People Save Christmas for the Kids! :)

People have really come through!!!
:)
sfb

>
> THEFT | More than $6,000 worth of donated presents taken
> Burglars steal holiday gifts


*********************

Donors replace gifts for kids

By Emma Ritch
The Sun News

'Today I'm crying tears of joy. Yesterday, it was tears of grief.'
Barb Mains | Caring 4 Kids director

Hundreds of kids will unwrap their presents today, unaware of the events that stole their Christmas and then compelled people from across the state and nation to restore it.

Caring 4 Kids was overwhelmed with gifts and monetary donations Friday, guaranteeing a happy Christmas to the 150 kids whose presents were stolen and now the extra kids who can be accommodated with the gifts, said director Barb Mains.

"We've got more than we lost," Mains said. "Now we can give them two big toys."

Volunteer Donald Hildreth said local churches, businesses, Grand Strand visitors and even people from other parts of the state have driven in gifts, replacing the CD players, karaoke machines, Barbies, Bratz dolls and the crying baby that one girl desperately wanted.

"When I went to Wal-Mart, there were no Bratz. Then when I got here, they were all here," Mains said.

After the Wednesday night burglary of Caring 4 Kids' storage building, Mains and her team of volunteers were discouraged, baffled at how some-
one could steal Christmas from needy kids and overwhelmed by replacing all the stolen goods. Caring 4 Kids delivers toys to 900 kids throughout Horry County. Fortunately, most presents were delivered and the Marine Corps dropped off many gifts.

"Today I'm crying tears of joy," Mains said. "Yesterday, it was tears of grief."

Myrtle Beach police are still investigating the crime, said Cpl. Michael Bland. Thieves left behind fingerprints and a knife, according to the police report. More than $6,000 worth of toys were stolen, and all the wrapping paper was slashed.

"I hope they catch the crooks," Mains said.

The new storage location at 6302 N. Kings Highway was half-filled with toys piled to the ceiling early Friday afternoon. It was empty when Hildreth, the sole volunteer staffing the place, arrived in the morning. The group will make sure it's empty by nightfall to prevent more theft.

All the extra toys will be put to good use because they were rationing what they had left Friday, Mains said.

"I told the kids that one of Santa's sleighs broke down and he'll send you some more toys on Sunday," Mains said.

The volunteers always find children when delivering meals on Christmas Day who didn't get any presents, she said.

The extra toys will also go to them and to kids throughout the year on other holidays, Mains said.

The donations showed no sign of stopping, as a steady stream of people came in with gifts and money. Many of them wanted to remain anonymous and didn't ask for receipts to claim on their taxes, Hildreth said.

"It's like something you read about at Christmastime," Hildreth said. "I don't believe that God would let something like this happen and not fix it."

When one man found out Caring 4 Kids wasn't in need of any specific toys, he said he'd donate everything in his pockets. It turned out to be $600, Hildreth said.

"I heard you guys got looted. That's horrible," said Mike Swain, who dropped by to donate clothes and toys.

"I'm thankful I didn't get it done on time," said Deni Buffmyer, a member of Surfside Christian Church, as she dropped off gifts for an 11-year-old and a 3-year-old. Many of the gifts from that church were stolen Wednesday night.

It was the stories of the children donating their piggy banks and their own presents that really touched Mains and the other volunteers.

One little girl brought her piggy bank. A boy who received presents from Caring 4 Kids earlier this week tried to give them back, Mains said.

"A woman called this morning and said her quadriplegic son wanted to donate his CD player," Mains said.

Hildreth said he had constant phone calls since he arrived in the empty room at 8 a.m.

"I haven't had time to get a cup of coffee," he said. "The phone was just ringing."

Caring 4 Kids is still looking for some donations.

They're in need of kerosene heaters, blankets, coats, sweaters, Shrek toys, rice and beans.

"Every time we go out, we find people that don't have heat," Mains said.
***********************