“Operation Red Sleigh” (ORS) a Success -2010 Update
As you read my “thank-you” each year, you know the Lord always gives us a challenge, and this year was no different. The economy has been a challenge for the last three years. This year we saw 746 applications initially. Again, we did shopping dollar amount tiers in 2010 by age but still were able to assist only 447 children (177 families at the time of this printing). [2009: 399 children from 159 families, 2008: 346 children]. THANK YOU to Toys for Tots for taking the ones we couldn’t.
For about six years, the local Gideons have passed out little testaments at the ORS Christmas lunch and gift distribution day. This year, their headquarters in Nashville, TN turned down their request and would not ship them the requested Bibles. All of a sudden, we felt like we were in a foreign country and unable to share God’s word. The local group we use is very upset as this was a big opportunity to get the word into hands of as many as they could; especially, since they are not allowed to pass them out at school any longer. If you read my letters each year, you will remember that the devil tries to throw something in our path and our faith gets tested each year. Again, 2010 is no different and this became our additional challenge.
I shared the Gideon story with a co-worker. His words… “Don’t lose faith. God will work it out.” I said, “You are right. He always has.” I just needed a reminder because that was what I had written about for the last two years.
On Thursday, Dec. 9th, I went to Faith Book Nook and told Ms. Doris the story. She offered a specific donation toward our purchase of Bibles and at a good deal. As I went out the door, I told her, I’m not going to let the devil win this one either and told her I needed to make some calls and I’d call her back. I thought and prayed about for a little while and talked about it some more with the ORS Board of Directors, and we decided to step out on faith again and we ordered 438 bibles that were Spanish and English paperback New Testaments. Before six o’clock Friday evening, we had enough money and commitments to pay for the Bibles we ordered and a donation of an additional 80 Bibles from Sawyersville Wesleyan Women’s group, who had some on hand. We had close to 800 people at the luncheon (children with parents). We feel this is also an important part of our ORS ministry. It was such a blessing and heart wrenching at the same time, to have people still asking for a Bible long after we ran out. Additional donations have come in for this purpose, and we have established a fund specifically for the purchase of Bibles each year.
In 2009, many of the local organizations that provide Christmas for children partnered in order to find a way to serve more during these tough economic times. We shared a web-based program that allowed us to do just that. Between all of these local agencies, we’ve been able serve over 2,300 children at the time of this printing. Thank you to Toys for Tots, Christmas Cheer, Salvation Army, DSS Foster Care, the individual schools and area churches for being a partner in this process. It had been great to see each of us crossing lines to help each other with the ultimate goal.
On behalf of Operation Red Sleigh, Inc. we want to thank everyone for helping us pray about the needs (and wants) of the children in Randolph County as well as ORS. A big thank-you goes to the people that are part of Christians United of Southern Randolph County for providing a wonderful lunch for close to 800 people and for cooking the lunch for the cyclists at our July event. We also would like to thank the Gospel and Bluegrass groups who gave of their time and talents in 2010 for fundraiser concerts, area cyclists for their participation in the annual Sleigh Ride, the sponsors of all of our events, Cox’s Harley Davidson, participants and the Asheboro Harley Owners Group for the assistance with our very successful first motorcycle ride, and many who helped make the gift distribution on Saturday, December 11, a success. There are so many to thank. Whether you donated an item or made a monetary donation, participated in a fundraiser or volunteered your time or services to help with any event or project during the year, or even attended an event, gave us discounts on purchases, or just said a prayer, you are an important part of why our “cause” came to fruition and we couldn’t do it without you each year. So many volunteered whose names we never knew. It is such a blessing to see it all come together and to have everything work out.
You can keep up with our progress and events or even make donations on our website, www.operationredsleigh.com. You can make a donation in memory or in honor of someone to the regular Christmas fund or now, the additional Bible fund.
Can’t give financially to support ORS? Give the gift of a prayer or your time and volunteer somewhere in your community. It may be only a small thing you do, but it could make a difference in someone’s life.
No matter the project, we always get stories to share and a huge blessing. Thank you for your continued support of ORS.
Amanda Varner, President
Operation Red Sleigh, Inc.
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