Time for a shopping trip

Work Friend and I are going shopping. We do this every year at about this time. See, we are in charge of (and by "in charge" I mean the only people in the building remotely willing to do) the Christmas for Kids program for our school. We go and buy gifts for children whose families are struggling.

This is more of a time-sucking commitment than either one of us bargained for. It pretty much takes up a huge portion of life from the end of October until the middle of December. There are letters to write and envelopes to stuff (and address and lick and stamp) - asking for donations or if assistance is needed. There are letters to open and coordinate and sort - boys or girls, who wants what. There are presents to buy -a few very loooooong nights at Wal-Mart (they either love us or hate us, but I'm not sure which). There are presents to sort and wrap - early mornings and late nights. There are thank-you cards to write - for all who contribute or help. There are families (ours) that are neglected while we do all of this.

In eight years, we've received three thank you notes.

A lot of the kids we buy gifts for come to school every day in their Abercrombie sweatshirts, with their ipod in one hand and their iphone in the other.

There are parents who return the gifts we provide and use the money to buy cigarettes and vodka (or worse).

There are parents who call and complain that they didn't get enough presents.

And every year we wonder, at some point, why we do this at all.

But...

There are kids who will come back from the holiday break with a new warm coat.

Or new boots.

Or a new sweatshirt or jeans.

Kids who will sleep wrapped up in a warm blanket.

Kids who would not get Christmas presents any other way.

And we know we will keep doing this every year for as long as it is necessary.