Author Topic: Christmas donations, if anyone wants to help me (Read 3704 times)

madelaide · « **on:** December 14, 2009, 19:17 »

Guys,

Our mail separates letters sent to Santa for people who want to "adopt" any of them and buy what the child asks. This particular branch where I collaborate for this even makes a campaign at some very poor communities in their area, helping children write letters, or their parents. Some families are VERY poor, and sometimes the parents ask things for their families - one asked for a bunkbed for their daughters, who sleep on matresses on the floor, another asked for a fan to stand the heat, a third one construction material to build a new bedroom. A lady in her 60s asked for a 2nd hand sewing machine. But most letters are from children dreaming of toys their families can not afford.

I collected money at work to buy Christmas presents for this campaign. We were able to purchase 5 bikes, 12 dolls (from Barbies to babies to talking dolls), one toy motorbike, 3 inflating pools, 2 educational games for children with Down syndrome, one inhaler for a child with asthma, one electronic game, one backpack, some shoes (we're still buying these with the rest of the money).

It hurts however to see the many letters still unanswered (there were at least a dozen letters asking for bikes), some that may get no reply at all. While some kids will get their dream toys, others will get nothing. I can't stop thinking of it and I was hoping I would collect some more money to buy even a small present to each of those children. Toy cars cost as low as US$3-5, some dolls around US$6. The mail will receive presents until next Monday, to deliver them on the 22nd and 23rd.

In case anyone wants to help, money could be sent to my PP or MB accounts - both _adelaidebs_at_hotmail_dot_com_. PM me if you want to join this effort.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:36 »

Where do you live? Just curious...

madelaide · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:49 »

Rio de Janeiro.

lisafx · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2009, 11:26 »

Adelaide, I would love to help.

We have a similar program here called "Toys for Tots" and we donate to that, but would certainly be willing to donate to your organization as well.

Is there any way to get in touch with the organization directly? If you can send me a link to more info about them I will forward to friends and relatives and see if I can drum up some more donations.

BTW, just sent you a paypal payment for this.

RT · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2009, 11:34 »

Maria did you get the money I sent?

Clivia · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2009, 14:35 »

I have been trying to send you some money. Let me have your correct paypal address.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2009, 16:31 »

Quote from: RT on December 15, 2009, 11:34

Maria did you get the money I sent?

Mine as well?

elvinstar · « **Reply #7 on:** December 15, 2009, 17:56 »

I PM'd asking for a paypal address, as well.

lisafx · « **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2009, 18:10 »

Quote from: madelaide on December 14, 2009, 19:17

In case anyone wants to help, money could be sent to my PP or MB accounts - both _adelaidebs_at_hotmail_dot_com_. PM me if you want to join this effort.

^^ That's her paypal address from her original post.

Suljo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2009, 18:50 »

I also know one institution which desperate need our money
send it at

getyandstoka at payapala dot konj

Sorry for offtopic but I cant help myself for this

RT · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2009, 19:00 »

Quote from: Suljo on December 15, 2009, 18:50

I also know one institution which desperate need our money
send it at

imaprick_dot_com

Sorry for offtopic but I cant help myself for this

I corrected your typo for you

lisafx · « **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2009, 19:30 »

Quote from: RT on December 15, 2009, 19:00

imaprick_dot_com

I corrected your typo for you
[/quote]

ROFLMAO!!

elvinstar · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2009, 22:19 »

Got it! Thanks, Lisa! I missed that somehow!

I did what I could.

bittersweet · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2009, 22:27 »

Quote from: lisafx on December 15, 2009, 19:30

Quote from: RT on December 15, 2009, 19:00
Quote
imaprick_dot_com

I corrected your typo for you

ROFLMAO!!

^ what she said!

Madelaide...~~mailing you now.~~ paypal sent.

CarolinaSmith · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2009, 22:51 »

I sent some via PayPal. Hope you got it. Feliz Navidad.

madelaide · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2009, 11:31 »

Hi guys, thank you all for your generosity! I saw the emails in my hotmail account (Mikhlav, Lisafx, Clivia, sjlocke, Shane White, RT, Carolina Smith, No Sheep Designs, Inkspotts) but I was unable to log in here from home (that old server problem again, I guess) to answer your questions and thank you for your support.

Some of the names above I was unable to relate with the MSG nicks!

Lisa, there is no organization doing this, the Mail only makes the letters available to people who wants to help, we buy the gifts and take them to the post office so they deliver the presents free of charge.

