I just want to thank Valley Record Reporter Allison Espiritu for being such a huge part of the many donations received for kids with cancer!  Your article (“Author gives children real look at cancer,” October 20, 2010) asking for local residents to help, generated a huge amount of gifts for me to hand out to children and their families going through treatment.
Before Christmas, I received several small bags, filled with coloring books, markers, video games, cards, checkers, chess, videos, etc.  The response has been overwhelming!
One family donated hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards, gas cards, art supplies, board games, video games, and toys. Their generosity brought me to tears. This family, the Con-Gloria-Houser Family, chose to give gifts to children living with cancer, instead of giving gifts to each other for Christmas this year.
Their loving sacrifice came from deep loss a few years ago, when their baby, Curran Pace, lost his battle with leukemia. From deep sorrow came a great desire to bless others enduring the same tragic diagnosis of childhood cancer.  Their gifts will bless many, many families.
It has been a difficult year for many families in our Snoqualmie Valley, yet we continue to give selflessly. The most amazing quality about our community is how we put others before ourselves, and come together when there is a need.
Sincerely,
Jenevieve Fisher
Carnation