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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">Dear Federation Family,<span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">I am excited to announce that the Des Moines chapter
has decided to adopt a family this Christmas. We see this as a very special way
to show our love to those in need during the holidays and to give back. Thank
you for your kindness and consideration to help this family have a special
Christmas they will never forget. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">The family we have chosen to adopt is already very
dear to my heart. I have had the privilege to visit them three times now and
they already feel like family to me. They lived in Tanzania until about a year
ago. They were in New Mexico but were really struggling to find jobs and a
stable home so they moved to Iowa about four months ago. They are secondary
refugees therefore, not entitled to some of the community supports that other
refugees receive. The family consists of a mother, father, and six kids ranging
from ages 2-15. The father works full
time to support the family of eight and the mother stays at home to make sure
the children’s needs are being cared for. So far I have only had very positive
interactions with this family and they are so very loving and appreciative. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial">Ways you
can help:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">Prayers: You can
help by keeping this family in your prayers during this holiday season. Praying
for safety, warmth, love, and hope.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">Purchasing a
gift: I have included a link below that contains a spreadsheet with gift ideas
and requests from the family. I am asking that if you purchase something on the
list, you write your name in the column labeled “Your Name”. I left three columns
for names in case multiple people want to buy the same item. (For example, two
people buying a shirt for Jeanne.)<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">Money donations:
If you are not a fan of shopping or if you don’t think you will have time to
purchase a gift, we will also be collecting money donations. We ask that you make
your checks out to the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa if you would
like a tax receipt and if not, please send all cash or checks to the Des Moines
chapter.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">Wrapping
Supplies: Since all gifts will be collected unwrapped, we would appreciate
wrapping supplies. Be sure the papers are age appropriate.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial">Important Details:<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">All gifts need
to be delivered to me by December 9<sup>th</sup>. You can bring them to the Des
Moines chapter Christmas party on the 9<sup>th</sup> or mail them to my house.
(Contact me for my address).<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">Please do not
wrap the gifts.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial">If you are
buying gifts, please get a gift receipt if possible. Especially for clothing
items.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial">We hope you will join the Des Moines chapter as we
celebrate this season of giving. Please reach out with any questions.<span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial"><br></span></p><div class="gmail_chip gmail_drive_chip" style="width:396px;height:18px;max-height:18px;background-color:#f5f5f5;padding:5px;color:#222;font-family:arial;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;font-size:13px;border:1px solid #ddd;line-height:1"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IQUDof6gTz5EtHJFChcCywcp74x0h4Gn/view?usp=drive_web" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;text-decoration:none;padding:1px 0px;border:none;width:100%"><img style="vertical-align: bottom; border: none;" src="https://drive-thirdparty.googleusercontent.com/16/type/application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"> <span dir="ltr" style="color:#15c;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom">Christmas Adopt a Family.xlsx</span></a></div><br><p></p>
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