Dear Friends,

We are in the home stretch, just $750.00 shy of the bank foreclosing on Debby's house.

My, but all of you have been generous. She even asked me, "How do you know geologists?" I made her go dig up the check, and it was from Jim Berkland. (Thanks, Job!)

Now, being this close, we must make a final push (this fund raising won't go on forever) to keep this family of four afloat. Hard times hit us all. Life comes and goes in cycles. None of us are immune to disaster.

I have never met Debby or any members of her family, but like Blanche Dubois in "A Streetcar Named Desire," it is true that many of us have, at times, "depended on the kindness of strangers."

Knowing realistically that not everyone responds to these kind of appeals, I am asking for two favors:

1) If you haven't yet donated to this cause (or even if you have), put just $2 (or more, if you've had a good day and are grateful to have a roof over your head) in an envelope and send it to:

Debby Fernandes
19022 Chemille Drive.
Lutz, Fl 33558

2) Spread this message far and wide. Plaster all your groups with this final plea for help.

Because of the generosity of strangers, this drive has yielded over $2,250.00! We need just $750.00 more. We are so close that it hurts.

When Debby reaches that magic $3000.00 goal, we will thank you all and bring this mission of love and good faith to a close.

What is $2.00 to most of us? Less than we tip most waitroids. So just do it, right now, especially all of you who live in GAARPadopolis. Read this message, pull out your wallet and put some spare bills in it, stamp and address an envelope, and put it in your mailbox. It's easy.

Just $2.00 from good people far and wide will make a huge difference in four people's lives, all of whom have special medical needs.

Heartfelt thanks to all who have already contributed. May the kindness of strangers come to visit you someday in your time of need.

Sincerely,

Cathryn Alpert, List Mistress of GAARPadopt (Gracefully Aging Aware Refined Parents Adopting), or, as it is known outside our retirement community, "The Old Fogies Adoption List." Harrumph!