[Hammer]

It's just an idea I had the past few months of a bike board adopting a child,not an actual adoption. The membership could pick a child that is underprivlidged or handicaped and send photos of rides,bikes, send letters or a small christmas gift to some kid that would otherwise not have the oportunity to experience this. The adoption does not have to be a money thing, but it could if the membership would want it to be. I think all of us have a soft heart for children no matter our disposition behind the screen, Ithink we could bring some joy to some child's life that would ordinarily not get the opportunity to experience.

Of course this would need Cong's approval.

Give your thoughts and suggestions on this. If you do not agree, that is fine too.

[fumbducker]

Having been involved with the Big Brothers program for several years...I might suggest that if this idea flys, that it be coordinated through a professional agency.

It's easy to let a little guy or gal grab your heartstrings just 'cause they can...let the pros determine the need...

and then I'm all there!


J

[Smitty]

Just one draw-back in said idea being that if this m/c board adopted a young one through the usual donation ways, WILL we still be able to keep it up 2 or 4 yrs from now?

Also the child might not understand a word of the English language & so the letters to him/her will be way beyond their scope of mind even if one person, at the place she is being sheltered, reads them to her.

Now in some cases they will show the child how to draw the letters along with gaps so he/she can come back with a short line in answer to the various parties that have put in money to support him/her.

My late-mother donated money each year to a child for some 10 yrs & once the child was out of the hands of said people taking care of her, she was given another child & each year a painful struggle was made, by the child, to draw a line to her. Still I felt I could not keep on said donations when my Mother passed away as I was the one donating money to heart & cancer funds.

I would say it would be more sensible to send a few dollars in a donation to the proper relief funds even if it is your 2nd or 3rd time in sending.

I have sent a certain % of my net income for past 30 yrs to the Cancer & Heart Fund AS have so many others. This disaster has had me dig deep into my pocket for my present donation to the above & probably I will be forking out more in the near while as these people will not be back & on their feet, with proper shelter, fresh water, food, sewage, & means of a minor income for some yrs. Though some of you may not realize this.

Yet I have dontated said % to the Cancer & Heart funds in '04 & will do so in the oncomming years & others in the State & Cdn will do the same.

[luvtolean]

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