Today I typed up and sent this letter out to some local businesses asking for donations, and thought I’d share our need/request here. You never know who might read this blog and feel generous. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read it.

Dear Friends:

I am writing to let you know a little about our facility and of some of the needs that we have in the hopes that you or someone you know may choose to become involved with us!

Truman W. Smith Children’s Care Center is the only facility in the state of Texas dedicated to the long-term care of medically fragile children. We currently provide a home to 101 children who are too ill to be cared for in any other type of environment.

Some of our children come to Truman with very few belongings and very little in the way of financial resources. Some have little to no family involvement. This becomes especially obvious at the Christmas season when some receive Christmas gifts and others do not; some have winter clothing and others do not; some have visitors and others do not.

Our caring and compassionate employees are extremely dedicated to providing a healing environment for these children who we grow to love and care for as our own. Our staff works long, difficult shifts providing care for these children, a job that is demanding and draining, physically and emotionally.

It is for these reasons that we rely on and humbly ask for donations to continue to provide an excellent environment for our residents and staff. Please know that we are sincerely grateful and appreciative of any donation that you choose to make, whether you wish to designate your gift to be used for a specific child, to the facility, or to be used as a door prize to reward our employees at our annual Christmas party. If you would like to make a donation, please contact me at 903.845.2181.

With sincere appreciation,

Melissa Ford, LBSW
Director of Social Services