I must be getting soft...
 

hearted in my "old age"...Today while shopping Deb & myself saw a Christmas tree (Courtesy of the Salvation Army) that contained lists of items that disadvantaged children that were hoping to receive gifts for Christmas, So being that we don't have children (Or will after Deb's chemo/radiation treatments) we decided to pick a list and fill it for a child, Who may otherwise not receive a visit from "ol jolly St.Nick".

We picked a 10 yr.old girl's list which consisted of school supplies, scented lotions, A Barbie doll, A diary, Finger nail polish & hair ribbons (Which caused me to break into the lyric of Stevie's song "Juliet", "You get some ribbons and some bows and get back out on the road again").

It was rather heartbreaking to know that this child may not have otherwise had a joyful Christmas if we did not go out of our way to help out by sharing...So heartbreaking that I nearly lost it a few times as we shopped for this child to make her dream come true (It takes alot to make me shed tears, Even more to do it publicly, But this was one of the first times this has happened in a while.)

We may not be the most financially stable couple around (Cancer has a way to destroy your life's savings) but at least we wanted to try to give back after the year we been through by showing that the real meaning of Christmas is giving...

Peace out, Take care & blame Canada!!!!

Brian "You have yet to see anything til ya see a 6'-2" 235lb. man near tears" j.

ps-A big Screwyou (!!!) goes to the Target stores for banning the Salvation Army "bellringers" from appearing in front of your stores...That's fine, We "banned" ourselves from taking our dollars to your stores :thumbsup:

That's terrific, Brian!!
 

:thumbsup: that was an awesome thing for you guys to do Brian. She will appreciate it so much.

I don't want to somehow cheapen you and Deb's very sweet and generous act of kindness by bringing this up, but I just wanted to mention that the Target company wasn't being miserly or Grinch-like by blocking the Salvation Army bellringers from standing outside of their stores.

The S.A. has a discriminatory hiring policy against homosexuals, and the S.A. refuses to grant domestic partnership benefits towards homosexuals in their employ (in fact, they had decided at one point to offer domestic partnerships, and then retracted their decision).

So, partly due to the S.A.'s discriminatory policies, Target chooses to distance themselves from them. But it should be pointed out that Target has a policy against all sidewalk "solicitors."
(It should also be pointed out that Target makes a lot of charitable donations and works closely with St. Jude's.)

Now, having said all of that, I do love that the Salvation Army helps needy children, and I do actually drop whatever money or spare change I have in my pockets into their buckets, because of THOSE children. But it still bothers me to think that my donation is acceptable to them, but I am not.

True...but...
 

the Target stores in this area have NOT made it known why it's not supporting the Salvation Army, Even if it's because of the SA discrimination against gays (I think being in the heart of the Bible-belt explains that!)...They have yet to give any real explanation as to why to the media in OKC (The only mention reasoning is the typical "company policy against sidewalk solicitation.")

Thanks for the info...While I support helping children, I do not support the SA's discrimination.

Brian j.

Brian and Christy... this is a lovely and generous gesture!

That is so nice Brian. :)

There is something like that in Rhode Island called the Giving Tree. I have not done that and I believe that the 10th was the last day.

There is also the Community Food Bank where you can donate a canned good.

I heard on the radio today that there is also an organization that help the Veterans in our area.

I'll have to look into one of these to see if I can give just a little something to help make someone's(who would not have much)Christmas just a little brighter.


Brian you have inspired me. You too Christy. :nod:

awwwww how sweet of u!!! :thumbsup: ~

You and Deb were very generous, Brian. :xoxo:

I didn't do the Angel tree this year, but I did donate to Toys for Tots. It really is heartbreaking to think of children not receiving anything for Christmas because of poverty. :(

We did that...
 

yesterday too! Stopped at a Love's Country Store for gasoline for the ol' Black Death mobile and as we were ready to leave we noticed someone setting up a table out front of the store and it was "Toys For Tots"...So Deb goes up to the lady and donates money even before the lady even had placed objects on the table to sell to raise money for "Toys For Tots".

Brian j.

Hmm...
 

That sounds like a great idea Christy. Maybe City of Hope or anything. Does anyone know of some of the Mac members favorite charities? I know Stevie has City of Hope and the AZ Heart Institute.

I'd be all about it. :)

Cool!
 

Sounds cool to me...
 

cause those of us in the metal community have already have 2 charities to make donations to (Courtesy of DamagePlan.com) :

"The Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund has been set up to cover bereavement and medical expenses for John 'Kat' Brooks, Chris Paluska, and Jeffrey 'Mayhem' Thompson. Please make checks payable to 'The Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund.' Donations can be sent to the mail-only address:

Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund
110 SW Thomas
Burleson, TX 76028

A special fund has also been set up through VH1's Save The Music Foundation. Save The Music purchases new musical instruments to restore music education programs that have been cut due to budget reductions in the past or to save programs at risk of elimination due to lack of instruments. The Foundation also conducts awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives and fundraising events. Checks can be mailed to:

VH1 Save The Music Foundation
1515 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10036

So figure out which charity y'all want to help and I'm there...

Brian j.

VH1 Save The Music Foundation


Well, I have already contributed to that fund via the Ebay Fleetwood Mac front row ticket auctions. :nod:

I know that Stevie would rather you donate money than send her cards, gifts, etc. for her birthday or for Christmas. I think donating money in her name would be an excellent idea for all of us to do. As far as Lindsey's favorite charity as well as Mick and John...not a clue but again, i'm sure if we did anything in his name or any members name they'd be honored by it.

Yeah...
 

I will be making my contribution to 'em very soon (Along with the DBD Memorial Fund)...

I wonder what good charity would be worthy (There's so many of 'em in need of help).

Brian j.

Lol!
 

Save the Music is a great charity, IMO. When funding gets cut for public schools, the arts are one of the first things to go......... :distress:

There are so many charities I'd like to be able to help....it's hard to pick just one.

The TJ Martell Foundation is a good one....supports AIDS, cancer, and lukemia research.

Hay Brian doesn’t it feel great when you do something like that? The rewards are tremendous. It helps people you don’t even realize it would help. I support a few causes during the year. It helps others but it helps me too. I volunteer my labor mostly and at Christmas I help out with food. If it’s an organization helping with food, health or shelter I’m all for helping anyway I can. I’ve met other great volunteers and I’ll tell ya. Once you’re into volunteering you’ll be surprised how we all take care of each other. You meet people with all kinds of talents that know other volunteers and the help comes in many forms.

This year I’m active in a food harvest that’s right down the road from me. It is so much fun I can’t describe it. Sure there are some hairy moments but it all comes together. We have young courts ordered community service folks, first time volunteers and retired people all working together in one big warehouse but I’ll tell ya the older people work the hardest. It’s hard to step back and watch them work but if you get in they’re way they snap at you LOL. They show up in the morning bones creaking and sore but at the end of the day they walk out whistling and wanting more.

I started volunteering years ago and the rewards have been indescribable. I’ve had my truck fixed for free. Dental work done at cost. Plumbing fixed at cost. Brand new tires for free. All kinds of help with my business. Client referrals. Credit and tax help. God the list goes way beyond these. The most important though is it keeps me young and helps the less fortunate. I like checking out the pretty young gals that show up too but that’s another story.

I wish you all a wonderful beautiful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. It all comes full circle. Believe me.