Christmas Giveaway Thread for those in need 2020. It's happening.. again! (Final Update status on P.31)

I am so overwhelmed reading through this thread. This year has been brutal for so many, and I know the people giving here are facing struggles too...the fact that you still look outwards for ways to help others is heartwarming and gives me hope for our future.

My husband and I have really struggled this year. We went into debt the last few years to start our small business and this year was supposed to be very hopeful...I was doing freelance work on the side to help keep us afloat while we worked on the main business and I lost every client when covid hit. I’ve been able to get one or two back, but we are so behind, every month is a juggling act of which bills to pay to avoid disconnection and which ones we can let slide.

On top of all that, we are expecting a very unexpected fifth baby in January, and our youngest child had to have surgery in November. We don’t have any baby stuff because we thought we were “done” after 4 and we don’t have much of a support network to help with that. I am trying to get more work between now and January so i can pay for the extra medical bills from the surgery ($3000), and the birth.

**and yet** I know we’re better off than most. We were already frugal, we never eat our, don’t waste money on cable tv or fancy phones. We don’t have a nice car, I cook everything from scratch and we grew a garden over the summer to save money on fresh veggies. I mend our kids clothes when they get damaged, cut everyone’s hair at home, etc. We are resilient because we’ve already been living more frugally than most. But financially it feels like we’re at a breaking point. There are no jobs for us locally, and there are not many more cutbacks we can make to trim the fat. For Christmas, we’re going with small stocking stuffers over bigger gifts. We were never into huge consumerist Christmases anyway, so the kids won’t be too disappointed. We cut down a tree in the forest - cost us $5. We’re baking cookies using recipes that don’t use a lot of eggs or butter because those ingredients are too expensive to splurge. We’re looking for small ways to be kind to others are share what we have - baking for neighbors or helping an elderly couple cut down a tree yesterday.

I don’t have a specific request. We’re so deep down the hole that it’s hard to make specific requests that don’t feel like robbing Peter to pay Paul. I have faith that our setbacks are temporary. I have faith that because we are tough, free thinking, HARD WORKING people, we will find our way out of this mess. Funds for diapers, doctor bills, baby essentials, etc...would help. PayPal is smoothiesandsauerkraut(at)gmail(dot)com.

God bless every single person who reads these posts with compassion and love...I have seen over and over in life how kindness has a way of returning in unexpected ways.

I can't get PayPal to work. Is that email above active? I would like to send you a Walmart or Amazon e-gift card. :)

OMG Eric thank you!

I'm gonna do it... It's a wild hair, i was so set on not going but i seriously MUST!

I have a harrowing feeling about right after Christmas... Not to bring the beautiful energy of this thread down. But we all JUST MUST be with family this Christmas!

By all means go! There will be a time when they're gone. My dad's been gone for 28 years. My mom died almost 10 years ago and Christmas time still gets to me. No matter what the weather, my husband and I would pack the dogs and some stuff in the car and make the trip up to Iowa. You'll never regret going, but you'll certainly regret NOT going. Hugs and Merry Christmas.

Not quite my house, but you might find something like this not too far away, LOL!

Thank you. I'm glad to hear he was able to upgrade to something different. It doesn't look fit for the cat either. I'd be living in the truck.

Anyhow, I have a 200 dollar gift card that I intend to donate to him and his family in memory of my mother who grew up poor in Indian Territory OK but it won't be until probably tonight after my dad is done with the computer.
My phone stopped my email for some reason. Technology is getting too difficult to deal with.

Anyhow hopefully the gift in memory of my mom and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, will get through to him later.

May I ask what part of Iowa? Back in the 1990's, I lived in the northwest corner 6 miles
south of Early, IA, which is near Storm Lake and Sac City.

May I ask what part of Iowa? Back in the 1990's, I lived in the northwest corner 6 miles
south of Early, IA, which is near Storm Lake and Sac City.

Update:

Still waiting for three email replies on Amazon requests:

Kenny B. (general request)
Bright Side (request for skateboard kid and another kid)
Christy P. (request about Lego and paintball)

If you read this, please check your emails, so we can see what still can be done. I know that Amazon delivery times will also get extended in the coming days. Maybe we can still do something

Thank you. I'm glad to hear he was able to upgrade to something different. It doesn't look fit for the cat either. I'd be living in the truck.

Anyhow, I have a 200 dollar gift card that I intend to donate to him and his family in memory of my mother who grew up poor in Indian Territory OK but it won't be until probably tonight after my dad is done with the computer.
My phone stopped my email for some reason. Technology is getting too difficult to deal with.

Anyhow hopefully the gift in memory of my mom and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, will get through to him later.

