Saturday, December 18, 2010

Scrooge, Grinch or Santa Claus

With a failing economy, high unemployment and uncertainty in our government many people are struggling to get by this Christmas. People are spending money this year on presents but not like they did in years past. As owner of a small mobile home park, we do our best to help our tenants when they are down. We have a policy of making payment arrangements, giving families with limited funds gifts for their children. We have deferred payments and loaned upstanding tenants money until January when they received their income tax returns. Many of these friends and neighbors are struggling exceptionally hard this year. Churches and organizations that used to help needy families do not have the funds this year. Unfortunately our funds are at a lower level this year and we can not do as much as we have in the past. It breaks my heart to see the anguish on their faces when they are unable to do for their children.

This year our country has more families than ever before needing help to have a good Christmas for their children. A post office in New York who receives Santa letters and does their best to see that the children get their wishes says they have received about 20% more letters this year. Many of the letters from children are not asking for something for themselves or for toys, one child wants a coat for Mama; another wants a job for Daddy; some are asking for warm clothes to wear.

Our small community has a Toys For Tykes program every year at Christmas. It is well organized by the volunteer fire department, I have heard they have more needy children on their list this year than ever before. Every little bit helps, so give what ever you can to programs like this, the Salvation Army, local food banks and don't forget Toys For Tots!

We know what Christmas is about, the sharing and giving to others and the celebration of Jesus' birth is most joyous. Young children know we are celebrating 'Baby Jesus' Birthday" but they do associate the new toys with the reason for the season. They still believe Santa will bring them what they want, they don't understand that Santa is broke this year.

It terribly disgusts me when I see people flaunting the money they have at this time of year especially when so many are doing without. The first lady of this country purchased a vintage dress from a second hand store to wear to a Christmas program, the estimated price tag is $2500. Imagine what kind of wonderful inexpensive toys that could buy for 100s of  1,000s children who are in need this year. What ever happened to her philosophy the the needy in this Country would not do without?

Secret Santas are popping up all over the Country. A Salvation Army Pot at the K-Mart in Fort Oglethorpe, Tennessee brought in $5,500 in one hundred dollar bills. Another Kettle in front of Walgreen's in Joplin, Missouri contained Five $20,000 cashiers checks from Santa Claus. The checks were folded and wrapped with a smaller bill. Another anonymous Santa left $40,000 for the food bank in New Hope Minnesota.

Their generosity is incomparable to the actions of our greedy government. The pork in the bills they are trying to pass has got to stop. Why should we give money to study pig shit, contaminated grapes, the study of prostitutes in China (maybe Japan), stupid mice on an uninhabited island or $6 billion for the creation of ethanol which will increase our food supply cost? If we need to have any pork in our bills, we should use it to educate the uneducated and put them in the work place; create jobs for the unemployed, or just give it to charities who will distribute it in a justified manner. We have many highways and bridges across this Country that are in dire need of repair, we could create many jobs by using some of the unnecessary pork to fund projects like this.

Sadly this year, this Country is now seeing many changes that not for the best interest. Many people are so depressed they can not hold a job, people have given up looking for work creating hardships for the taxpayers, they have no incentive to go out and get a job. Desperate people are turning to stealing to get some of the necessities they need or want. Someone stole hundreds of toys from a drop off center for Toys For Tots. A Salvation Army bell ringer stole his days take from the kettle. Two teenage girls mugged a 74 year old lady in a mall parking lot, they got only $65. Holiday crimes are unfolding across this country. The Grinches are stealing Christmas from the needy in this country in record numbers.

People see the Scrooges of our Country spending more and more taxpayers money foolishly, they are becoming mad and don't know which direction to turn. Seniors on Social Security are not receiving a cost of living raise for the second straight year, yet Congress votes to increase their own salaries. Congress is already overpaid and their self imposed raise could easily be dispersed into the nearly defunct SS account. Congress votes to send relief aide to many Countries around the world who do not appreciate what we do for them. It is time we distribute some of this charity to the citizens of this Country who do appreciate it.

If you can afford it, please give to one of the many organizations that are trying to see that no one does without this year. The change you drop in the Salvation Army Kettle is put to good use. The toys you donate are distributed to children who would not otherwise see a gift this year.

