Kids ask for necessities instead of toys

[Liberal_in_LA]

Kids ask for necessities instead of toys

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28083906/

Kids ask for necessities instead of toys

FORT MYERS: Some children are asking for necessities for Christmas instead of toys this year.

With the new unemployment numbers the worst since 1974, but they don't tell the whole story of just how much people are hurting.

Letters to Santa have changed this year to requests of a new job for parents, instead of the new hottest toy on the store shelves.

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"Please, Santa, if you can help me out by helping my mom find a job, I will appreciate that so much," wrote one Chicago child.

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Culbertson said one child told him "For Christmas this year I'm not getting gifts. Not because I'm bad, but because we don't have enough money."

[FedUpWithIt All]

1. One of the kids we bought for asked only for a bookbag.

:-(

She got one.


We bought each of the kids an outfit, socks, pj's, a book, and a toy/requested item. I wish we could have done more.


I worry about the children.

[Mnemosyne]

4. I worry also, FedUpWithItAll. A new, more aware generation coming up perhaps? :)

:hug:

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. Yes, perhaps...

:hug:

Thank you.

[Mnemosyne]

8. ...

:hug:

[silverojo]

2. Sounds like me, when I was a kid

Scary and sad, how some things haven't changed. :(

[Mnemosyne]

3. "He’s used to sad stories but has never seen this many."

It will become much worse before it gets any better, for awhile I'm afraid. My local grocery's shelves were actually about as low as I've seen, not shockingly so, yet, but to someone paying attention definitely looking sparser by the week.

I am grateful that these times will teach those willing to learn. Still a little anxious though.

I wonder what the Iraqi children would ask Santa to bring them? :cry:

I wonder what the children that survived Katrina have asked for this year? :cry:

Important thread. KnR.

[Libertyfirst]

6. We had a star tree at a local school. Only necessities were asked

for by the kids or their families. There were a dozen families and they needed pants, shoes, mittens, gift cards for grocery stores. I cried when I read the stars and because I am very,very fortunate I bought a grocery gift card for each family and a big box of candy canes for each family. The guidelines said nothing but necessities, but damn, you will understand, I.had.to.buy.the.candy.canes. The school agreed to distribute them. I learned today that at least two other people bought grocery store gift cards for every family and that every star request had been filled. Also that someone had bought big cans of cookies for each family.

[SoCalDem]

7. really poor kids rarely ask for toys..

They ask for shoes, coats, school books, stuff for their Moms & Dads & brothers & sisters..

they may secretly want toys, but they lack so many necessities, they seem to have an inate sense of what's important