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Chief’s Email – Thankful

ThankfulJust Be Thankful

A few weeks ago my family took a trip, to where else? --- the Mouse (Walt Disney World). November is somewhat of a slow time down there, kids are in school and the weather turns a bit as winter marches near . Seemingly, it is a time that Disney uses to grant wishes to families that otherwise could not afford the trip. I know the Make A Wish Foundation frequently sends kids down there, kids between the ages of 2 ½ and under 18 years of age, who are battling a life threatening disease. On this trip we saw a good many of them.

Little kids with shaved heads, a few strands of hair left from the chemo therapy, our hearts broke for all of them. We did not have to say a word, my wife and I would just look at each other and think how blessed we were. We have been very fortunate and hopefully you are as well, still, many among us face significant health and/or financial challenges. Maybe we can do something about that this year.

As the short story I am about to tell proves, it does not always take a whole lot to help someone out. So I take you back one week to a nationwide department store in Milwaukee where Susie, my sister in law, is working at the jewelry counter

Seems this little old man appeared, his Green Bay Packer stocking cap pulled snuggly about his head as he peered into the jewelry case that housed the clearance items. These were big discounted items of jewelry, costing as little as $25-$55 per item. There he stood with pen, paper and the stores flyer in hand and as he went about trying to do the math and determine the discounted price.

Susie walked over to lend him a hand when he asked as to what she thought was the “best deal”. His voice began to shake a bit as he added that it was but only a year ago when he could have bought his wife anything in the display case, discounted or not. Seems he had made a bad investment, then was laid off his job as an engineer and well, things were not going so well now as they had been a year ago.

His eyes moistened as he spoke of his wife of many years, the love they shared and how he had to find that special gift for that special person who had been at his side for so long. The more he spoke of her, the harder he fought back the tears.

Susie told him that it seemed to her that from the little she had heard, that his wife did not need any jewelry. That she had the love of a good and caring man and he certainly had been fortunate to have such a good wife for so many years. That love, coupled with good health, was more important than anything he was going to find in any display case. He thanked her for her kind comments and departed.

About 20 minutes later that same little old man in the Green Bay Packer stocking cap re-appeared. The tears and sadness from his face now replaced with a huge smile. He said he had felt pretty bad as he was leaving the store empty handed when out of the corner of his eye he saw a sales counter full of frying pans, not just any frying pans, but the same one his wife had used for years. In fact the very same one that he had accidentally thrown away a few months back.

He and his wife had searched and searched for the exact replacement, nowhere to be found until just now. He went on to brag that his wife made the best fried chicken in the world and that his wife took such enjoyment out of making it because it always made him so happy when she did. Well, the price of the frying pan was in his budget and acting as if he had found a bag of gold, he smiled, thanked Susie for her kindness and off he went. Can you imagine that, all that joy from a simple frying pan?

Here is where you come in!

I have been contacted by a few groups looking for help. Some need money, some need potatoes and ham for dinners, the list goes on. Rather than select one or two and ask you to consider helping them, I am going to ask that all of those groups looking for donations and such for the holidays send me an email and I will then send out all of the organizations to those who receive “The Chief’s Email” and let them decide who to help. You all have been so supportive in the past to help those in need, let’s try it again!

If your group needs help over the holidays, please send me an email in the following format:

  • Name of Organization or Description of the Effort
  • Name, telephone number and email of the Point of Contact, include a website if available
  • Describe what is needed and how it can get to the people that need it
  • When do you need it by (Give me a date)

I will personally check on the validity of those groups who are asking for money and other items and then I will pass them along to you. Scammers need not apply, I will find you out.

city_of_portagePlease send me this information by close of business on Monday, November 28th and I will get it out just as quickly as I am able.

I look forward to hearing from those in need, I know those who subscribe to this email will stand ready to help you the best they can.

Until then be safe and remember, if it does not seem right, it probably isn’t. Call the Police and let them figure it out, that is what they get paid to do.

Contact Us!

  • Emergency - "911"
  • Routine Business - (219) 762-3122
  • STOP Team - (219) 764-5676
  • We Tip Line- 1 - 800 - 78 - CRIME

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving