TO FELLOW GERMANNA_COLONIES LIST SUBSCRIBERS (And to subscribers to the other Germanna-related Lists and web pages I manage.) I don't hardly know how to start this, so why don't I just start from the beginning and tell the story. As you know, on the 20th of December I posted a note with subject "A Christmas Story", which dealt with a small boy buying a winter coat for a classmate whom he didn't even like, and the giver's final understanding of the true meaning of Christmas and Santa Claus. As a result of that post, I heard personally from one of our fellow Germanna_Colonies subscribers, after Christmas was over, thanking me for the story. As a result of her reply we have carried on communication for the past several days, discussing Christmas, what it means to us, etc. Then, after one of my replies to her, in which I mentioned the Christmas Trees in the lobby of the local WalMart, where tags are hung on the trees for needy children and what they needed for Christmas, she sent the following: "George, thank you for your reply. I grew up as a child (one of six) that needed a coat or shoes for Christmas, so I understand and feel the longing for the necessities of life for these children. I, too, feel the love and desire to give to these little ones that really need necessities of life and do not have them except for the love and generosity of others. Sometimes I think that is why God allows children to need things and allows those who have the desire to give, to be blessed by the giving. Thank you and your wife for giving from your hearts. I just know that you will receive blessings in return. My son met and married a girl with four children and they both have been out of work in our highest unemployment county in Virginia at this time. They both have learning disabilities and have a hard time finding work that they are able to do, and to be able to earn a living wage. Though we are retired, my husband and I provided most of the clothes and toys. Their little boy did not bring the paper home in time for them to sign up for Christmas Cheer this year. That would have helped them a lot. The little nine year old asked for a Game Boy, because all of his friends had one, but he really needed clothing most, so my daughter gave her older game boy and game to him. Thank you again to you and your wife for your loving and generous hearts." As you see this lady's family desperately needs some help. If most of you are like me, you can give only in limited amounts, and then only to those you feel are the most needful. There's usually not enough money available in any one family to satisfy the need to help others to any large degree. Thus, I am sending this to all of you, hoping someone may be able to help a fellow Germanna List subscriber in Virginia. (I'm not listing her name or email address for privacy reasons.) As a result of the above quoted email, I replied to the lady asking what was most needed for her son and his family, and if it would be OK to post a plea here. Today, I received the following: "My eyes are raining! Your kindness is overwhelming. I have been praying so much for some HOPE for their situation. Just Tuesday my son met with a lady from the Martinsville office to have him tested next Thursday in Roanoke for his disability of Central Auditory Processing Disorder. It is a disability covered under the Federal Disabilities Act. My son never wanted to admit that he has a disability even though the school tested him around the seventh or eighth grade and diagnosed him with this disorder. He really had a rough time in school though he did complete high school. He has since tried to work and make it on his own, but has had difficulty. I believe that the disability is hindering him. He just applied today for work to clean the kennels at the new dog pound. It would be part-time, but he hoped he might be able to find another job part-time to help. But jobs are few and far between here in Patrick County. Today, he asked me if I had any odd jobs he might could do that would pay for their electric bill which is about forty some dollars. He doesn't like to ask for money. Their trailer payment rent is two hundred dollars a month and his wife cleans one house for fifty dollars a week and that pays the rent. She is sick and being tested, with results coming tomorrow. Social Services is helping them with food. Due to the stress, he does have an acid reflux problem with which he has to have medication. They do not have money for medicine, medical bills or gas, as they have an 85 Oldsmobile to use to get to work and it is in dire need of ball joints. They are making it from one week until the next. My husband and I do what we can but we cannot cover everything. One of the children is with its father, so they have the other three. She receives very little child support. I am a person who believes in work and helping one's self, with all that is possible. It really hurts to see my son and his family in need with no hope for better. They keep talking about getting on their feet, but I have been unable to see them doing this with the economy the way it is at present. Your offer for even the smallest amount of help would be so fully and gratefully appreciated. You have a very kind heart even to offer to help. My heartfelt thanks and prayers are yours. I do not know if I have connections to the Germanna Colonies.......but my daughter is