Recyclerz
12-20-2003, 09:25 AM
Hey Folks,
I need some quick advice, especially from anybody who works for the Postal Service or one of the private delivery services (UPS, FedEx, et al.)
At Christmas, I try to answer one or two of the letters that kids send to Santa that get collected at the Post Office. Usually, it is a pretty easy deal: I pick a letter or two with reasonable (and touching) requests, get the stuff and call the parent to arrange a time to drop off the gifts. (Sorry kids, this Santa isn't buying you motorcycles or PS2s with 5 games.)
This year I take a letter from a 14 year old who is just asking for hats, gloves, etc. or a CD player for her and her two younger sisters cuz her Mom was laid off and they'd be happy with anything. So this is great; I can buy all the stuff she asked for (throwing in a few CDs as well) and make 3 kids and at least 2 adults (myself included) happy this year. First problem, after buying the stuff I can't find a phone number to contact the Mom. Ok people have unlisted #s or cell phones (or none at all), so I'll just try to drop it off unannounced.
I live in Yonkers which is a fairly large city and the 'hoods range from mixed - working to upper middle-class (where I am) to the poorer areas that DMX raps about (which is where they are.) So this morning I drive down to the address on the envelope and try to find the apartment. After finding the building and stepping over a puddle of piss in the doorway I try to read the names on the mailboxes/buzzers to find the family. No good: only a handfull are legible and I don't feel comfortable ringing bells at random to try to find the one I'm looking for.
So here's where you guys come in. Should I:
Mail or have the packages delivered professionally with the chance that the delivery guy won't be able to find the right apartment either
or
Just give the stuff to a regular charity knowing it will probably get to somebody who needs it anyway?
The only downside to Choice B is a selfish one. I get an extra kick out of helping someone just "out of the blue". This girl is 14 and, I suspect, already knows life can be hard so to have a modest request come from nowhere would be cool.
I need to make a decision by Monday AM. Thanks for your help.
Happy Holidays to all.
[b]Sig-less in Gaza[b]
I need some quick advice, especially from anybody who works for the Postal Service or one of the private delivery services (UPS, FedEx, et al.)
At Christmas, I try to answer one or two of the letters that kids send to Santa that get collected at the Post Office. Usually, it is a pretty easy deal: I pick a letter or two with reasonable (and touching) requests, get the stuff and call the parent to arrange a time to drop off the gifts. (Sorry kids, this Santa isn't buying you motorcycles or PS2s with 5 games.)
This year I take a letter from a 14 year old who is just asking for hats, gloves, etc. or a CD player for her and her two younger sisters cuz her Mom was laid off and they'd be happy with anything. So this is great; I can buy all the stuff she asked for (throwing in a few CDs as well) and make 3 kids and at least 2 adults (myself included) happy this year. First problem, after buying the stuff I can't find a phone number to contact the Mom. Ok people have unlisted #s or cell phones (or none at all), so I'll just try to drop it off unannounced.
I live in Yonkers which is a fairly large city and the 'hoods range from mixed - working to upper middle-class (where I am) to the poorer areas that DMX raps about (which is where they are.) So this morning I drive down to the address on the envelope and try to find the apartment. After finding the building and stepping over a puddle of piss in the doorway I try to read the names on the mailboxes/buzzers to find the family. No good: only a handfull are legible and I don't feel comfortable ringing bells at random to try to find the one I'm looking for.
So here's where you guys come in. Should I:
Mail or have the packages delivered professionally with the chance that the delivery guy won't be able to find the right apartment either
or
Just give the stuff to a regular charity knowing it will probably get to somebody who needs it anyway?
The only downside to Choice B is a selfish one. I get an extra kick out of helping someone just "out of the blue". This girl is 14 and, I suspect, already knows life can be hard so to have a modest request come from nowhere would be cool.
I need to make a decision by Monday AM. Thanks for your help.
Happy Holidays to all.
[b]Sig-less in Gaza[b]