Dear Santa,

This is a very special letter, so despite its length we hope you will take time to read it carefully as its wishes are important to so many. Unlike most letters you receive, we are not children requesting toys, pets or computer games. Rather, we are the many charities and special homes who brighten human and animal lives, and in some cases we actually save them. We are the men and women, Bermudian and non-Bermudian, of all ages, races and credits, and from all walks of life, who simply want to make lives and our world better.

We are children's and senior citizens' organisations, and the ones who work with the disadvantaged. We give support to the orphaned, comfort to the sick and dying, cheer to the lonely, and help to the physically and mentally abused and challenged. We also work with animals, giving them food, treatment and new homes.

In short, we are the helping hands of Bermuda, and we love what we do throughout the year. Despite willing hearts, however, our work is not always easy because our needs are greater than our resources.

So, like everyone else when Christmas comes around, we hope that, with your help, the season of goodwill will touch all hearts and translate into generous help for those we serve.

If this list seems long, it is because, in these increasingly expensive and uncertain times, those requiring our assistance are growing in number, and we find that we are struggling to meet their needs. If you cannot bring us everything we are asking for, we understand, but we would be thrilled to receive something because every wish fulfilled really makes a difference to the lives of those we touch throughout the year.

Thank you, dear Santa, and may you, too, receive the blessings of the Christmas season.

PALS

Our wish is that the wonderful, generous people of Bermuda will continue supporting us as they have in the past because without them we simply could not exist. Even with all the fundraising we do - and we do work hard at that - we could never raise all the money we need. So ... donations please to PALS, and mail cheques to P.O. Box DV 19, Devonshire DV BX. We also wish everyone a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Meals on Wheels

We are looking for sponsors for our meal service. The cost per individual is $4 a week, $70 a month, $420 for six months, and $840 for a year. Please make cheques payable to us and mail to P.O. Box PG 132, Paget PG BX.

Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau (BFAB)

We always needs funds to carry on our work, and we are also looking for a special someone to help with the trapping for spaying/neutering of feral cats. The position is available almost immediately, and whoever fills it must love cats, have a van licence, be on call 24/7, not mind the smell of cats in the van, and, most importantly, support our programme.

We also need a few permanent volunteers to help with our feeding stations in the central parishes; and people who are interested in “adopting” one of our cats by paying for its medical expenses and wet food. Please make cheques payable to BFAB and mail them to: P.O. Box WK 91, Warwick WK BX. To apply for the ‘trapper' position please ( 291-1737 or fax 236-2594. To learn more about BFAB visit our web site: www.bfab.bm

Agape House

We really want these wishes to come true so that we can further improve the comfort of our patients: a new personal computer; a brown ceiling fan for our living room; a ceiling fan for our team room; a window reverse cycle air conditioner; a Gumco suction machine. Please call Sally at 239-2025 with the good news.

Bargain Box

Donations are always welcome, of course (please make cheques payable to Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children and mail to P.O Box HM 927, Hamilton HM DX), but our desperate need is for volunteers to help run our shop as we are very short-staffed. We are open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and would be very grateful for whatever help anyone can give on those days. Please call Bea Stott at 232-1086.

Bermuda National Trust

After careful consideration of our most important needs, we are wishing for:

1. A digital camera with optical zoom to improve our picture-taking for newsletters, research and publications.

2. Our very own LCD projector (we currently borrow one) - so important for our presentations and educational work.

3. A laptop computer.

4. Digital mapping software for our archaeology team, as well as ...

5. Specialist underground sensing equipment to be carried as a backpack.

6. For our children's hands-on learning programme, we would like historic dress-up clothes, tools and crafts.

7. To assist with our post-Fabian mess and the removal of invasive trees: a wood-chipper machine and a new landscaping truck to tow it. By the way Santa, if you have trouble getting the latter two items down the chimney at ‘Waterville', it's OK to leave them in the garden on Christmas Eve. For everything else, our new director, Steve Conway, is keeping his fingers crossed at 236-6483, and you can also fax him at 236-0617.

Bermuda Red Cross

Top of our list are volunteers and more volunteers to serve in the following areas:

1. Driving the elderly and indigent to/from medical appointments.

2. Certified instructors for our CPR/First Aid classes.

3. Nurses/refreshment hostesses for blood donor assistance. In addition, we would appreciate donations to our Hurricane Fabian Relief Fund to help meet the urgent needs of seniors and the physically challenged, as well as helping us to purchase new equipment for our Equipment Rental Department. We look forward to hearing from you at 236-8253, fax 236-8267 or e-mail us at redcrossibl.bm Cheques should be made payable to: Bermuda Red Cross and mailed to P.O. Box HM 772, Hamilton HM CX.