Remember this is the season to give and to share with others. Share your joy and compassion with those less fortunate than you. A couple dozen cookies given to a children's shelter or a nursing home will be rewarded with smiles of gratitude. An inexpensive toy dropped in a donation bin may be the only present a young child receives this year.The man who just shot the gunman at the Florida school board is known as Santa Claus spends his spare time collecting toys and fixing them up to give to the needy children in his community. Any small thing you can do will bring tears of joy to those less fortunate.

 Will you be a Santa, Scrooge or a Grinch this year?
God Bless One And All - Have a Very Merry Christmas!
Tea Party Deanie

13 comments:

  1. Mad Sally's RoommateDecember 18, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    Agreed the frivolous spending of this government is hurting the country. It is my understanding Michelle and the girls went to Hawaii without Obama. Now we have to pay for another trip to get him over there! What a waste of our money.

    I will be a Santa this year and every year! The bell ringers get all my change when I leave a store.

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  2. A quick question concerning your post. How do you distinguish who the Grinches and Scrooges are? From what I have seen the last few weeks I would give that title to both parties. LOL

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  3. TPD what are the needy called? I am in that classification. For the first time in my life I find myself needing assistance to Make It Through December. I have signed up for Toys For Tots and a Church is giving me a Turkey and all the fixings for C-Mas dinner. I am so grateful my children will never know that Santa couldn't afford to visit them this year because of the situation I am in.
    I did make cookies and sent them to the classrooms of my two daughters, so I consider myself to be a Santa this year too.
    God Bless You all and the organizations out there who are helping the less fortunate. I will not forget what you have done for my family.
    Merry C-Mas and may next year be better for all of us.

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  4. It is sad to think that anyone would steal from the people who are trying to help them. I know it happens all the time and feel it is a selfish and desperate person who would do something like this.

    Sadmom, you are indeed a Santa, you seem more concerned about your children than yourself. I hope the year coming up is much better for you and your children. You will be in my prayers. Every time I drop change the SA Pot I will hope it is going to help someone like you who deserves it. God Bless You.

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  5. I agree the Obama's do flaunt their money, I hope their children grow up to understand the value of money. Not only do they waste their money but the POTUS seems to feel the need to waste OUR money.
    This is the Season for giving from the heart. A kind word is worth a lot to me.
    HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS

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  6. I consider myself a Santa. All year I give to a worthy cause with my time. It might be just my time but I do it with a glee. My time is with my wife's cause a support group of Multiple Sclerosis. The people in this group are the ones that need help. Like I said it might just be time but I am doing it with an open heart. If you are able to contribute to any cause do it with glee. This is my Christmas wish to all.
    Merry Christmas

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  7. TPDeanie, maybe you should get in touch with SadMom and see if there is any way her RFA friends can help her out. It wouldn't be much on my part, but I feel that anything would help.

    Too many people do not understand all they can do throughout the year that may not take away from their pocket book. Thanks for what you do Santa Ken. I spend a lot of time with a gospel quartet and visit rest homes bringing cheer to those who are lonely.

    I hope all my friends share in the Christmas spirit this next week and throughout the year.
    Santa Wes says Merry Christmas to all.

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  8. More of our young people could learn from you, all they think about is themselves. we see too much wasteful spending in this country and it does not help teach kids the value of money or of Christmas.

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  9. Did you hear that the lady who hit the gunman at the school board meeting is selling it on ebay? It will sell for over $9,000, and the money is going to the charity of the brave security guard to help him restore toys to give to the needy.
    I think it's great!

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  10. You bring up a very good point TPD. Michelle on her dress and dems are wasting money. What I would like to know since you're a main writer on RFA is why you would comment on Freedom Fighter concerning Radical Richard, stating he should apologize to Christina, he gave his apology and I like it. He apologized for wishing dems a Merry Christmas and hope they have a crappy New Year. Get with the program sweetheart, they're bringing our country down.

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  11. There are too many grinches and scrooges in this country and not just a Christmas! The government is stealing our country and we are fighting mad.

    I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas.

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  12. Merry Christmas Deanie and everyone else.

    Just thought I would tell you what my roommate and I are doing today. We are cooking a huge meal and having 5 children from the local orphanage coming over for Christmas dinner. Some of our friends are helping out and will be there too. These children will be given gifts. One little 2 1/2 year old girl has never had a Christmas outside of the orphanage. Wish us luck!

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  13. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that Santa was good to you!
    Happy New Year!

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