I have been working with troubled adolescents for about 16 years now and
I stay very objective in the work I do. I dont get my personal feelings
involved at all.
Well, one girl I will call her C has been in the system since she was 4,
no one really cared about her and she was severley abused. For some
reason her and I clicked very well, I became very close with her and me
with her, I always kept my ethics in check though, I was granted
permission to remain a mentor for her upon her discharge through the
state and the CEO of my company.
C calls me about one time a week and I help her work through various
issues and sometimes we just talk.
I asked her tonight when she called what she was doing for Xmas and she
said she didnt really care as she has not had a christmas since she was
a little gilr, I asked her if she needed anything and she said NO, I
asked her if she wanted anything and she said NO, She said, "Shana, no
one has ever asked me what I wanted" So I said if you had 200 bucks what
would you go buy yourself, She said markers and colored pencils.
So I think I am going to go buy her some art supplies and a CD player
for Christmas, I am also going to bring her to my home and show her that
she is deserving of having a special holiday with people who care about
her. I asked my 2 teens feelings on this and they also want to help C
have a

memorable holiday.
If I didnt have my kids I would of put a fight up to foster this girl,
She is 15 and just wants someone to love her and not judge her for her
past.
So in saying all of this, When you are at the store next time look into
a childs eye and pick up a tree angle and make a childs holiday one they
can remember.
Thanks for letting me share.
Shana

Thats awesome Shan..really

Ever since my son was in Kindergarten we have participated in he Angel
tree, his teacher at the time brought in the tags and gave them to the
kids, while explaining about kids who didn't get presents. My son is now
18 and this year he has 5 kids names, he did this on his own, and he did
it through the school, he asked his counselor for younger kids names who
wouldn't have much for Christmas. When we go out we will pick a name or
two from the Angel tree, as we always have.

i am so proud of you.Thank you for helping her.I was affected by the one
day i spent at a orphanage at the age of 10.If more people would take
time to just spend one day a month with a child in need we could make
mirciles happen.

Funny Shagna for my daughter & I just discussed this same subject night
before last told her if she goes to the mall before I do to make sure
she got a name off the Angel Tree so I could buy a gift and put it there
for a child


Smiles :)

Shagna
you know that we work on the same field, and I realy understand what is
it that you are doing, no body likes to take a chance on those kids, do
to their problems and background, but we know better, and what you did
is beautifull, you have a wonderfull heart, your one special lady.

The hospital adopts kids from Headstart and other less fortunate
families and posts their names and wants (sizes, etc.) and then the
staff pick the tags and purchase and return the gifts to the hospital.
Then they have Santa come in and have a special party with food and
treats for the kids to receive their kids. They have done this for
years. It is really special for the kids and the staff.

lets not wait till a certain time of year to help.Lets try to get simple
things started,like a meals for every child at breakfast or a place they
can go after school to play.Maybe combine the children in a foster
situation with a community of people where he has a family of aunts
uncle along with a few siblings to see how life is in real time