Bermuda Riding for the Disabled

We're wishing for a colour printer for our office, and sponsors for our Support a Child campaign. You see, children ride the horses for free but it costs our organisation $2,000 per annum per child for them to do so. So anyone willing to sponsor a child for a year - or even a quarter, half or three-quarters of a year, can sign up by e-mailing Mrs. Moira Benbow at brd@ibl.bm for further information.

Bermuda Senior

Islanders' Centre

We have been truly blessed in the past, and are praying that this year will be no exception. We have three wishes:

1. A portable PA system with speakers which we can use both at our Admiralty Park headquarters or carried to special events around the Island.

2. A portable CD player for use at social events, and also for our Character Building programme sessions in schools.

3. A $1000 diesel voucher to keep the Senior Islanders minibus well supplied with fuel next year. To give Rev. Frederick Hassell the good news call 295-9094, fax: 295-4695, or e-mail: seniorislanders@ibl.bm

Bermuda Society for the Blind

Our wish, as always, is for funds to keep us going. Please help by sending your cheques to us at Beacon Street, Hamilton HM

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda

Is there an angel or angels out there to sponsor the purchase of age-appropriate books (or similar) to give to our Little Brothers and Little Sisters at our holiday party this Saturday? We also need new, ground floor office space which is accessible to the physically challenged, as well as a computer desk and a laptop computer for audio/visual presentations. In addition, we are wishing for a combination CD/tape/radio player, an additional supply of Big Brothers/Big Sisters T-shirts, and Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers. Please make our day by calling executive director Esme Williams at 292-2802.

Brangman Home

Our girls are very sporty so they would love to receive tennis racquets, netball and volley balls. Educational games for the computer, as well as board games, both for ages 12-18, would be smart choices too. For the home, we need sheets (twin), towels, face cloths, blankets and room heaters. Letia Outerbridge is standing by at 799-2017.

Friends of the Library

Volunteers! That's what we're wishing for this Christmas. We really need these good souls in order to retain our National Library as a vibrant institution both now and in the future. To really make our president, Ardleigh Young, happy, call her at 799-9042 or e-mail friends@logic.bm

Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda

With 300 adult volunteers and 90 Candy Stripers we are always in need of assistance. Our wish list is for:

1. A photocopier, preferably colour.

2. Framed prints/photos of Bermuda for decorating hallways, public areas and patients' rooms.

3. A colour printer

4. Clocks for patients' rooms.

Please call 236-2488, fax 236-4256 or e-mail hab@Bermudahospitals.bm

Hope Homes

Our building is in very bad shape, and post-Fabian we have discovered the roof is rotten. For the past two years our residents have been living elsewhere but long to come home. Preliminary work by the architect and quantity surveyor has been done, and we have some funding but insufficient to begin renovations. Our wish is for funds, people to donate building materials and labour, and sponsors. For much more information contact Mrs. Ellen Douglas at 292-7206.

KEMH Continuing Care Unit

Toiletries; vests and stockings for the ladies; socks and T-shirts for the men; a manicure set; a manual blood pressure machine; tea kettle and bed pillows are on our wish list, along with desperately-needed volunteers to assist with stimulating activities for our patients, including reading, feeding and chatting with them. Awaiting your calls at the CCU is Mrs. Sinclair (236-2345).

Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA)

Donations are always most welcome, and cheques should be sent to P.O. Box HM 64, Hamilton HM AX. Meanwhile, best wishes and blessings for the holiday season to our clients, volunteers and donors whose community efforts help us to perpetuate the ideals of our founder, Lady Cubitt.

Lefroy House

Our wish list includes: lotions; pure, natural soaps; toothpaste and brushes; combs and brushes; aftershave; disposable razors; and reading materials, particularly large print magazines. We also need volunteers to help feed and read to our residents, as well as assisting with our activities programme. Please call activities coordinator Karen Fox at 234-0525 with the good news.

Packwood Home Our residents would welcome toiletries (powder, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) as well as face cloths and towels. Warm sweaters for men and women (sizes M and L) are also needed.

Please call Mrs. Gibbons at 234-1459 and make her day.

