You know, you hear all these kitschy stories this time of year, but this one, this one is REAL. Thank you for sharing. Thank your friend for caring enough to lend a helping hand to one family. You don't have to give thousands, you don't have to help everybody, you just have to do what she has done -- help somebody. She is truly an exceptional person. You are lucky to have her in your life, and it sounds like she is lucky to have you.

merry christmas alexa :)

Beautiful. I can't think of what else to say to explain the feelings the story causes. Beautiful. The type of story that can restore lost hope.

I love this. Warm fuzzies.
: )

I'll bet she has no problem walking(even running) next time they say a hurricane is coming.

No one else is outraged that this woman requested 5 discmans, two handheld gaming consoles, and two portable DVD players? I know plenty of solidly middle class people who don't get those kinds of gifts for Christmas. I found it incredibly telling that the really important things, like clothes, were further down on the list than the useless toys.

It's precisely this kind of thing that turns me into a scrooge. I tried being a Dear Santa one year and was shocked and horrified by the fact that none of the letters I received were written by the kids, all were written by the parents, and all asked for the kinds of extravagant presents I wasn't going to buy my own family.

When you've lost everything, I hardly think $1000 worth of electronic equipment should be high on your list of priorities. There are poor kids out there who would be happy to get a hot meal on Christmas, and ecstatic to receive a board game or book.

I'm not knocking your generosity, I'm merely expressing outrage that this woman, after the tragedy she suffered, still was unable to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with her children and, instead, begged for the least important things when, especially this year, she and her family should remember how lucky they are to have one another, and to celebrate that - not rack up $3500 in gifts, most of which were non-essential and frankly profligate.

Dear 'Wait, I'm confused'--

For the record this was Tess' list and NOT the mother's. I'm not sure where Tess came up with the list of electronics. I know she was trying to give things that didn't require the family to pay any fees--i.e. cellphone might be helpful, but who was going to pay monthly charges after the initial period? I also think she was trying to think of what kids liked.

Also, she was trying to make things easier for those who wanted to give gifts. All of us who bought clothes worried about getting the kids things they would like. After all they are teenagers, and even after going through tragedies, kids worry about what they look like to their peers. Electronics are simply easier to buy.

Tess tried to buy a wide variety of things for the family--necessities as well as luxuries. Personally, I think she did a good job.

Alexa

Thanks for helping Alexa..I think the key is putting our criticisms aside and helping in a time of need

Here in Fla there is a radio station that is holding a toy drive (they all are) a woman stopped by with an entire pickup truck full of toys. a Local Radio shack was going out of buisness and sellings things greatly reduced so a woman bought as many toys as she. Seems years ago she herself was in trouble and someone help her out at christmas, getting things for her kids etc. So now that she is on her feet , every year she does something similiar
people needing help are out there every year, don't wait for a hurricane to help your fellow human being
To bad you never hear of these stories on the news.

I think that people that have lost everything are happy to receive anything that takes their mind off of things for a few days. It sounds to me like your friend did that. And honestly, they have to find their own housing and jobs, Alexa couldn't help with that. She did a really nice thing and I think that is great. And for the naysayers, what have you done for others lately?