Christmas for Kids 2005
By
Curt Cunningham
The Christmas for Kids
program was another success this year. We were able to do 26 families with over
60 children. This year we chose 3 agencies that help the homeless. We are
continuing our relationship with the Plateau Outreach Ministries in Enumclaw.
They are a Food bank and assist the needy with basic needs. Next we have 2 new
agencies. First is Vine Maple Place in Maple Valley. They are a Women’s
shelter that assists women and their children escape domestic abuse. This agency
gives these women a place to stay and they also help them rebuild their lives by
giving them a place to live and the opportunity to get back on their feet
without fear. Next is Martin Court a transitional housing facility that helps
homeless families get back on their feet and to help them become productive
members of society by giving them a place to live while they are rebuilding
their lives.
These agencies provide the
assistance they need such as schooling and job training and placement and have
strict guidelines for the families as they must work at getting themselves back
up on their feet or they lose the privileges.
We feel that these agencies
are optimal for our program, as we are giving to families that are working very
hard to get back on their feet. Also this system helps us ensure that the
families we choose are truly needy.
I wish to thank the entire
Local 19 membership for their continuing support for this program. I also want
to thank Local 98 for a donation of $1200, The Seattle Pensioners for a donation
of $300.00. Also the following pensioners; Earl and Valda Sample for a donation
of $100.00, Peter Chelemedos for a donation of $100.00 and Grace Miller for a
donation of $28.00. I also wish to thank Local 19 member Dana Montez for
donating $100.00 in toys and Local 19 “B” member Jason Kytle for donating
$200.00 in toys.
In addition to giving toys
and food vouchers to these needy families, Our Auxiliary #3 President and
Director of the Christmas for Kids program Leona Cunningham makes a hand made
king size ILWU embroidered quilt and raffles it at the July 5th memorial picnic
and then uses these funds to purchase more material and spends countless hours
sewing beautiful hand made quilts to give to the children. Leona told me about
one instance where she gave one of these quilts to a child who then looked up at
her not knowing what has happening and when he found out that this quilt was his
he started to cry because this was the only blanket he had. Now Leona says he
takes his “blanky” everywhere and will not let anyone touch it. Leona who
for the past 5 years who has worked very hard and spent many hours making sure
that this program remains successful.
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