Every Christmas Eve I publish a charity story, and it usually involves bringing Christmas to a sick child. It’s always been that way, really. This year, it’s time to mix things up. There are many – young, old, and all ages in between that don’t get to experience Christmas. For them, it’s just another day on the calendar.
Deborah Parson, the co-founder of Silver Santa, asked me to guess how many low-income veterans there were in Austin and San Antonio? I aimed high, “I’m guessing 30,000.”
“There are 105,000.”
Seemingly an impossible mountain to climb but you must start somewhere. So we did.
Chive Charities donated $10,000 to bring Christmas to as many low income and senior citizen veterans as possible this year.
Santa needed a bit of help this year after ankle surgery. So the employees at theCHIVE HQ volunteered their time. To the Austin VA Hospital we go…
Of those 105,000 vets, many are disabled and in need of medical attention. Hospitals are no place for anybody during the holidays, especially those who served our country. So we thought it would be appropriate to set up shop for a week to bring Christmas to as many veterans as possible.
We volunteered our time to give away presents to low income and disabled veterans. It would take nearly a week to give all the presents away.
Around 3,500 presents to be exact.
We met Michael Wittrock, the Voluntary Service Specialist and former Naval Commander. He has worked at the VA as a volunteer for 18 years. Michael had two strokes the day before we met him (you read that right). He still insisted, not only on being present, but helping disperse the gifts. His Fitbit registered 9,000 steps by the time we met him. I’ve never met somebody more committed to helping our veterans. “These are my brothers. They’d do the same for me.”
Richard Stevens, Vietnam Vet
Donald Jenkins served in the Army. A long time ago Seattle Sounders fan, he now has my prize possession. Couldn’t have a better new owner.
We nicknamed him the unknown soldier. He was happy to talk to me, “But I don’t want any recognition, if you’d be so kind.”
He had been to the department of radiology a few days prior when Silver Santa was handing out gifts. “I already received a gift. If it’s alright with you, I’d like you to give my gift to one of my brothers. Thank you.”
“No, thank you, for everything, for your service.”
“Son, don’t thank me, thank the young men who gave the last full measure.”
I told him that, earlier this year, my grandfather and I had done just that.
On the 74th Anniversary of D-Day, my grandfather checked one more thing off his bucket list. He wheeled himself out on the lawn overlooking Arlington Cemetery, high on a hill under the shade of a sugar maple tree, and saluted his fallen brothers.
It’s now winter on that same hill. The unknown soldier was right. This Christmas, take just a moment to remember the men and women who celebrated their last Christmas years ago, sacrificing their lives so we could be safe with our families this Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas, Chivers,
John
PS – This event was made possible by the hard work of Kelly Wisniewski, the unsung hero of this story. She’s a part of a small but committed group at Chive Charities who are truly making the world 10% Happier. If you enjoy reading stories like this, please donate or become a member. In return, we’ll keep fighting for the underdogs every single day.
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/an-unknown-soldier-and-his-christmas-gift-12-photos/
News Pictures An unknown soldier and his Christmas gift (12 Photos)
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/bringing-christmas-to-americas-heroes-10-photos-7.jpg?quality=85&strip=info&w=920
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