heartbreaking santa letter recieved by mistake

[usascs]

I work for a state sgency and we get tons of mail everyday. well last thursday we got a letter amongst all the others that was addressed to santa clause. our machines automatically open them so the letter was brought to me being one of the head mail room people. so i decided to read it, out of curiosity. well it was heartbreaking this little 8 year old boy wrote that he had three brothers and how he has been a very good boy this year and all he wanted for christmas was a new jacket, and how that would make him very happy. to say the least i sat down and cried. i was thinking about asking my coworkers to help out and buy some things or give small amounts of cash or gift certificates to help purchase a few things for his family. but im not sure on sizes or likes. there was a phone number included in the letter along with there address, does any one think it would be rude to give a call and explain to the mom what our intentions are. i now what its like to be done and out in the holidays, with children and now that i am on my feet with a good job would love to help out. please any comments or suggestions would be helpful.

[flute]

I for one think that would be GREAT!

There are things to consider, such as the parents might not know their son sent the letter, and they may feel insulted by the gesture..

[usascs]

i would really like to do it anonamously but if they need jackets and such it would help to have sizes. im not sure maybe i should send gift certificates along with the gifts in hopes it would be spent on jackets or other essentials.

[FrEEbiZ4Me]

I think that is a very very good idea! Breaks my heart to hear things like this :(

[cpbaby]

Ok, you are going to think I am crazy but here is a suggestion: Buy the coats anyway and leave the tags on them. If they dont have the receipt, most places will only let them trade for the same item in another size without a reciept. Or maybe you can get GC's that say, GOOD FOR ONE WINTER COAT UP TO $XX.XX, maybe?

I know this will get booed and might get me flamed but if you have the address, can you just go look and see if you can see the children and make a decent guess at the sizes? Or call Social Services and explain why and waht you are trying to do and see if they know anything about this family?

Its a wonderful thing you are doing. I have two boys and have MANY things I could send if you knew sizes.

[usascs]

I WOULD LOVE TO GO SEE WHERE THEY LIVE ( I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT SANTA DELIVERING THEM, MAYBE A LITTLE MUCH) BUT THEY LIVE A COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY. I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT CALLING SOCIAL SERVICES OR EVEN THE SCHOOL BUT THEY PROBALY CANT GIVE ME ANY INFO.

[usascs]

OK I GOT THE COURAGE UP AND MADE THE PHONE CALL. MOM SPEAKS LITTLE OR NO ENGLISH. SO I FINALLY GOT ONE OF THE CHILDREN ON THE PHONE TO TRANSLATE I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS ONE OF SANTAS HELPERS AND NEEDED SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THERE LETTERS THAT THEY WROTE. THEY WERE ALL SO EXCITED, ASKING ABOUT SANTA, ONE EVEN ASKED HOW IS HE GONNA GET DOWN THE CHIMNEY WHEN THEY DONT HAVE ONE. IT WAS ALL SO CUTE I WAS FIGHTING BACK TEARS. I GOT THERE SIZES AND MORE OF A WISH LIST. THEY ALL ONLY ASKED FOR ONE TOY APEICE AFTER EXPRESSING THE WANT FOR A JACKET. I ACTUALLY HAD TO PRY THE TOY INFO OUT OF THEM.

[CHERNL]

The only thing is--how can you tell if the letter was REALLY written by an 8 year old boy? A kid would not give Santa his phone number; Santa already knows where he lives and would not need to call...

Maybe the parents had the child write the letter in hopes of getting stuff for nothing?

Sorry to be so skeptical, I guess it is just my nature.

[mjh341]

