Our hearts break about a half-dozen times a day this time of year when we come across appeals like this. Here’s one from a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Bed-Stuy. This is from Bed-Stuy Blog and we want to help try to get word out. Even though these are tough and scary times, most of us are still in a better place than the people here. Please open your heart to them and help.

There is a Domestic Violence Safe House here in Bedford Stuyvesant that would like to have toys to give to the 54 children who will be spending Christmas there (for some, it will be their very first Christmas). There are 25 women/mothers here as well. I know this year has been hard for every one of us, but we all have something so basic that we take for granted; something these families do not have this holiday- a safe place, a home, a warm and welcoming family. I feel like I am a pretty hardened New Yorker, but I cannot imagine what it is like for these families and what brought them to this situation. Even writing the simple list below after reading the names of the children and moms the shelter’s director gave to me made me feel weak. So, let’s help them, even if it’s this small gesture, it would still be meaningful….You may contact me by email at: achang12@earthlink.net On the 12th, I will send out an email to everyone letting you know if there are any children that still need a gift, and we could pass along this email to other family, friends, coworkers who would like to help out.

Read the full post at Bed-Stuy Blog. Be a real hero to some moms and kids this Christmas. Please.