[Rockhounds] A Christmas Wish

[Lawrence Rush]

List: I have been corresponding with a young man in Brazil who is a mineral 
collector there. I was  hoping to be able to buy or trade some Minas Gerais 
specimens from him, and we had been talking about that in several ways until 
recently, when he informed me that he lost his job with the city where he 
works, and he now cannot afford the postage to send minerals.

Ordinarily, this would not be of a great concern to me, except that he 
happened to mention that his 4 year old son will not have a Christmas this 
year, due to the expense. Now, for a young man to forego getting some 
minerals is one thing, but hearing that a 4 year old cannot have Christmas 
presents is quite another!

I would like to ask the list if there are any members who might have some 
toys, maybe a computer game, perhaps some clothes, whatever a child might be 
able to celebrate Christams with, if they might consider sending them along 
to this family, so that their boy will not miss having a Christmas this 
year. If so, let me know off-line, and I will send the mailing address along 
(and a photo of this boy) for your use.

I apologize for using the list for a non-mineral issue, but, after all, it 
is that time of year!!

Larry Rush