Operation Santa Claus

[MikeyD]

OK - board members - I have a very important charity to discuss -- It's called "Operation Santa Claus" -- All the letters that are addressed to Santa or the North Pole go to the main post office on 34th Street. They now have a whole section devoted to these letters (It just use to be a cardboard box)- You can read the letters & make a kids wish come true. In some cases, mothers write for their children. Helen & I have been participating for the last 10 years, we read the letters & pick about 6-7 families that we can help. We don't answer the children from "good" neighborhoods that are just writing to Santa. We look for the families that really need help. You know they need help when the kids write & ask for shoes or a winter coat or a new dress for their moms to go to church with. Usually, the families consist of 2-3 children & usually they do not have a father figure in the household. Some just ask for food to have a decent holiday feast.

[MikeyD]

What we do is, Helen will try to contact the families & make sure that during the day on Christmas Eve, they will be home. She does all the shopping - clothes, shoes, food & toys of course, and does all the wrapping as well. Sometimes it takes days to do all of this. She's great to devote all her time trying to help. Then on Christmas Eve, my friend & I go to the actual homes & deliver the goods. We have been to some scary housing complexes, & I have plenty of stories from all these years. Being surrounded by the home boys questioning what I'm doing there. My friend usually stays in the car & he too has been approched but it all works out ok. I have rode in elevators with crack dealers and all kinds of other things have happenned but they are all cool when they find out what we are doing. But it's all worth it when the kids eyes light up & are so excited, knowing that their letter has been answered & people out there care.

[sketchy]

mikeD i would be happy to help anyway i can. whats the process? do you just goto the PO on 34th and ask to see some letters? do you sign up somewhere? let me know. i'm not loaded but i'll do what i can for a couple kids.

sketchy

[MikeyD]

That's what Christmas is all about. All we are asking is that, if you can, stop by the 34th Street post office & pick-up a letter or two. You do not have to deliver the gifts, you can mail them. It's been one of the most satisfying thing we have done for anyone. It really is better to give than receive. Anyone who would like to know more can e-mail us or if you want to hear some really funny stories, e-mail us. & God Bless Us, Everyone !!!!!
You will not be sorry !!!!
Love & Peace
Michael - Helen & Lenay

[MikeyD]

Hey Sketchy - Call the Main Post Office first - just to see if they started (I think they did) but all you have to do is walk in - there will be a section to the right side - you can't miss it but I also beleive that some days are certain hours, like 9-5 or something - It never was that way - they have letters from all the boroughs, so you can choose maybe somewhere close to where you live & once you pick the letter or two, you just register - you'll see - It's very organized now - they make sure anyone who writes doesn't get duplicated if another family member or child from the family wrote - You don't have to be loaded - It means if you pick just 1 letter, well, that's 1 more family or child that has his/her Santa wish come true. I'm sure when you read the letters asking for clothing, you'll know that family needs help - be careful of letters from kids asking for a PS2 who lives on the upper east side - they do not need the help- Anything else I can help you with, please let me know -
Michael

[twanmoney]

Kinda off topic but best line of 2nite's show........

"santa hates you ! "

[Circus Boy]

this sounds awesome...count me in...i think i am hittin up the city sometime saturday to check out the new toys r us..i can pick up some letters and pick up the toys all in one day

<img src="http://members.aol.com/piconspiracy/images/circusboy.gif">
Somebody finally got Photoshop!

[CruelCircus]

Are you sure you want all of US being the ones writing and sending things to little kids?! :-)
No one tell Norton about this...

In all seriousness, sounds like a great program, Mike. Thanx.


<br><img src="http://pw2.netcom.com/~jjmace/gifs/brandisig.JPG">
She has balls, too.
Have a wonderful holiday season.

[TastelessGinny]

I can actually tell you guys how important this is, from BOTH sides of the Santa suit:

First, if you don't live in NYC, you can do what I've done in the past--go to your local post office and see if they have any letters from Santa that you can have. I had to show ID and in Elizabeth, NJ, get a note from the Salvation Army office in town vouching for me before I could look over the letters. But it's worth that extra step, helping out others and playing Santa is VERY gratifying.

Now, from the other end of the sack 'o presents:

The first year after I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, our family was VERY broke. I honestly thought taht would be the year that I had to break it to my kids the truth about Santa Claus, because I couldn't afford to do very much at all that year.

About 3 days before the Christmas holiday, I got a call from my kids' school nurse; she asked me to come to school, and then asked how big my car was. (!) confused, I asked my mom to take me there. She had the biggest car.

I was greeted with seven sacks of presents: clothes for every member of the family. A bag of toys, each labelled with my childrens' names. A bag of food. In fact, that Christmas turned out to be the absolute best one that our family has ever had; it was the year that I discovered, that there really WAS a Santa Claus.

I never found out who my Santa Claus was, but I was determined that every year, I would do something to make the holiday a brighter one for the people around me.

Pass the love, guys. You never know: one year, YOU may need some holiday cheer.




<center><img src="http://www.insurgent.org/~ginny/ginsig.jpg"></center>

[MikeyD]

Ginny - that is exactly what this is all about - Thank you for sharing & thank you for the info on the NJ Post offices -- Your post is making me start to get that real Christmas feeling -- See you at the studio again real soon ---
Mikey D

[F1Gm3nT]

I want in on this!!!!

[img]http://my.purerave.com/gallery/p/23205[img]

deal wid da matter

[F1Gm3nT]

I want in on this!!!!

