Early December, 2004      

Dear Friends,

            Words cannot capture the scene I just witnessed.  I just spent some time watching the children in the daycare decorating their tree.  Each child was given their own special handmade ornament.  They were sitting two or three of them on each staff person’s lap, music was playing, some were singing about Santa, some were dancing to the music.  Pictures were being taken.  At one point, each one put their ornament on the tree.  The sense of joy and wonder as they looked up at what they had created was something to behold.

            On the other side of the house in the shelter, the tree donated by Flora Ventures arrived yesterday.  Dave Duggan, our incredible handyman put up the tree and when I arrived at work this morning it was alive and sparkling with lights, balls and tinsel courtesy of our residents.  The women are planning a baking day so they can give cookies as gifts.  A woman who never made a pie in her life spent the afternoon baking an apple and cherry pie.

            We are gearing up for our Residents’ Holiday Party, when staff provide hors d’oeuvres and distribute the gifts from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and St. Thomas More churches.  This year, we are holding a “Toys for Tots” Open House for former and current residents.  Refreshments will be served and Santa will be here to visit with the children.  We have already received many positive responses.

  William Berry and Co. has already graced us with a new dishwasher for Christmas.  St. Christopher’s of York, Maine has donated baby gifts and maternity clothes all beautifully wrapped to be given throughout the year.  The Public Defender’s Office of Exeter and the Buyer’s Brokers of the Seacoast are doing collections for us.

                        Second Generation Thrift Shoppe recently participated in the Sacred Heart Christmas Fair where they made holiday gifts and decorations available at good prices.  They continue to provide an inexpensive source of gifts for the holidays.

            We feel so blessed and overwhelmed by the generosity of the many people and organizations who show their love and support for our women and their children.  I hope I have provided you with a glimpse of life at New Generation during the holidays.  I wish you a joyous and peace-filled holiday season.

                                                                        Warmly,