Can we Crowd Source a Christmas Tree?

My family is blessed. We have a roof over our head, meager savings, a decent car to drive, and plenty of food to eat. We realize not everyone is as lucky so we have promised to donate at least one Christmas Tree to Educate Alabama. Can you help us crowd source a second tree? You see, we qualify for food stamps (most military families do) yet we can do without them. The kids’ school hosts a food drive every year, and I allow the kids to go shopping in my pantry and take what they chose to school as a donation. We donate to Goodwill (but also shop there) and we try to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible. We strive to giveback whenever possible and always chose an angel off the angel tree. Can we crowd source a Christmas Tree?

I was born and raised in tornado alley and before I had kids, never turned down a good chase day. This past May (2011) was one of the deadliest and costliest tornado outbreaks seen in several years. Joplin, Missouri was almost wiped completely off the map and while my father took part in “Ride for the Wall” to honor Vietnam Veterans. A few days later, several storms formed in my home state of Oklahoma while storms also formed in Alabama. A tornado touched down in the town where four generations of my family was born and raised. While the F2 tornado to touch down only skirted the city; damage was extensive with one person dead and over 700 families left homeless. Many are still rebuilding and cleaning up six month later. Our community rallied around the families and donations poured in from places near and far. Our community shared what little they had with others who had none.

Several small and poor communities in Alabama were not as luck; and nearly 100% of their town affected. A fellow blogger, Jerri Ann, asked for people to help Educate: Alabama adopt a family who suffered at the hands of Mother Nature. Being from a similar community I immediately volunteered. When details were sent, Educate:Alabama decided to adopt two families and had already secured almost everything needed with the exception of a Christmas tree for each family and Christmas presents for the family members.

I volunteered, Finance Diva, for both Christmas trees. My family’s donation will be paying for the cost of one tree out of our Christmas savings, but would like to show the people of the world the power of the internet to help a family suffering through an unpredictable event.

I am asking you to Pay it Forward by donating any amount you can afford via PayPal and the donation button below. My am estimating the tree will cost around $60-$75.

Can we crowd source a Christmas Tree?