Don’t tell me people are inherently stingy and rude. Because what I witnessed this holiday season was just the opposite. As many of you know we had our Christmas Wish Fund in December, like we have done for many years in the past.
We ask readers to write letters to us telling why they feel their family is worthy of the money we pass out. The money comes from businesses and individual donations. The letters are written by the less fortunate who have endured a multitude of problems in 2024.
This year we received more letters and more donations than ever. One individual donated $3000. Another, who donates every year, gave us $2000. A woman completely out of our circulation area also donated $2000. The generosity of our communities astounds me. There are so many good people willing to write a check to help these disadvantaged families and I am forever grateful to those that help. I
I thought you might like to read a letter of thanks we received from one of the recipients. Here it is:
Dearest people at Wilcox Newspapers, area businesses and individual donors:
Words cannot express my sincere gratitude for your incredibly generous gift. The check you so kindly sent will make this Christmas truly magical for my six children.
For years, I have struggled to provide my children with the Christmas they so deeply deserve. Living on disability has presented many challenges, and making sure each of my children receives even a small gift has been a constant worry.
Your generosity will allow me to give them a Christmas they will never forget. I can already imagine their faces beaming with joy as they discover the presents under the tree. This will be a Christmas filled with laughter, wonder, and cherished memories.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this amazing gift. It means the world to me and my children. I’ll never forget growing up my mother was as well, a single mother. I’ll never forget the Christmas a organization helped her it granted all us kids some of our biggest wishes and my mother cried great tears of joy it wasn’t until this very moment I understood those tears from that Christmas morning, now can go shop for my kids and give them something special thanks to you and some new gloves and socks. Thank you so much again for helping give my kids hopes. They are such great children if only you could see the kindness in their hearts that will truly appreciate this gift thank you from all of us.
P.S. Would it be alright if I sent you some photos of my children enjoying their Christmas morning? I would love to share their happiness with you.
So don’t think your donations are not appreciated. We receive several thank you letters from recipients each year. It’s heartening to hear that those in need, are for the most part, extremely thankful for what we give.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR READERS. We really appreciate you picking up the newspaper weekly and patronizing the businesses that place their ads inside. May 2025 be a better year for us all.
