| December 31, 2007 | Volume 83, Number 5 | |
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Gift cards can helpNormally when an editor gets an e-mail message from outside the publication’s coverage area, it raises suspicions that the writer has an axe to grind or is promoting a book or message which would have limited appeal. But The Catholic Virginian recently received a message from John Nguyen of Niantic, Conn. which is timely because so many readers of the CV probably either receive or give gift cards to friends and loved ones at Christmas. His message which follows makes a lot of sense: “I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal that stated statistics from The National Retail Federation that predicted that an amazing $26 billion in gift cards will be purchased this Christmas season by U.S. consumers. “I would like to share with your readers a strategy. I have received gift cards in recent years for which I have had no use. “Last Christmas I received a $50 gift card for a retail chain store whose business practices I do not necessarily like. “Thinking that this gift card would be useless to me, I donated it to a local home for unwed mothers and was told by an appreciative staff member it would go a long way to help a young mother who has made the courageous decision to have her baby in the abortion-saturated culture in which we live. “Afterwards, I donated two other gift cards that were hanging around from past years, which were also put to good use. “Sometimes these ‘useless’ gift cards go lost or unused. I would like to encourage your readers to consider donating such gift cards that they will not use to a local home for unwed mothers. “Such gift cards can make the difference for a brave young mother who has courageously chosen life and has a rocky road ahead of her.” Thanks, Mr. Nguyen for the novel idea. While there doesn’t appear to be many homes for unwed mothers in Virginia, Barrett Manor in Norfolk is one such facility. CV readers who would like to help women in problem pregnancies can call their local Catholic Charities agency or Crisis Pregnancy Center and see if gift cards can help.
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