Pearl’s Hope and Tanya’s Christmas Wish
It’s that season again. The time where we all wonder how in the world we are going to get everything bought for our kids, family and friends. A time when we stress about whether we have given enough or gone overboard in some cases. The hustle and bustle are 2 of my favorite things about this holiday season but, my absolute favorite thing about this season is “giving”. I love to see the look on my children’s faces on Christmas morning when they open gifts. I love buying individual gifts for my friends and family and knowing that I bought them something that fits their personality. The truth is I am an Elf or I wish I was. I love the smell, the feeling, the stress and the joys of Christmas. The day after Thanksgiving (if I can stand to wait that long) my house looks like Santa Clause threw up every where!! I am that girl that goes overboard on decorating. So you get my point I love Christmas.
There is one thing that brings sadness to my “oh so jolly heart” this time of year. I hate to see anyone go without. I have a huge place in my heart for single moms who struggle but, it hurts me even more during this time of year. I have been where they are and I have hated this season because I couldn’t do for my kids what I wanted. There have been times I couldn’t have done anything at all without the people who saw me struggle and came to my rescue. I have had someone put $300 dollars in my mailbox at work, some dear friends (a couple named Tracy & Gary) have given me money to help with my Christmas for my kids, my mom and now Boy Wonder’s family have always made sure my kids had the very best Christmas and I could never explain how much it means to me. Every year for about 4 yrs now I have tried to donate to something like Christmas Angel Tree, Coats for Kids, or maybe for someone I know is struggling to make Christmas happen for their kids. While I know that Christmas isn’t just about gifts and Santa Clause, I also know the horrible feeling you get when you cant have Christmas for your children. So this year I have looked and looked, thought, and pondered of what I could do to help people enjoy this season as much as I do (if that’s possible).
Here is my Christmas Wish this year. There is an organization called Pearl’s Hope in Tulsa. It was established in 2008 when Pearl Opel Thorpe had a vision, a hope, really, that a shelter for women and their children could become a reality in Tulsa. Pearl had visited many shelters for woman in the Tulsa area and had realized that these shelters would accommodate homeless woman but, not their children (gasp, can you imagine). While visiting one she thought “"My hope is that someday, I will be able to provide for a place like this, but one that would be able to keep the women and their children together." With the help of a few other organizations Pearl’s Hope became a reality in September 2008. Sadly, most shelters do not accept children even if they are still in the custody of their mother. These children are torn from their mothers and placed with friends, family and often times foster care. For me, to think of my child being torn from me because I couldn’t afford a home would be devastating and I know from experience what being taken from your mom can do to a child. Because of the size of Pearl’s Hope facility they are able to take woman with as many as 5 children. Pearl’s Hope is just one department supported by “United Methodist Circle of Care” but, it is the one that spoke to my heart the loudest. I have called and spoke to the staff at Pearl’s Hope and have found out what some of their specific needs are. My wish is that my facebook friends, friends and family will take time out and help me provide some of the needs for these single woman and their children who live at Pearl’s Hope. Below is a list of needs.
Non-food needs for personal hygiene: Diapers, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, deodorant, lotion, disposable razors, personal female products, baby wipes, powder, shampoo & conditioner
Household items: Dish and laundry detergent, paper towels, paper napkins, foil/plastic wrap
Non-perishable pantry food items: Canned fruit, canned vegetables, tuna, canned meat, bottled/canned juices, pasta & sauce, beans, rice soups, cereal, baby formula, baby food
Perishable items always needed, such as: Fresh fruit & Vegetables, bread, potatoes, eggs, milk, cheese
Gas Cards for the woman to get to and from work
Gift Cards for woman for Christmas to places such as Bath & Body, Target, and Wal-Mart etc.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Kids Clothes (ages newborn – 11)
Christmas Gifts for Children ages newborn to 11
Christmas Gifts for moms
Any housing items that could be used in a small apartment (blankets, pillows, décor, kitchen utensils, bathroom supplies, etc)
No candles allowed in apartments.
Let’s get creative and help out people less fortunate than ourselves. Get with friends, churches, schools and other organizations and come up with ways to help make this Christmas what Christmas is really all about, giving and spreading God’s love to all of his children (especially the children). Please feel free to contact me on Facebook, my email @ thunt@scissortailenergy.com or by phone 918-798-7587 with any questions or if you need for me to come pick up your donation. I truly appreciate all of your help.
Also, if you would like to check out Pearl’s Hope or any other program at “United Methodist Circle of Care” go to their website at http://www.circleofcare.org/site/05community/overview.html
The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. -WC Jones