Physical Abuse Centre

Due to structural damage sustained during Hurricane Fabian, our needs our greater than ever, but our list is too long to publish in full here. The following is a sampling of the foodstuffs and household goods we would really welcome: Macaroni, corned beef, meats, frozen/fresh vegetables, jam, juices, pancake mix, evaporated milk, juices, cheeses, tinned vegetables, condiments, jellies/jams, soups. Toilet paper, hand towels, paper tissues, bleach, laundry detergent. We also need shower curtains, kitchenware, a refrigerator, VCR-TV, Xerox paper, small appliances. For a full list, please call our chairperson/fundraiser June Augustus at 292-4366, or fax 292-9280. She even has a form you can fill out and return.

Physically Handicapped Association of Bermuda

We're not wishing for anything for ourselves this year. Instead, we want to wish everyone a merry, safe and sober Christmas and New Year.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

Our wishes are divided into three parts. For our dogs: Nyla bones, Kong and good quality toys, rawhide bones, canned food, towels. For our cats: furry/catnip toys, canned food. For our office: Three flat screen monitors (used are fine), a filing cabinet (used is fine), preferably upright, but we're not fussy. These gifts can be dropped off at our Valley Road, Paget shelter any time between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For further information call 236-7333.

Salvation Army

We're praying that the people of Bermuda will give generously not only to our Christmas appeal (funds) but also to our Anonymous Santa programme (toys). Why? Because we are wishing that:

1. Every person has a traditional Christmas dinner.

2. Every child has at least one toy on Christmas morning.

3. Every person confined to an institution, hospital, nursing home, prison, homeless shelter or addiction rehab facility receives at least one visit and a gift.

4. Every street person has warm clothing and hot soup both throughout the holiday season and all year long.

5. Families struggling to pay utility bills because of reduced employment will know where to turn for help.

6. Families who have moved in with friends or relatives until they can afford to repair their homes will still have a happy holiday. Monetary donations can be dropped off at our headquarters at 92 Reid Street, or at our kettle in front of A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd., Front Street, starting at 11 a.m. on December 11. You can also help by calling Santas Anonymous at 292-0601, or dropping off a toy at our Reid Street headquarters. Bless you!

St. Brendan's Hospital

If wishes really do come true, Santa, these would make our year!

1. Genuine sponsors to supply paint and volunteer painters to repaint our exterior (perhaps every paint supplier can sponsor a section).

2. Donations of armchairs and love seats (to seat 2-3 persons).

3. Sponsors for four needed cars for our community homes.

4. Volunteers for our thrift shop; charity and corporate adoption programmes.

5. A new group home

6. Full sized mannequins, and more donations of men's clothing and shoes for our thrift store.

7. Professional beauty and hairstylists to operate in our “salon”.

8. Enhancements to upgrade this room - e.g. carpet and silk plants for the waiting area, a new mirror and other beauty equipment.

8. Financial contributions towards the expensive upgrade of our client pool.

Director of volunteer services Linda Trott is longing to hear from you at 236-3770 ext. 3238. You can also fax her at 236-8249 or e-mail linda.trott@bermudahospitals.bm

STAR/Lighthouse

We would welcome a new van for STAR, and a stove, refrigerator and lawn mower for The Lighthouse, our residents' home.

The number to call is 292-5941.

Sunshine League

Our children's home would be thrilled to receive any of the following:

1. A carpenter's help for a day to do minor repairs.

2. Assistance with designing our web page.

3. New sheets (twin).

4. VCR/DVD combo.

5. Computer and printer.

6. Portable basketball hoop.

7. Portable soccer goal.

8. Gift certificate for International Imports.

9. Gas BBQ.

10. Outdoor picnic table.

11. Board games.

12. Exterior yard lights.

13. Vouchers for movies, mini golf and horseback riding.

14. Volunteers.

Surprise us by calling Karen Hodgson at 292-4360.

Westmeath Seniors' Residence

For our residents we would welcome pop or stocking socks; hand soaps and soap dishes; a small television; DVD's suitable for the elderly; hand lotion; at least 20 place mats, and tea towels. Call Debbie Chase at 295-2451.

WindReach Recreational Village

Our list ranges from something as simple as an apple for our donkey, to a large golden apple from a very generous person, company or community group in order to help fund our operating budget for the year, which is close to $400,000. Every dollar we receive helps us to meet our goal of enriching the quality of life for people of all abilities, ages and special needs. Please send your donations to P.O. Box WK 654, Warwick WK BX.

Women's Resource Centre

We would love to have a new printer, plants and office supplies (stationery, pens, etc.), and of course donations are always welcome. We are at 58 Reid Street, Hamilton 12, and our phone number is 295-3882.