I was checking my e-mail when my father brought me the daily mail. He gave me a thick envelope and told me he had to sign for it.

I saw a Missouri address on it, one which I didn’t recognize. When I opened the envelope I was floored by what I found.

When I was at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Atlanta this past October, I reconnected with Cindy J. I had met her at a workshop in the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. She came up to me and asked me about New Orleans. We talked for a little while when she said that her youth group(s) had decided that the proceeds from their annual Advent wreath sale and give it to me to give to people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I opened the package to find a Christmas card along with over $500 of gift cards to department stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, etc.

Thanks to the adults and youth from St. John’s and St. Anthony’s for their generosity and for the kindness to me and to the people of my area.