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As you know, I collect clothing. No I am not Imelda Marcos and I do not have 23,000 pair of shoes. I collect clothing for the homeless and the needy.  You the readers have been instrumental in packing my car to the roof over 20 times.  I don’t think (maybe you do) you fully grasp just how many people you have helped in the last year or so.  These clothing items do not sit around, they are immediately sorted and dispersed to very deserving people.  God bless you and keep them coming.

Why am I leading off with homeless clothing?  Because there is a campaign taking place right here in Chisago Lakes where we can help local needy children. The wonderful folks at Trinity Lutheran Church and some amazing helpers are once again collecting children’s clothing for their annual Kids Outerwear Fair.  They are looking for coats, hats, mittens, scarves, boots and blankets that are clean and in good condition. Money is always accepted, plus children’s socks, underwear and pajamas.  You are encouraged to drop items at Trinity or if you like, you can drop them at the Press and I will see they get there.

This is an amazing event that helps hundreds of  families that live next door to us. You think to yourself “Oh that will never happen to me” but you never know.  A person’s life can change in an instant.  Ask these people if they ever thought they would require some sort of charity or another and I guarantee you they will say they thought the same thing. Which brings us back to this is our time to flat out do the right thing.  Please, I am urging you, to clean out your closets and donate something.  Even if you donate one thing, that is one piece of clothing that child would not have had.

There are many of you out there who have children who have passed their driver’s test and now share the road with you and me.  I am not kidding, it was just yesterday when our son was getting on the bus for his first day at Lakeside.  

Now, this kid who is amazing when  playing video games is out driving in the real world.  I have not yet figured out what scares me more, my child on the road by himself, or the possibility of him being on the road the same time I am.  I understand that no one has yet to stop time, but this one is a hard one.  Maybe it signifies we did a decent (I use that very loosely) job raising him, or maybe it signifies the end of our (so called normal) homelife is in sight. Either way, I am getting older. Either way, it’s one day closer to our home with one less person.  It will come eventually, but I am not ready, not yet anyway.  I have vowed to spend as much time as I am allowed with my kids, so that when they are gone, at least I will have some fond memories.  Now if I could just locate them...wait where are my keys?
 
We have another neat opportunity for you.  If you are a reader (thank you), but do not subscribe, we have a special offer for you.  For a limited time, if you subscribe to the Press you will receive four tickets to the Trail of Terror. If you are a current subscriber and would like to take advantage of the special, all you have to do is re-up for another year of the Chisago County Press by calling the same number.

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