“I don’t have a daddy…”

A team of five families totaling 26 individuals of all ages joined us earlier this week to spend their Christmas vacation reaching out to hurricane evacuees and others in need in the city of Houston.

“We wanted to teach our children what Christmas is really about,” said Holly Apolaini, a member of the team and a staff member of the team’s home church, Praise Fellowship in Warren PA. Earlier this year, Doug Stringer spoke at the church and met with other area church leaders about starting  a Somebody Cares chapter there.

Yesterday, some of the team members helped with the Somebody Cares Houston Christmas toy distribution, helping families select gifts for their children. After Dean Ordiway helped a 7-year-old girl and her mother select some toys, he told them farewell and wished them Merry Christmas. As he began to walk away, he felt a tug on his shirt and heard the little girl say, “Would you give me hug for my daddy? I don’t have a daddy…”

“It tore me up,” Dean said. ”It was all I could do to keep from breaking down.”

This Christmas, as we enjoy our time with loved ones, let us not forget to be watchful for those in need—the widows and the orphans, the poor and the hurting. ‘Tis the season to let them know Somebody Cares, and His name is Jesus.

May each of you have a blessed Christmas!

If you missed the CBS Early Show story on KJ’s Karts for Katrina Kids and the toy distribution at Somebody Cares Cleveland, visit CBS.com

Your gift supports the ongoing work of Somebody Cares locally and globally. Please make checks payable to Somebody Cares and send them to PO Box 570007, Houston TX 77257. For credit card donations, please call our office, 713-621-1498, or visit our newly updated website, www.somebodycares.org. Somebody Cares reserves the right to apply funds toward the greatest need. Your donation is tax deductible.