I've been sponsoring letter for the past two years and this year I decided to raise money for this purpose. The first stage was an "auction" of 2nd-hand CDs that raised roughly US$1500 at work, with which we were able to buy all you see below plus four bicycles that are yet to be delivered. The second stage is asking friends for donations, like here.

Here is a link to the Mail page about the campaign, and another from a volunteer site announcing this.
http://www.correios.com.br/institucional/conheca_correios/acoes_cidadania/papai_noel.cfm
http://www.planetavoluntarios.com.br/nossas-acoes

(edit: forgot the links!)

lisafx · « **Reply #16 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:07 »

Congratulations on your successful fundraising! I think it is really wonderful that you are doing this. Sounds like a very worthy cause.

Glad you were able to collect the donations made my members here.

After reading your post I investigated to see if we have something similar here in the US. Apparently there is a similar "letters to Santa" program from the US Postal Service, but not many branches participate. There were none in my area.

So anyway I am glad you gave us the opportunity to help with your project!

elvinstar · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:18 »

I'm glad that it's going well for you. Perhaps next year, you should hit us microstockers up a bit earlier!

P.S. I'm No Sheep Designs!

MikLav · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2009, 15:07 »

would be interesting to know how much you collected in total via MSG forum

madelaide · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:30 »

So far: US$205 + £11 + €50, with values from US$5 to 75.

I haven't done the conversions yet, but I think it's about US$300.

You guys rock!

Thanks RT, Miklav, sjlocke, lisafx, Shane White, elvistar, Whatalife, Carolina Smith, pichunter, clivia and
patrick1958.

Now if Shane White and Carolina Smith would identify themselves.

I will take a photo of everything I buy with this money, so you will see what you helped me get. This may be on Monday only, though.

swhite · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:39 »

Quote from: madelaide on December 16, 2009, 17:30

Now if Shane White and Carolina Smith would identify themselves.

I will take a photo of everything I buy with this money, so you will see what you helped me get. This may be on Monday only, though.

I'll come out of the shadows.... Shane is me.

lisafx · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2009, 17:56 »

Quote from: madelaide on December 16, 2009, 17:30

I haven't done the conversions yet, but I think it's about US$300.

That's great! Hopefully it will keep rolling in

CarolinaSmith · « **Reply #22 on:** December 16, 2009, 21:20 »

I am, well, Carolina Smith... been uploading to microstock since Apr2005, often read the forums, but respond very infrequently, since I have a way more than full time profession (though photography is a passion of mine, and one I plan to 'retire' into). I enjoy following sjlocke's comments (pithy and funny) and LisaFx (hey, I saw your hubby on a hospital brochure not too long ago! I was going to tell you, but got dropped from your IS network for , well, responding too infrequently

, don't worry, no offense taken!). I submit to ~ nine agencies and continually seek to grow as a photographer. I just had a Nikon D300 modded by Hutech for astrophotography, am teaching myself time-lapse photography. There is just so much I wish I could do. I strive for quality over quantitiy and love every moment of it, pain in the arse or not. Photography rocks. ok, nuff about me.

http://CarolinaSmith.com

madelaide · « **Reply #23 on:** December 17, 2009, 16:59 »

Hello Carolina, and thanks for your contribution.

Update on the donations. I went to the post office today and they had sent letters back to the main office, because today was the last day for adopting a letter. I was so upset, also because I had found donors for a 2nd hand sewing machine and a fan - adult requests, but nevertheless viable.

After work I went to the main post office to pick new letters. I was flabbergasted with the many piles of presents ready to be delivered - those were just today's donations. Checking the letters, I could not find any of the ones I knew - I believe they were sent not to the main office, but to the largest office in the area of that branch I go to (I'll call them tomorrow and see if they can find the letters of the sewing machine and the fan...). Anyway, I picked several letters, a couple of which from families with 4 children. The only drawback is that I have to take the presents to this main office - a bit off my way, but I will go there on Monday. After 1 1/2h at the office with the people involved in this task - who have been working afterhours daily this week - I am now an old acquaintance.

I was going to buy something tonight, but it is raining.

Edited to include photos with some letters I picked.

madelaide · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2009, 11:18 »

Some more photos. These were taken at the central Post Office on Thursday, showing the presents they had received that day only - and these images do'nt show all the pallets covered with toys.

This afternoon I'm going to buy the clothes and toys with the money I collected here. Photos will come later.