I believe things happen for a reason. I honestly believe you were meant to help. Please read the email I received...
A timely message.
> >
> > Two lessons here as we come upon the holiday season:
> > 1. Appreciate what you have now, you never know when it will be
> > taken away.
> > 2. Don't drink and drive!!
> >
> >
> > On the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go to the
> > supermarket
> > to buy the remaining gifts I didn't manage to buy earlier.
> >
> > When I saw all the people there, I started to complain to myself:
> > 'It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other
> > places to
> > go...'
> >
> > 'Christmas really is getting more and more annoying every year. How
> > I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up after
> > it...'
> >
> > Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started
> > to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids really play with
> > such
> > expensive toys.
> >
> > While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5
> > years old, pressing a doll against his chest. He kept on touching
> > the hair
> > of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who was this doll for.
> > Then the
> > little boy turned to the old woman next to him: 'Grammy, are you
> > sure I
> > don't have enough money?' The old lady replied: 'You know that you
> > don't
> > have
> > enough money to buy this doll, my dear.' Then she asked him to stay
> > here
> > for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The
> > little
> > boy was still holding the doll in his hand.
> >
> > Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who did he
> > want to give this doll to. 'It is the doll that my sister loved most
> > and
> > wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus
> > would
> > bring it to her.' I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring
> > it to
> > her,
> > after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. 'No, Santa
> > Claus
> > can not bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to
> > my
> > mother so that she can give it to her when she goes there.' His eyes
> > were so
> > sad while saying this. 'My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy say
> > that Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she
> > could
> > bring
> > the doll with her to give it to my sister'
> >
> > My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said:
> > 'I
> > told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I
> > come
> > back from the supermarket' Then he showed me a very nice photo of
> > him
> > where he was laughing. He then told me: 'I also want mummy to take
> > this
> > photo
> > with her so that she will not forget me.'
> >
> > 'I love my mummy and I wish she didn't have to leave me but daddy
> > says that she has to go to be with my little sister'. Then he looked
> > again
> > at
> > the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my
> > wallet and
> > took a few notes and said to the boy. 'What if we checked again,
> > just in
> > case
> > you have enough money?'
> >
> > 'Ok' he said. 'I hope that I have enough.' I added some of my money
> > to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was
> > enough for
> > the doll, and even some spare money. The little boy said: 'Thank you
> > God
> > for giving me enough money'.
> >
> > Then he looked at me and added: 'I asked yesterday before I slept
> > for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll so that
> > mummy can
> > give
> > it to my sister. He heard me'. 'I also wanted to have enough money
> > to buy
> > a white rose for my mummy, but I didn't dare to ask God too much.
> > But He
> > gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose.'
> >
> > 'You know, my mummy loves white rose'
> >
> > A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with my
> > trolley.
> >
> > I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I
> > started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I
> > remembered a
> > local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a
> > truck
> > who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl.
> >
> > The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a
> > critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on
> > the
> > life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to
> > get out of the coma.
> >
> > Was this the family of the little boy?
> >
> > Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the
> > newspaper that the young lady had passed away. I couldn't stop
> > myself and
> > went
> > to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the
> > body of
> > the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes
> > before burial.
> >
> > She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her
> > hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her
> > chest.
> > I left the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed
> > forever. The
> > love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is
> > still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second,
> > a drunk
> > man had taken all this away from him.
> >

[usascs]

I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT LETTER NOT BEING LEGITE AS WELL SO I LOOKED AT THE ENVELOPE THERE WAS NO STAMP AND SANTAS ADDRESS WAS WHERE HIS ADDRESS SHOULD HAVE GONE AND HIS ADDRESS WAS WHERE SANTAS ADDRESS WAS SUPOSE TO. THEN I LOOKED AT THE BAR CODE (THE ONE THE POST OFFICE PUTS ON WHEN IT GOES THRU THE MACHINE) ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENVELOPE IT DIDNT EVEN REFRENCE ANY OF THE ZIPS ON THE ENVELOPE. BEING THAT I DEAL WITH THE POST OFFICE ALL DAY AND MAIL ( I WORK IN A MAIL ROOM ) I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS LETTER WAS NOT A FAKE BUT JUST MISTAKEN DELIVERY.

[Nikkole]

I know here in Western, NY we get the migerate famers from Mexico etc.
There was an ad in our paper to help them the other day give blankets, food, clothes etc.
To me it would not be the holidays if I did not give to someone who was less fortunate, there is way to much focus on the material Christmas and not the giving Christmas.
My motto you never know when you'll be in their place for eveytime I help, I know in my heart that it will come back to me in my time of need.

[adarkangel]

I think you did the right thing & it was meant to be.:)

mjh341, That letter was so sad! It reminds me of the song christmas shoes. I bawl everytime I hear it. Thanks for sharing!:)

[Tasha405]

This brought tears to my eyes. Hugs to you for wanting to give these kids a little something for Christmas!! {{{hugs}}}

[Donnagg123]

I don't know if this has been suggested or not, but maybe you could get gift certificates for different things and maybe some age appropriate toys and anonymously either mail it or put it on the porch when no one is home and label it to "name & family" from Santa?

[Talanco]

Ok you got me now......how many kids are there and what are thier ages? Im going to get some things and send them to you so that you can give them to them. I think that everyone here that has a little extra cash should sponsor this family. Go to a dollar store or get things that are on clearance.....ANYTHING would do. I know that when I was growing up there were a lot times i didnt get birthday gifts let alone xmas. Email me and let me know. I really want to help out some.
[email protected]

[¤PrizmFX¤]

This is such a wonderful thing you are all doing. I sincerely wish we could help too, and even tho we're not nearly as in need as this family.... I won't go into the details. God will surely bless you!

