All I want for Christmas is ... a world where all people have what they need to survive.
a world where everyone that wants a job ... can find a job ...
a world where the priorities of Children ... somehow find a way to rise above the priorities of Corporations.
But alas, such a world, and the abundant opportunities and hope it could bring, is becoming more remote all the time.
Dear Santa: I want food
By LAURA BAUER, The Kansas City Star -- Dec 2010
The 8-year-old girl’s Christmas wish letter was pretty specific.
"Dear Santa Claus, I want a flag and a puppy and I want food and I want my family to love me and I love Santa."
[...]
"It was just so heart-wrenching," said Hill, who tears up every time she reads the letter. "For a little kid to ask in a Santa letter for food, I can’t believe it."
Hill talked to the girl’s mother and was able to have food in the home by that weekend. But Hill knows the need is still there. Not just with this little girl, but with so many of the kids at her school.
Last month, 7 percent of the children at Martin Warren were homeless. About 10 percent of the school’s 367 pupils received food every Friday as part of Harvesters’ BackSnack program.
Those numbers have increased in the past month, Hill said.
"We have five more homeless students since then."
The Kansas City Star is partnering with Harvesters to host a virtual food drive. All money raised will go to Harvesters’ BackSnack program, which provides schoolchildren with food to take home for the weekend. Go to
feedingkckids.harvesters.org or call 816-929-3010.
They accept Credit Cards only. But my transaction did not go through. (?) so much for Xmas miracles ...
Cleveland: Postal workers answering letters to Santa
WKYC News, Cleveland -- Dec 2010
This is the time of year that children write out their Christmas lists and mail them off to Santa. Most are asking for toys and clothes, but others want basic necessities - like food. Some of Santa's help is coming in the form of postal workers, who are trying to make a difference.
[...]
There are other letters that really tug at your heartstrings. Dell Young has been a postal worker for 32 years. For the past decade, she's been helping Santa by reading some of the letters addressed to him.
"Every now and again, they would ask for food. One child wanted a bed for their mother," says Young.
[...]
One child wrote: "Dear Santa Claus, I wish my grandma and grandpa will get better. They have cancer and they can't and I can't stand to see them in pain."
Sad Santa Letters Tell of Economic Woes, USPS Says
New York's Operation Santa Chief Says More Letters This Year Asking for Coats, Food
By SARAH NETTER, ABC News -- Dec 2010
Though many considered last year to be the toughest financially since the economic downturn began, Fontana said, it appears that more people are struggling this year, judging both from the letters and the decreased number 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."
Other letters are similarly heartbreaking.
[...]
for Shadybeth, a little girl living with her ill grandmother, a Merry Christmas would mean a permanent place to live.
"Maybe that's why you don't remember me Santa. We still living in another shelter," she wrote. "My grandmother is very sick and we need our place so she could rest."
She ended her letter with a postscript: "Santa Please try to help this time. God Bless you."
If only Santa weren't so busy, bailing out the bankers,
weren't so busy, outsourcing the jobs to someone else, across the planet, who needs the work, even more ...
Report: 1 in 50 American children homeless
By CNN -- Condensed by Native Village -- April 1, 2009
The National Center on Family Homelessness says that, from 2005-2006, more than 1,500,000 homeless children were living in the United States. That means 1 out of every 50 kids don't have a home. And the numbers are growing.
"These numbers will grow as home foreclosures continue to rise," said Ellen Bassuk, NCFH president.
[...]
Approximately 1,160,000 homeless children today will not graduate from high school.
They link to:
Campaign to End Child Homelessness
National Center on Family Homelessness
National Center on Family Homelessness DONTATE
They accept Paypal. ... My transaction went through, with no problems. YEA! :-)
... Maybe miracles really do exist?
All I want for Christmas is ... a world where all people have what they need to survive.
a world where everyone that wants a job ... can find a job ...
a world where the priorities of Children ... somehow find a way to rise above the priorities of Corporations ... and of Congressmen.
A World where somehow, ordinary people and their self-dignity, would matter more than Corporate Profits and the endless, fruitless chase, for World Conquest.
But alas, we don't live in such a world ...
until we build it,
until we Demand it.
Until we adults, end the Fairy Tales ... about WHY we can't have it.
... have a world where our childhood dreams ... have at least a chance, to come true.