciated this more than she could say and more than we could understand. She was very overwhelmed and I don’t think she expected that at all. She texted later that night to say thanks again.

After lunch, I took her out to my car and gave her the boxes for the kids. When I got home that night, I had a check for $200 for my friend sent from my extremely kind and generous aunt. A day later I received another $40 in the mail for her. I texted my friend back and said we would have to have lunch again soon, because I had just received more donations for her!

Thank you all so much for pitching in! Everyone should feel proud of the difference you have made in helping this lady. She really appreciates it. I’m sure you all earned some good karma this December. She has had some job interviews already, so please keep your fingers crossed that she gets a job offer soon!