HAHA... I found this awesome Jeep in the parking lot at Michael's! :) This was a good laugh after volunteering at the Montgomery Country Christmas Store. To be eligible to "shop" at the Christmas store, you must have an income that is no greater than 125% of the federal established poverty level and be a Montgomery County resident. Along with these, they must meet at least one of these conditions: be 62 years of age or older, receive some type of disability, have children 17 years of age or younger (children age 18 and 19 must still be in high school), or have emergency circumstances.

The store is divided into "departments." Like I worked in the teen gift department. There is a department for little kids (boys and girls), a bike department, and a household department. Each eligible person or couple gets 100 points for each child per department. So basically they get to pick out toys and clothes that people have donated or bought and donated. I was assigned to help people "shop." These shopping days went on all week and if there were as many people there every day as there was Friday when I volunteered, that's A LOT of needy people! I had no idea there were that many around here that needed help for Christmas! People were so thankful that many started crying! This one lady was in a wheelchair so she couldn't go behind the jewelry counter to shop like everyone else, so we were trying to ask about her girls and bring stuff to show her. She got a phone call from one of the girls and just started crying. She told us she was in the hospital and things were hard right now and she was so thankful she could get gifts for her kids for Christmas... It was hard to watch and think about, and definitely humbling.


Here's some more fan mail:


Hi Kara,

Thanks for your service as a Marching Virginian band member and for your well-written article in SBO. I have a lot of respect for your organization and for your band directors. I would love to share your article with the members of our marching band via our email list serve. I am asking for your permission to do that and, if you feel that is appropriate, are you able to send us an electronic version of the article.

Sincerely,

Steven

J. Steven Moore
Director of Bands
Colorado State University


Kara,
You're article in SBO was very inspiring. You all are in our prayers.

God Bless,
Shane



Dear Kara,

I just recently read your article in School Band and Orchestra and was moved by the power of music and what the band can do for a community. I just want to say that I am inspired to continue with my music education degree, and will continue to march for the Colorado State University Ram Marching Band. Your words need to be heard by more people in this world so they to can know how a group of people can make a difference in the lives of many. I wish that more people would be as kind and as caring as the Marching Virginians. On behalf of Colorado State I wish to offer my condolences to you and the Virginia Tech community.

Sincerely,
Michael Bowles
Sophomore Music Education Major
Colorado State University