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Dear Editor:
A trying Christmas is finally over which contains tears of joy. I knew it was going to be a rough year, I just didn’t realize how rough. We delivered toys to over 5,111 children in twice the counties as last year with fewer toys, with deliveries starting on December 19. Last year we gave each child six toys, this year due to the numbers, we gave three. Giving only three broke my heart.
Due to the number of children from many counties, I couldn’t complete this task by myself. The out of town help came in the form of Jennings of Beardstown with Billy McDade along with several others with a true Christian and Holiday spirit. After many deliveries, we ran out of gas money to make deliveries. Jennings and the Browning Church came through helping us with fuel to complete Santa’s rounds.
During our deliveries, we found several families that would not have had a Christmas meal but for the Beardstown and Jacksonville Wal-Marts, and one local who wishes to remain anonymous. Those families celebrated with a Christmas dinner.
The worst part about a letter like this is that you always miss thanking someone, so forgive me, Thank you one and all.
After sending all my toys to the Joplin tornado victims, I was out of toys for this Christmas Season. That’s when the Cass Co Star-Gazette Beardstown, WRMS Radio Beardstown, KHQA channel 7 Quincy, and V.I.T. School took over. Through these helpful channels, the public was made aware that Santa’s Workshop needed toys for Christmas. V.I.T. High School walked in my door with 100 rocking horses, my first thought was, “How do I get rid of 100 rocking horses?” Well, they are gone. I would also like to thank Bobbie at Dollar General, the Exchange Club of Beardstown and many others that donated toys. I wish you all could have experienced not only the smiles on the children’s faces, but their mothers and fathers as well. Yes, tears came to their eyes.
I want to thank all who helped and if the good Lord is willing he will let me continue for a long time to come.
God bless you all and may the Christmas Spirit last 365 days a year.
Sincerely,
Jack Bailey
Santa’s Workshop |
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