~WARM HEARTS~
~2000~
I was driving to work one morning thinking about my daughter, Vanessa and how the third anniversary of her death was quiclky approaching.
My eyes happened to fall upon a mother and small child standing in the cold waiting for the bus. Upon seeing this it suddenly dawned on me that there would be many children this winter that would be cold as their families could not afford to buy them a winter coat.
This is when I started to plan on how I could raise money to help these children keep warm and at the same time do something in memory of Vanessa.
Within a few short days the following letter was mailed to family and friends.
#9 has a special meaning to us. It was the number worn on Vanessa's sports jersey in all the sports she participated in. In her memory, we are attempting to purchase winter coats for children in the neighborhood where I work. There are many hared working people, who work twelve hour days at minimum wage and then attend English as a second language at the local church to try to better themselves and their families. Most of those attending this course have several children and have never had the pleasure of seeing their children in a "new" winter coat.
A donation of $9 could help us put a "new" coat on a child and warm feeling in their parents heart. If we could get 50 donations, that would put a "new" coat on ten children and you would be a part of the love and warmth that comes with giving and help the chidren that Vanessa loved so.
Hoping you help make this a reality in memory of #9.
Thank You!! The family and friends of Vanessa
YOU DID IT!!!! ~ THANK YOU!!!!
A great big "Thank You!!!!" to everyone who made this first coat drive a huge success. Through the $9 donations and the creative multiples of $9, we were able to distribute 58 brand new coats.
The first donations of coats was made on the eve of Vanessa's birthday, the second a week later. With your generosity and that of Kohl's Department Store a dream was realized.
Fifty-eight children are warm and their parents are smiling. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful memorial. It could not have been done without you.
DONATIONS WERE MADE BY:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DANIELLE MEEHAN IN LOVING MEMORY OF STEVEN WEISS IN LOVING MEMORY OF REBECCA MILICH AND OF COURSE, IN LOVING MEMORY OF VANESSA DRAPER 12/28/83 ~ 12/31/97
~HERO~ ~Mariah Carey~
There's a hero If you look inside your heart You don't have to be afraid Of what you are There's an answer If you reach into your soul And the sorrow that you have Will melt away And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you can cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you It's a long road When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold You can find love If you reach within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you. Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow But don't let anyone Tear them away Hold on There will be tomorrow In time You'll find the way. And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
There's a hero If you look inside your heart You don't have to be afraid Of what you are There's an answer If you reach into your soul And the sorrow that you have Will melt away
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you can cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
It's a long road When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold You can find love If you reach within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you.
Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow But don't let anyone Tear them away Hold on There will be tomorrow In time You'll find the way.
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
PAGE UPDATED ~ 07/03/05
