February 2003

Adopt-A-Family Update! Thank you to everyone!

This has been the most successful service project ever since I have been a member (almost 3 years). We are so proud to announce and report that it was a complete success! With the help of over half of our membership and over 50 contributors total, we collected very close to $900, 21 bags of food, and 2 BIG boxes of new wrapped gifts for the family! You all helped us collect not only food but household items, cleaners, paper goods, toiletries, pet supplies, socks, candles, clothing, wrapping paper, school supplies – all of those things we take for granted. It was extremely satisfying to see that so many of you had the true spirit of Christmas and the Holidays and I am sure that my brother is so very proud right now. I feel him smiling down on me every day. I hope that together we do show those children the value of giving and generosity and let them grow up knowing that there are such very good people in this world. You ALL have helped me send that message to them. We will be continuing to raise money and gather items for the family for the next six months to see them through this transition. They are barely on their feet, struggling with Social Security and tax issues. Again, I cannot say it enough, THANK YOU ALL. I am so very grateful to you.

Pat Hurst (Kelly’s Mom) & friends Emily Carter, Nubia Q., Bonnie Wyant, Joan Rhodes & Patrice Anita

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These are just some of the gifts they received. There were many more bags. Kyle told me it took them over 2 hours to open all the gifts!

This is the back of a full size Dodge truck loaded from front to tailgait! Not one more bag would have fit!

Thank you to our deliveryman, my father, Jim Quakenbush – he got to play Santa for the MOMS Club!

My other brother, Carl, with Ryan, Jamie and his 2 children doing what they love to do – dirt bikes! Carl spent time with the kids after their father’s memorial.

Jamie, Ryan and my other niece and nephew along with my 2 boys, Robert & Skyler – Nov 2002 (They are all of the grandchildren in the family)

We have 2 rolls of film of the family opening their gifts and them receiving their very special delivery. I promise to have them for next month’s issue. Please look for it next month!

Kyle asked me to tell all of you that the gifts that were sent were truly a blessing to her and the children. She was having a very rough day, dreading the trip into town to get some gifts for the kids when my father pulled up with the truckload from heaven. She was crying and could hardly contain herself when she saw what was in there. She asked my father “All of that is for us?”. The overwhelming feel of love and generosity got her through this very difficult Christmas. She phoned me after he left in tears. Each of the kids also got on the phone and wanted to thank all of the nice people who helped them. One of the gifts enclosed was one of our chapter sweatshirts. Kyle said that she cried when she saw what the back said. “Behind Every Great Kid is a Great Mom!” She will wear that sweatshirt with great pride and with great respect for the fellow mothers who all pitched in to help her and her children. She wanted you all to know that she is very grateful and when things die down a bit she wants to send us some pictures that I can share with the rest of you of their Christmas. God Bless you all!