[angelinwaiting]

{{{{{{{usascs}}}}}}}}}You must have a heart of gold...A lot of people would have just laughed at the letter but you are really acting on it and I think this is exactly what Christmas is all about...Giving....{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Big hugz to you and your co workers}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[usascs]

THERE ARE 4 BOYS
6 YR OLD SIZE 10
8 YR OLD SIZE 12
12 YR OLD SIZE MED MENS
15 YR OLD SIZE XL MENS

I THIMK WE CAN HANDLE THE COATS IF ANY ONE IS INTERESTED HATS OR MITTENS WOULD BE GREAT. THE TWO LITTLE ONES ASKED FOR REMOTE CONTROL CARS THE 12 YR OLD ASKED FOR A GAME CUBE GAME (QUESTIONABLE) AND THE 15 YR OLD DIDNT REALLY ASK FOR ANYTHING BUT A JACKET. IF ANY ONE HAS SUGGESTIONS FOR A GIFT FOR A 15 YR OLD THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR IM LOST ALL MY CHILDREN ARE MUCH YOUNGER.

IVE ALREADY BOUGHT A SPEAK AND SPELL AND A SET OF ARMY MEN BUT MIGHT GET ONE MORE FOR THE 8 YR OLD. MY FRIEND BOUGHT THEM SOME ART AND CRAFT SETS. WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE STORE LATER THIS WEEK. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON GIFTS WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME.

YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT [email protected]

[usascs]

SAME HERE I WASNT SURE IF HE WAS ASKING FOR A GAME OR THE SYSTEM BUT I AM PRETTY SURE NEITHER ARE COMING FROM THIS SANTA.

[Sunee]

Originally posted by usascs
ONE EVEN ASKED HOW IS HE GONNA GET DOWN THE CHIMNEY WHEN THEY DONT HAVE ONE.


Here's how you explain it to the kids........http://forums.bigbigsavings.com/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=242319

This was in the craft forum which explains to the kids how Santa gets in when you dont have a chimney ;). Very cute and very easy to do.

[kelblend]

First off I'm very glad that you got the letter and someone didn't just pitch it. About the gamecube, maybe someone gave it to him that could (present not necessarily parents), could be that just lately they fell on bad times.

If it's not real, your gesture remains just as wonderful. These days we have to be so very cautious that I think alot of valid necessities get passed up.

I can clearly see a kid putting a phone number on it---just to be sure that Santa could call should he have any questions. heehee Kids are great!!

((((hugs}}}}

[Sunee]

Originally posted by kelblend
About the gamecube, maybe someone gave it to him that could (present not necessarily parents), could be that just lately they fell on bad times.


If it's not real, your gesture remains just as wonderful.


I can clearly see a kid putting a phone number on it---just to be sure that Santa could call should he have any questions. heehee Kids are great!!




I can see a kid putting their phone# on the letter. Heck alot of kids probably include their email address :p.

I agree Kelblend on the gamecube. It couldve been givin to them last year as a christmas gift or birthday gift from one of their grandparents or bought used. I bought my nephew a limited edition nintendo 64 last year. His mom couldnt afford it but I could so I did it. Maybe thats what happened with these kids. Oooooor like kelblend said, maybe they fell on hard times. God knows alot of folks have fell on hard times over the last year (major layoffs everywhere).

No matter how they got the game system or whether its all legit.....its still nice to see people get into the true christmas spirit and want to make others happy.....especially a child :). I LOVE this time of year :). I wish times like this when people are thinking of others would last year round and not just at christmas. But hey we'll take what we can get and enjoy it ;).

[kelly12569]

Even if this letter wasnt written by the little boy ( and Im not saying that I dont believe it was), but if the mother did write it then it sets just the same with me. Perhaps if that was the case , that was the mothers way of asking for help because maybe she was embarrassed?? Either way whether the boy or the mother wrote it I feel it was legit and think it is just AWESOME that you and your co-workers and helping them out! The mother will probably be just as excited to see the items as the children are if not more. As a mother it would break my heart not to see my children happpy on Christmas.
((((((((((usascs)))))))))) ;)

[usascs]

if any one has any remote control cars they want to sell i would buy it for this cause

[MommyG3]

Wonderful. At our church we have things like this. I think everyone should get involved in these things.

[shana1]

My opinion on if it is legit or not is this, why wouldnt it be, the child that wrote it didnt know that someone would open his letter and read it. Out of the probably thousands if not millions that "santa" gets every year he got lucky to have his opened and read. I think that it is just ment to be that they got their letter chosen, it could of been the next letter or the one after that, that got open,true?? so why wouldnt it be legit?

I think that the kids were just being honest and telling "santa's helper" what in there wildest dreams they wanted, because if santa cant get it then who. Everyone is struggling right now, I have 4 kids(just like the lady) and even in a good year I struggle at christmas time so if they fell on hard times food and heat become the most important thing to the mother not presents and the kids know this and that is probably why the little one wrote santa about jackets, now if he had said I want a video game system instead of jackets on his list then I dont even think that we would be reading this post. The kid was asking santa for help and not being greedy. Christmas is a beautiful time of year with snow and pretty lights but it takes a lot of money to fill up the christmas tree and sometimes everyone needs a little help.

