Quick background. I work in a kindergarten classroom. We have a new student as of last week. This little girl is a darling, but has lived/seen a lot in 6 yrs. All I know about her and her family is that it is mom, uncle and 2 other siblings. It appears that Mom and the kids were across the state in an abusive situation. Uncle swooped in and rescued the family. The older siblings have been in about 5 schools in 7 years or so. They are living in a pretty rough looking place with 2 bedrooms. (But it is safe!) Our student did not have a backpack, so we took care of that. Then I noticed that her shoes were in terrible shape and will not last much longer. They are worn and very thin looking.

Anyway, we are very blessed and I decided we could do more. I went shopping yesterday and took advantage of the Columbus Day sales. I got her shoes, some leggings/shirts, a sweater coat, PJs, a couple of shirts and a Wal Mart gift card for the rest of the family. It's too much to send home from school. How can I give it to them? I thought about sending DH to the house. (They don't know who he is.) I want to be anonymous. Also, how could I word a letter to them about admiring them for starting over and it is a gift, not a handout. We have many poorer students, but she and her family seem to need so much more. TIA!

I think that I would contact the uncle and ask for his insight/advice on how to proceed with your very kind gesture Or perhaps have someone from the school administration (or social services) let them know that there is a donation to pick up at the school. Part of me feels that showing up at their doorstep could be an invasion of their privacy....

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Ah thanks. I think I will talk to the school secretary tomorrow and see if she can help facilitate something.

Anyone with ideas for a letter or anything?

At our school, the school nurse facilitates this type of thing.

I'd probably go completely anonymous and not include a card or anything at all... just the items.

I think that the Uncle should be highly commended for helping them out. Wow.

I just want to say God Bless you for having a kind heart.

Yes! I agree!

I deliever alot of food to people who I know are in need( thanks to this site and all the great deals ) and they never know its me. I do it late late at nite or early in the am. I either leave it in their car or on their porch. If I leave it on the porch, I do it early early am and then have my hubby call them and tell them there is a gift on the proch for them . they dont know his voice and so far, only one person has figured out it was me.
They were clients of mine and had 2 little dogs inside. I always took the doggies some treats and when I left the bags of food in their car, I put some dog treats in there for the little guys, not thinking about this but it was a giveaway.

__________________
·´`·.(*·.¸(`·.¸ ¸.·´)¸.·*).·´`·
«·´¨*·.¸¸. Jo ¸¸.·*¨`·»
«·´`·.(¸.·´(¸.·* *·.¸)`·.¸).·´`·»


Please leave feedback for me here.
http://www.mycoupons.com/boards/g-l/...-littlejo.html



gretchengirl@gmail.com

http://lifewithlittlejo.blogspot.com/

I have done this in what I think of as "stealth mode".....after dark. I sack the items in grocery (not garbage bags which could be tossed) plastic so I don't have to worry about weather. Depending, I might put it on the porch / entry area, or on the driveway, sort of to the side so it doesn't get run over. When it's a situation I've read about in the paper, I tape the article to a bag in plain site so they know it's for them. In your case, I would simply put a piece of paper on it with her name, something like "girl's name and family, welcome".

I do not like to get caught or for the people to know who it is. This has worked for me. I think it's a wonderful, heartfelt thing you are doing.

dl

Thanks everyone! I think I will touch base at school tomorrow. I know the nurse has had some contact with the family when the kids entered school. We are pretty close, so I may talk to her.

As for the uncle, I agree. He is amazing. A single man with no kids to take on the family of 4 is incredible. He seems to have swooped in and rescued them, but he doesn't have much either.

As for me, thanks. I appreciate the words. We really are pretty blessed and I like to help personally when we can. (Dh asked me last night how much I spent for a family I barely know. I mentioned that we donate to "charity" and isn't better to help someone we know more personally? He didn't say much. He knows better than to try to stop me if we can swing it. We just won't tell him that I spent about half my salary for the week. ) I just hope things work for them.

We need more people like you in this world!

__________________
Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

Your idea is just fine. Bless you.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We have done this many times. We have some family member that they don't know deliver it.

They ask if the (?) family lives there ? They are told there is a delivery for them.
If they ask where it is from, the person can say I was told to deliver it here.

The scholl nurse idea is great! I don't like the idea of a strange man showing up with "presents" for my daughter". That would scare me. Especially if I was coming out of a abusive relationship. Maybe I am wrong however.

Well, can I offer another suggestion? If this woman is new to the area and out of an abusive situation, she may just need new friends and someone she can talk to. I would, if possible, go through the uncle (if you don't know who he is or how to contact him, this can still be done through the school nurse). Let him know of the offer, and that you are fine remainin anonymous, but that you would also like to offer yourself as someone she could talk to if she needs. Women will sometimes (ofentimes if recently removed from an abusive situation involving a male) find it difficult to open up to another man--even if he is family.

Whatever happens, this family is lucky to have come to your attention. I, too, am awed by your generosity of spirit and tangible goods!

__________________
"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Thanks again. I am so glad I asked this. I never even thought about how "creepy" it would be to send DH to the door! LOL Actually, I was going to have him "drop and run", but still.

I like the idea of befriending the mom, but I am not the most outgoing or "friendly" person. Don't get me wrong, I am caring, etc, but I am sorta shy.

I will touch base at school today and have either the nurse or the secretary call the family for a pickup (depends on who has time.)

Thanks again...and really, I am not that nice! LOL I appreciate the words though.

Please keep us informed with this. What a great thing to do! Not to sound cynic..but is the uncle really an uncle and not a live in boyfriend ?

__________________
Live, Love, Laugh

You are so kind-hearted... Be aware that many (even those who are considered poor), have caller ID.

We just deliver the boxes to the door!
No one goes inside the house. I have gone along when I knew they didn't know me.

At our school the nurse handles these type situations. I have helped many kids in our school by giving clothes/shoes anomously through the nurse.

Umm...yeah. He said it was his sister and it's a small town. LOL...you couldn't really lie about that when everyone knows everyone's family tree!

I decided to have the secretary call the family and tell them that they had a pick up at school. (the school nurse is overwhelmed with about 850 students plus 3 type 1 diabetics.) I also told the secretary that she was to "play dumb" if they asked questions. I old her to please tell them to let the school if they need anything else. (I am wondering if winter coat/boots may be an issue for the fast growing kindergartener. The other 2 children should be able to use theirs from last year.) I don't know if the delivery was done today or what the reaction was. I will check in tomorrow.

Thanks again!