Dear Neighbors,
Please consider providing Christmas presents for children of families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Tides of Change (formerly the Tillamook County Women’s Resource Center) offers a loving and meaningful ‘holiday shopping’ experience, providing parents who have received services from Tides of Change the opportunity to “shop” (for free) and choose donated gifts for their children.
This year Tides of Change has received far more requests from families than ever before, forty more kids than last year are in need, and we urgently need for additional gifts in order not to have to turn parents away.
Giving is easy, you can shop the Tides of Change gift registry on Amazon, choose gifts that are suggested, and Amazon will deliver them to Tides of Change. That’s what I did, it took five minutes. You can also drop off unwrapped gifts for children of all ages, donate gift cards (very popular with teens) or donate money for staff to buy gifts. Gifts will be received through December 20.
Go here: https://www.tidesofchangenw.org/holiday-giving
It is my hope that every child in Tillamook County will receive a gift this Christmas. Having grown up in a very poor family, my brother and sister and I received gifts from charity organizations for several years when we were small. I can tell you honestly that those gifts, which may have been small things to the givers, were huge for us. I vividly remember a shiny white patent leather purse that I received one Christmas when I was about seven years old. We were fortunate to get shoes that fit; there was no money for things we did not need, like a little girl’s purse, and I would not have dreamed of asking for one. Fifty-two years later I remember that pretty purse, and how it filled me with wonder and happiness. It made my Christmas memorable and special, and it informed the person I would become, someone who cares about those less fortunate among us, particularly children.
If you imagine that your gift of a Nerf ball or a gift card or a child’s purse won’t really make a difference, you are mistaken. One small thing freely given has the power to change a child’s life. Thank you for giving as you can.
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones,
Mary Faith Bell
Tides of Change board chair
Tillamook County Commissioner
