Saturday, December 29, 2007

Year End Recap: Operation Band-Aid


Over the holidays we asked for your help in providing some families with Christmas gifts and necessities. We called our endeavor Operation Band-Aid, and told you about the specific needs of the families we planned to help.

We were blessed to receive the following items from generous donors, as well as some cash to purchase :

  • Target Gift Certificates
  • Make-Up and manicures for the teen girls
  • New running shoes
  • Haircuts and hairstyles at a local salon
  • DVDs of the Christmas story and Jesus' ministry
  • Necklace and Earrings
  • Bath and Body products,
  • Football
  • Clothes
  • Video games
  • Spongebob Puzzle
  • Journals and Notebooks
  • A Christmas tree
  • Tonka Truck
  • Bibles

It was quite a challenge determining how to divide up the presents so that we could give as much to each family as possible. This being our first year doing something like this, we had a lot to learn! We also personally drove some of the kids to the mall to do some shopping for gifts for their parents. Additionally, we spent time with a couple of the families over lunch, getting to know them and how we could best assist them. We t

We had a difficult time coordinating with the families that we had originally worked with, and were disappointed to learn that one or two of the parents struggling with addiction reached the point of getting in trouble with the law. That was a difficult thing to watch, and it served to remind us that overcoming addiction only happens when the addict is willing and ready to make a change.

Despite that setback and disappointment, our main objective was to provide for the kids, and we did just that. Whether or not we see those kids again, we know that God has used Addiction Overcome, Inc. to plant the seeds of hope in their lives. Perhaps years from now, they will remember the year that a group of total strangers went out of their way to give them a special Christmas.

It was a privilege and a blessing to be God's servants to the hurting this Christmas season! We look forward to the new year, and the new opportunities he will bring us for helping families as they work to overcome addiction.

8 comments:

Panthergirl said...

Kudos to you for your tireless endeavors. As for me, I am greatly heartened by the quote at the top of your blog.

My son and I lost his dad to lung cancer (due to smoking) when my son was only 8 years old. His dad was also a coffee addict, had been a coke addict, had a form of alcoholism that few people recognize as such (didn't drink in large quantities, but HAD to have a drink every night with dinner, no matter what. Would get into the car and drive to the store if there was no beer or wine in the house). Basically a highly addictive person, from a highly addictive family.

I have feared for my son a great deal. He is now almost 13 but an adamant anti-smoking, anti-drinking person. I hope he remains as such, and again.... that quote gave me a lot of peace of mind.

Happy New Year to you.

Anonymous said...

This is not an easy addiction to give up. Its even more tougher for a depressed person. I wish all the best who are attempting to give up pornography and masturbation. I am with you guys.
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Anonymous said...

You may say it is just a few cookies but if there is deterioration to your health, and you eat them without control, your cookie addiction needs to end.
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Judith said...

Panthergirl: I hope you return here and see this. I don't know how I missed this message over all the months, but God is goofy like that sometimes, appearing where he's always been but just showing his face when I'm struggling with something, searching for answerd. My daughter and your son are in almost identical situations biologically and are the same age. Perhaps we can partner up in prayer for the two of them as they walk the halls of their most difficult trasition in school and LIFE in the 6th - 8th grades.

Her name is Olivia Grace; what is his? Maybe we could speak over the phone once in a while. I would love to meet you.

I'm so sorry for your loss. And I admire your stick-to-itness and what that modeled to your son. You are faithful in a healthy, no-nonsense way. He is so blessed to have you for his mom.

In His Love and Peace,

Judith

Unknown said...

You don't fear panthergirl your son is definitely anti-smoking,anti-drinking person.I hope he give You a lot of peace of mind
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gracy

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nancy said...

Addiction Overcome, Inc. is a non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organization that relies on your generous gifts and contributions to fund our operations. Our needs are widespread and range from things as simple as putting gas in the car we use to transport children to and from family visit days at in-patient rehabilitation centers, to paying for Bibles and other outreach materials for addicts.
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nancy
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mathew said...

Addiction is very dangerous for the health. Habbit of addiction is needs to end of life.