married to a really nice guy named Garry Layman. And Layman is one of the names listed in the colonies. I must check into this further. I hope that I can claim kinship with people who are as caring and concerned with the less fortunate people of our world. That would truly be a blessing. Thank you for caring." I don't know any of the circumstances of the son or the woman he married. All I know is that regardless of why they have such a predicament, something should be done to help the children, and to help the parents as much as possible. I'm not advising you give money (although I'm sure that would be greatly appreciated); what I though was that someone in their area of VA (Patrick County) might know of some agency that could really help the family. Maybe someone knows of someone who could provide employment for the parents. Or maybe someone knows of other ways to help. As you can see from the lady's last email, the son IS trying, but he lives in the county in VA with the highest rate of unemployment. And, instead of bluntly asking his mother for money, he offers to do "odd jobs" for her in return for his utility payment. I want all of you to stop reading this right now and think of how YOU would feel if YOUR son came to you and asked to do odd jobs in order to earn desperately needed money! How lucky most of us are NOT to be in such a situation! You can read both quoted emails from the lady and see exactly what is needed. ========================= Please forgive me for posting this plea here, since it is definitely not on-topic for genealogy discussion; but, it does concern us Germannans in a round-about way, since the lady in question IS one of our subscribers and trying to find genealogy information for her son-in-law. If anyone can help, or has suggestions, PLEASE email me PRIVATELY (not back here to the List, PLEASE). I'm just hoping that together we can do something to help this family, even giving them a belated Merry Christmas. I have started a fund to buy them some food and help pay utility bills; if anyone wants to add to it, let me know. If anyone can help with employment or assistance from any government agency, also please let me know. My family had a great Christmas as usual, and now I feel rather guilty about it, especially thinking of the small children who had almost no Christmas. If I had known about it in advance, I certainly would have seen that the family at least received a good Christmas meal and that the children received some presents other than clothing and a few used toys. God Bless the little tykes. Hoping someone can help more, SgtGeorge George W. Durman GERMANNA_COLONIES List Manager Germanna Colonies Family History Website Manager

At 01/10/2003 12:52 AM Friday, GERMANNA_COLONIES List Manager wrote: *********START OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE TEXT********* >TO FELLOW GERMANNA_COLONIES LIST SUBSCRIBERS >(And to subscribers to the other Germanna-related Lists and web >pages I manage.) >(snip) **********END OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE TEXT*********** Folks, the response has been overwhelming!!!!! I've had replies offering money, clothing, food, etc. And, some were from dear cousins who themselves have very little, some who have little income except for their puny Social Security checks. Offers are pouring in from all over for money, food, clothing, etc. All we need now is some help for the son's medical condition and some help finding him some meaningful employment there in Patrick County, VA. Don't misunderstand me, more money, food, clothing, toys, etc., I'm sure, will be greatly appreciated. Here is a little good news from the lady who emailed me. ========================= (snip) "My daughter-in-law received the results from her blood work today and it was okay except she needs better nutrition. I am thankful for that, also. I really do not know what to say. My heart is full and I feel like "my cup runneth over". "Thank you" just does not seem like enough. May the Lord BLESS you (referring to all the wonderful Germanna cousins who have responded so far). And I just know that He will!" (snip) ========================= I've decided to let each donor send his/her gift directly to the mother. I've emailed her asking for her US Postal snail address. As soon as I receive it, I will reply privately and individually to each person who has emailed me with something to donate. Also, as soon as she sends me the age, sex, and sizes for each of the children I will post them here publicly. The lady from Patrick Co., VA, says she is overwhelmed -- well, let me say that I too am overwhelmed by the offers so far. I think this family is going to be greatly surprised soon. And, who knows what God has in store for them. Maybe our generosity now will help save the lives of the children; maybe one of them will grow up and become a doctor because of your generous help, and he/she just might discover a cure for some dreadful disease. Or maybe he/she will become President of the USA. Who knows what a little Good Samaritan giving now will reap in the future. I feel that God had a hand in my receiving the original email, and that He has a purpose for my asking for help for this family. All I can say is that I was, uncharacteristically, moved to make the plea here on these Lists. Thanks to all who have responded so far. May God Bless You, SgtGeorge George W. Durman