Mercy,

and do not forget that Amazon Wish List that i am waiting for.
time is running fast for delivery. ;)

Merry Christmas Blessings

I sent you an email IM

Just a quick stop to let you know that Chris and I have been texting. We'll meet up tomorrow, so my lack of computer abilities and the problems with USPS right now don't matter. Looking forward to a good visit!

So many angels in this thread. Bless you all!

Are you still up for some Giveaway InterMezzo? :) Case is simple, I need funds to buy my siters and brother some Christmas presents. After paying all bills, rents, medications... I am pretty much without money, December is always the worst for me. I don't expect much!
I hope you can support me this time :)
paypal.me/ameliaw81

Our family feels blessed with all of your outpouring of love.

A few corrections. Thus far, we haven't been able to upgrade the trailer to one in better condition yet, as we haven't been able to raise the funds yet.

Yes, there is mold all throughout this trailer and, with the wooden framing being waterlogged, this will have to be our last winter in here whether we find another one or not. There is no way, other than just wait, for it to dry out. As there are three of us, there is no way we can live in the Trailblazer.

During rains or storms or melting of snow on the roof, I have to stay awake and deal with the leaks in the roof. Fortunately for my wife and step-daughter, the worst leak is over my bed. I'd rather be the one to suffer as I don't like it when they are.

For the leak above where I sleep, I took a cake pan, drilled a hole in the side, attached one of my air hoses from the nebulizer and ran the hose outside my window. This assembly is attached on the ceiling under the leak. I have to monitor it to make sure the hose doesn't clog or the pan overflow during heavy rains.

We've tried putting tarps on the roof and tied down the best I can but it never lasts very long with the combination of winds and the damage to the tarp from UV light.

There was a time a few months back that a trailer for $1500 was available but we were still waiting on the possibility of a "stimulus" check but we all know how that turned out with Pelosi blocking it at all costs. So, we are still in this old and falling apart trailer.

It can get frustrating with so little room and 3 people. But, what family doesn't have rough waters once in a while? I have been with my wife for 17 years, married to her for 8, and we have no plans of ever separating. It's until death to us part.

Our water comes from the bathroom sink as the sink in the kitchen doesn't work. In the photo below, you'll see a red handle. This is a water line and an old washing machine hose attached to it. It is how we manual flush the toilet.

The mold in this trailer may have contributed to my current heart problems, I am not sure. Even my cardiologist is not certain what is causing my heart problems. I'm currently on lisinopril/hctz and metoprolol for my heart with nitroglycerine when needed.

Even in light of all the above situation, my family and I couldn't be happier as we have each other, which is second in importance to us, with God and His Son coming first in our lives. We feel that whatever life may throw at us, we will overcome, no matter how terrible it may be. With God, all things are possible.

Our water source:

https://imgur.com/a/fUmY76a

[link to imgur.com (secure)]

Oklahoma Heart Hospital one month ago:

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

Mercy,

and do not forget that Amazon Wish List that i am waiting for.
time is running fast for delivery. ;)

Merry Christmas Blessings

By all means go! There will be a time when they're gone. My dad's been gone for 28 years. My mom died almost 10 years ago and Christmas time still gets to me. No matter what the weather, my husband and I would pack the dogs and some stuff in the car and make the trip up to Iowa. You'll never regret going, but you'll certainly regret NOT going. Hugs and Merry Christmas.

Not quite my house, but you might find something like this not too far away, LOL!

You already made the Hall of Christmas Fame Texan Buckeye, but thank you so much for all the effort you put in to make this work. Absolutely Awesome!!

His post really touched me as well. I had to go outside and pray for him and others in the world in the same predicament. It made me feel sad but grateful at the same time for what I do have. He did say that he has upgraded the trailer to something a little better above, but is still in tough shape. He posted his gfm account and his paypal for assistance. I did not see the paypal so helped in the gfm account.

Keeping this family in my prayers as well.

Thanks, InterMezzo! If her email worked for you, then I will trust that if she doesn't respond. I just wanted to give her the option of a Walmart or Amazon e-gift card. The PayPal problem is on my end, not anyone else's.

If anyone needs food (that hasn't already received help), I can offer one more Walmart e-gift card.

Replied my dear.

Thanks, InterMezzo! If her email worked for you, then I will use it if she doesn't respond. I just wanted to give her the option of a Walmart or Amazon e-gift card. The PayPal problem is on my end, not anyone else's.

If anyone needs food (that hasn't already received help), I can offer one more Walmart e-gift card.

Out of this world really doesn’t begin to cover how amazing you people are...seriously. Wow. I can’t get an amazon wishlist set up fast enough, but amazon or Walmart gift cards are fine to the same email.
I mean...wow...
God bless all of you. 💕💕