JMHO, sorry if someone thinks Im wrong but this is how I feel. Who knew the OP would open that letter. what if she had just put it in the lost mail box as Im sure a lot of "santa letters" are this time of year without opening it, it was just ment to be. :)

[ooops]

Well, OP said the child is over 2 hours away, It has to be
legit in that sense.. A child writing to Santa.

I cried reading the drunk driver letter.

It is a great thing that we can give a child a Wonderful
Christmas. In the event they are actually worse off than
we are. What goes around comes around.
So, what is given- shall be returned in 10 fold..
Bless you and your co-workers. JMHO

[hiltonqueen]

Maybe the boy doesn't have a game cube. Maybe when he asked for a "game cube game" he actually meant a game cube system. Why question this? These kids think they are talking to Santa Claus...of course they asked for the things they most deeply desire.

I agree completely. Santa grants dreams to kids, they don't know any different ( even 12 year olds) & it never hurts to ask.

One year I bought my husband a Nintendo 64 & about 3 months later, we bought a computer... well, the Nintendo 64 collected dust, went back in the box (just like new) & I gave it to my neice & nephew for christmas one year... they didn't care it was used! I'm sure that someone has a game system sitting around collecting dust that would be just as nice for them. I'm poor this year too, but someone could probably find some great deals on game systems at ebay... just a thought.

[ladybugbhb]

this is so good of you! and i think that even if the parents had the boy write it, they still need something or they would not have done it in the first place. ( did that make sence, lol) anyway, it is awful nice of you to go ahead and help. some ppl wouldhave just thrown it away.

[Ladytiger]

I am at a loss for words, crying here...It's wonderful what all of you are doing- I wish that I could contribute, but I myself, don't even know about Christmas here. The gift certificates are a great idea, my dot is 13 and VERY hard to buy clothes for only because she wears so many different sizes (like most growing women do!). Also, they could get cleaning supplies, toiletries etc..food stamps doesn't cover any of that.
Christmas is a time of miracles and I do believe that you did get that letter for a reason. Are you going to get to see their faces when they get the gifts?? That would be so great!
Bless you OP, for not just throwing the letter away.
I have much more to say, but have a huge knot in my stomach....

[jademyst13]

I just happened upon this post and was wondering what the outcome was?

[kelblend]

yep me too!! did Santa deliver directly to the home??? inquiring minds ya know. lol

[usascs]

no i couldnt arrange for santa to delivery directly to thier house. but they did get everything they asked for and then some. it all came together at the last moment. 100 gift certificate to a local grocery store and a lot of toys and yes i did get the game. 11 boxes of toys and 4 boxes of clothes. i had so much fun with this i adopted to more family's in my community. but now im exhausted next year if i am able i would do it again. its nice being santa

[ajksmom]

usascs- You are a wonderful person for doing this and I am sure that the family appreciated everything more than you will ever know.

[flute]

omg {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{usascs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} }}}}

How beautiful :)

[Nimue]

((USASCS)) You made some family's holiday wonderful. Someone from this board helped do that for us this year and if we are able next year we will do that same for some one else. It really does make you feel good that to do for others and like the saying says...."what goes around comes around" You wil be blessed because of your goodness.

[annie169]

A few years ago, I was a single mom with a son ready to turn 2. He needed a coat (we lived in Utah at the time) and a school age boy picked my son off of an Adopt an Angel tree and brought a box with clothes(brand new) and a couple of toys for my son. I will never forget that. I still have the little card the boy put with the box. You will be blessed usascs!!

[dream walker 2]

How in the world did you get this stuff to the family. and how did you get directions to the house? 2 hours away, if the mom couldn't speak english how did the kids know to tell you the exact directions to their home? It would be hard for me to give someone that lived 2 hours from me, directions to get to my house. Had to be route #s street #'s etc. My grandson is 12 and can ride with me and know exactly where to go, but If I ask direction to go myself, he wouldn't have a clue to route numbers and such. Just wondering how you were able to do all that. Who did you get to deliver all that stuff? Sounds like a lot of work, I am sure the kids were happy with all those gifts.. You should be very proud of yourself.. My sister works in a Post Office too. She was even amazed that the one letter you opened was a family in such need. She said the ones they get are just your typical letters to santa.. You must have been chosen..

[usascs]

The address was on the envelope. And i did a search with whitepages to confirm it. Then I packed it all up and mailed it.

[ttistin]

that was such a wonderful thing to do usascs, I am sure you made that familys holiday and possibaly year with what you did.



I just seen you are from NY, so am I where are you at?

[usascs]

albany