Adopt a Family

It is the time of year again, that ALIVE is reaching out to help those families in need during the holiday season. The Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program helps families affected by domestic violence enjoy the holidays. This special program helps underprivileged St. Louis area families fulfill their holiday wishes, by providing gifts and corporate in-kind donations from members of our community. This year we are experiencing 60% increase in the number of people we are serving, so we expect to have greater-than-usual need for donor groups who will adopt. Each sponsors who choose to "adopt" a family will be provided with a description of the family including the first name and age of each member and a wish and need list. Please contact Elizabeth or Cathy for more information or to sponsor a family: Elizabeth 314-993-7080, alivestl@sbcglobal.net (St. Louis office) or Cathy 636-583-9863, alivefc@sbcglobal.net (Franklin County office) If you would like more information about ALIVE and the many services they provide, please click their link to the right. Thanks!

I have a request for help with some over due gas and electric bills.

The woman in need is a single mom of three daughters who is not receiving any child support.   She and her ex split up in June and she moved to another home with her girls, her new start was destroyed when she discovered that he had not been paying the electric or gas bill as he had promised, which she is still responsible for, and now is due to have her gas turned off this month on the 28th.

She was also recently involved in a car accident that totaled her vehicle, and the driver at fault left the scene of the accident.   

Her gas bill is $403.87 and Electric $321.55.   If you are able and willing to help please contact me and I can give you additional information and contact numbers to the utility companies.  You can reach me by email at 

MicheleLFelton@aol.com

Thank you!

**  I also want to thank this particular woman, she has offered to donate some coats her daughters have outgrown to help fulfill another request, so I want to thank her for showing us something good, even when she is struggling!

Water Bill

I just spoke with the Water Company in Arnold.

They have a request for help with a water bill. They typically send requests to the churches in the area, but the problem is that right now there are so many needs and not enough money in any one organization.

The woman in this situation lost her job and has two foster children. She has filed for unemployment and is looking for work.

The water company is working with her and allowing her to pay what she can.

Taking this burden off her shoulders and allowing her to start fresh will at least give her a little bit of hope.

We can do that.

The balance of her bill is 240.21. I am not asking that you pay the whole thing, if you can and you want that is fantastic. If you want to pay a portion that would be wonderful also.

You can email me if you would like more information at MicheleLFelton@aol.com.

If you want to make a payment you can call Dee Marty at Public Water #1 in Arnold, the number is 636-296-0659 or reach her by email at dmarty@pwsd1jeffco.org

**** edited to add Thank you to Katrina who showed us something good! She called and made a payment towards the bill and the new balance is 215.21. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

**** edited to add Thank you to Anita who also paid towards her bill, the total now is just around 100.00. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Request for Homeless

I have a request from a church in the City that serves the homeless.

They serve breakfast on Saturday mornings, usually hard boiled eggs, a piece of fruit and bread. If any one would like to donate a grocery gift certificate to buy eggs and fruit it would be greatly appreciated. (Panera donates the bread... big shout out to Panera!!)

They could also use socks and T-shirts to give to the homeless that they serve. I am sure maybe they could use blankets as well, it is starting to get cold outside!

If you can help let me know, you can either comment here or reach me via email at:

MicheleLFelton@aol.com

Thanks!!

Winter Coat request

I have a request from someone who works with families, most of them do not have a winter coat. They need both adults and children's.

Anyone have any gently used coats they are willing to part with?   Or does anyone want to buy one or lots more to donate?

If so, let me know and I can either pick them up and deliver or get you in touch with them.

You can either comment here or reach me via email at MicheleLFelton@aol.com.

Thanks!

Hello and Welcome

I have often been told that I am just one person and I can't change the world.

I disagree. Each of us individually can do amazing things. We live in the Show Me State so let's do just that, let's show everyone how we can change the world.

Everyone wants to help, we just don't always know how. I will provide the information and you can do what you can, in whatever way you choose.

For now, I have started a list of organizations to the right that can always use a helping hand, in the form of money, or the donation of your time or talents. If you have any suggestions for other organizations you would like to see added please let me know.

If you know of someone or of a family who needs something let me know that as well.

Little by little, one by one, we will change the world.