[img]http://my.purerave.com/gallery/p/23205[img]

deal wid da matter

[Mad Dogg]

This sounds lke a great thing. I'm in. I will try to get out to the city and grab a few letters. If not, maybe I will see if they have this type of thing out here on Long Island. There are needy people all over...let's give them a helping hand.

Mikey, you are the ghost of Christmas Present.

Rock On!

<IMG SRC="http://wwfallon.homestead.com/files/RFnetMad.jpg">

PEACE!

[RF Godfather]

I'll be glad to help, I'll try to drop by the post office and spread a little cheer!

http://members.aol.com/razorxhall/images/rfmark.jpg
I am the One who reeks of "limited" rockedness! Yoink! Meow!

THE PROTOTYPE<marquee> RFW UNCROWNED UNDISPUTED WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!</marquee>

[Homer]

No one tell Norton about this...

why not? im sure the kids can use some hiv infested hypodermic needles:)
but seriously, DONT TELL NORTON!!!!
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<marquee><font color=#ff0000> Merry <font color=#008000> Christmas </marquee>
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<body><center> <img src="C:WINDOWSDesktopJoe's Stuffpics/homer1.jpg">
<br> <marquee> <b> <font color=#000080>GET ME THE BIG KNIFE, IM GONNA CUT MY THROAT...<i> Frighty-Fright Style.</i> </b> </marquee>
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[Helen Of Joy]

Hey Guys --- we picked-up the letters last week & we are happy to say, we will be able to help at least 15 chidren this year. I know Mikey has pretty much covered all the details but please, there are so many kids who are out there who need help. We can do all we can, so we ask all of you to please, try to stop by the Post office , & try to pick-up at least 1 letter. These kids really need the help, you'll know it when you read the letters. We hope to see most of you this Sat night at the party @ Iggy's. Don't forget about these kids though.
Love & Peace
Helen Of Joy

[TooCute]

Hey Helen!!! I'm so glad you
guys are coming on
Saturday!

I sent an email out to my
department and got a
couple of other people to
say they'd help me out, plus
I will probably hit up my
mom for some help so
hopefully I'll be able to take
care of more letetrs than I
would be able to on my
measly grad student
stipend. I am going to be
going in on Friday, I think!


http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/sheeplovr2/images/wonderwoman22.jpg

[MikeyD]

Thanks TC -- just do your best with the letters, don't over-extend yourself. Whoever you answer and/or help will truly be thankful for it - & anyone else who picks up any letters, please post & let us know. Only 2 more weeks (actually less) before the holiday --- !!!!!
Mikey D

[Circus Boy]

i went to the PO on 34th street...and i got two letters..it made me so happy..i feel so good about myself i cant wait to deliver my gifts

<img src="http://members.aol.com/piconspiracy/images/circusboy.gif">
Somebody finally got Photoshop!

[MikeyD]

Well, everyone - another sucessful Operation Santa this year -- We delivered all the gifts except for 1 family who said they would be there -I may try later but it's in a tough place in the Bronx - my elf has gone home & I won't bring Helen (yet she did come to the places we hit during this morning & afternoon) - All the kids were so happy - we went to Washington Heights, Bronx, & Corona - we also mailed last week to a family in Providence, RI -- we had helped them last year but they still needed our help -- they moved to have a better enviroment for the kids to live in. Pretty cool -- I hope evryone who picked up letters, everything went allright for them & the families they helped --

[MikeyD]

As far as everything could go right for our letters, it did -- My friend & I always say we have that one "pain in the neck" kid who we can't get to - it happens every year --- really weird but we laugh about it because we always find a way or wait and/or double back to where they live & get them their goodies -- We were followed up one building complex by this dude but he dis-appeared after he saw the kids running down the stairs - 6th floor but well worth it --- Anyhow, I will keep trying to get this one family - they are right off the Bronx River Parkway - I see my mom at her nursing home in White Plains & if I can't reach them today - I will make the stop in the Bronx on the way to see my mother --- ALL OF US WISH ALL OUR RON & FEZ FAMILY A GREAT HOLIDAY - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ---
LOVE & PEACE
Mikey D - Helen Of Joy & especially Lenay !!!! We all love you guys !!!!

[MikeyD]

Just wanted to say - we have communicated with that 1 family we were not able to get a hold of earlier -- looks like on my way to White Plains to see my mother, I will be making a pit stop in the Bronx to deliver the last of the Christmas treats --- so it looks like every family will have a better Christmas this year --- that's cool!
Mikey D

[TooCute]

Well I got two letters - one
was a 6 year old girl, she
wasn't home so I left her
stuff with her mom - the other
was four boys, 4months to 8
years and when I went to
their place their mom answered
and she didn't speak english
AT ALL. I realized she must
have had someone write the
letter for her, it was so
sweet. She got her husband to
go down and help me bring up
all the stuff (there was a ton
- coats, sweaters, pants,
shoes and gloves for four boys
plus a few toys) and he was so
happy!!! LOL I told the kids
merry christmas and they said
"You're welcome" and when I
was leaving a bunch of guys on
the stoop were like hey, you
don't look like santa LOL it
was fantastic!




http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/sheeplovr2/images/wonderwoman22.jpg

[Circus Boy]

i cant tell you how happy i was showing up in Jersey City and making a girl and her mother smile..i've told everyone i know about the satisfaction i got from making someones day bright..hopefully next year this will explode

<img src="http://members.aol.com/piconspiracy/images/circusboy.gif">
Somebody finally got Photoshop!