Here are a few of the Christmas Wishes from this year's Christmas Wish Campaign. The wishes we share here (and on the air) are not the only wishes we grant. We will be adding new wishes each weekday through December 19.

We welcome donations to the Christmas Wish Campaign throughout the holiday season. Please make your check payable to: 'Sheridan Media Christmas Wish'. You may bring your donation to the Sheridan Media Office at 1716 KROE Ln. Office hours are 8am-5pm weekdays. Donations may be also mailed to:
Sheridan Media Christmas Wish
P.O. Box 5086,
Sheridan, WY 82801

We thank everyone for their contributions, and a very special thank you to Sheridan Motor, for making this entire campaign possible!

Over the past few weeks , we’ve received many letters for our Christmas Wish Campaign… and have been busy doing research and sending out shoppers to follow up on your wishes. 

Your letters are the key to helping people in our community who might otherwise fall through the cracks. 

December 06, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #1  

Today is the beginning of the Christmas Wishes we will be sharing with you.  As in years past we will be editing the actual requests to respect our recipients privacy.   

This is another wish we will be granting:
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Dear Christmas Wish,

December 07, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #2

Twinkling lights on Christmas trees…  presents hidden around the house… the scents of holiday baking…. And there’s even snow on the ground… It’s all a familiar part of the season.    The joy of Christmas… something everyone should have… that’s the spirit behind our Christmas Wish Campaign…

We strive each year to give a hand UP to people who may otherwise fall through the cracks. 

This is another wish we will be granting:
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 Dear Christmas Wish,

 This Christmas Wish is for someone who lost everything when their apartment caught fire.  This individual suffered burns to their hands, face and back and spent several days in the hospital.  Because of this, returning to work will not be possible until December 17th. 

 Of course their residence was lost as well as most of their belongs.  Housing has been secured and some of their furniture is still usable, however everything in the kitchen was lost.  And I think a Christmas tree would also be special this time of year. 

 The staff where this person is employed would like to you consider helping them with your Christmas Wish program and supply some kitchen supplies, small appliances and a tree, if possible please.

 Thank you for your time and consideration. 

December 10, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #3  

While you’re out and about you may notice more people smiling… a few more “Hello’s… and Merry Christmas’s” being exchanged…. Christmas seems to bring out the best in people.  That is part of the spirit behind the Christmas Wish Campaign…. Everything we asked for is willing given.. neighbors helping each other… we live in a great community. 

This is another wish we will be granting:
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Dear Christmas Wish,

 I have a wish for two people very much in need of a new couch and queen size bed.  The ones they are using currently are 30 plus years old.  

The first person my wish is for had complication with radiation treatments that resulted in the 24 hour use of oxygen.  An old couch to lie on all day is very painful on the back.

The second person my wish is for is an older gentlemen who takes care of two other people… and it’s getting harder every day.  His eyes are giving out on him and he has had surgery on them, to try and save his eyesight.  He has slept on the same mattress for over 30 years and I think he could really use a new one.

Thank you for your consideration.

December 11, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #4  

 It is always heartwarming to see firsthand the compassion, caring and kindness that surround us.  As we continue with the Christmas Wish Campaign, it is more apparent than ever what a great community we live in.  This is the 4th Christmas Wish we will be sharing this year......
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Dear Christmas Wish,

I am writing to request a Christmas wish for my family.  Last year, one of my children was diagnosed with severe depression and we had to seek inpatient treatment.  Although the treatment center did help, the depression continued for several months.  A lot of school was missed.  We went through a rough few months and still continue to.  It was the worst Christmas I’ve ever been through as a parent.  We didn’t mean to skip Christmas, but with all the stress we had no choice.  We didn’t decorate, have any gifts or even acknowledge that it was a holiday.  My children went without in more ways than simply not having gifts.  The guilt took its toll.  Early last year I left my job and moved into a position where I was making significantly less money with the added expense of driving further to work.  I hit a low, low point in life and tried to end it.  I’ll never know what I did to my children that day, nor can I change what happened in their eyes.  I fear they blame themselves for what I did.

I want this Christmas to be so much better, but because we all remember what happened last year, the wounds are still open.  With finances not much better, we can’t do anything this year either.  My children have gone through enough and I wish for them to have a great Christmas.  If there is anything you can do to help, I would be so grateful.  I have never been good at asking for help, but really could use a helping hand this year. 

 Thank you for your consideration. .

December 12, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #5  

Christmas is about family.  It is about spending time together, getting re-acquainted, catching up with one another…

Any time we spend with family we should cherish… lives can change in an instant.  This is another wish we will be granting….. a Christmas we hope will be especially meaningful. 
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 Dear Christmas Wish,

 I would like to nominate a very special young couple for the Christmas Wish Campaign. 

 They have two young children.  They both work.  The mother in this family was diagnosed with cervical cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy.  Because she has been so very ill she has had to miss alot of work.  There was a mix-up concerning her insurance and therefore she has none at present.  This mix up was not their fault, but a clerical error.

 With medical bills mounting, they are having financial difficulties.  They are very worried and under a lot of stress about meeting their rent and utility bills, as well as the every day living expenses that many of us take for granted.

 I feel this young family would be wonderful candidates for your program.  If they could get some help, maybe groceries and some things to make their Christmas a little brighter, I’m sure they would be most appreciative.  

 I am a Sheridan native and it has been my pleasure to see how our community pitches in to help our own.  My own daughter and her family were recipients of the Christmas Wish Program a few years ago and I will never forget what a God send it was for them. 

 Keep up the good work.

December 13, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #6

 Are you ready for Christmas? …  that typically means, have you done your shopping, do you have everything ready?… 

Just for a moment, put the thought of gifts and material things aside… and think… am I ready for Christmas?… have I taken even a moment to find the small joys of the season?   Have I felt the spirit?  Shared the joys?  We hope so….

This is the sixth Wish we will be sharing with you………

Dear Christmas Wish,

My close friends have had a very challenging year. 

This woman has braved depression, other health issues and the inevitable loss of her grandparents, who provided the only security of her childhood.  She is normally employed full-time.. right now she works at home.

Her husband is a generous, hard working husband, father and grandfather.  He works full time as well as evenings and weekends in order to try and meet their financial obligations.   They do not have luxuries in their life and don’t seem to miss them. 

My wish for them is a healthy holiday meal, they often forego grocery shopping when necessary to their budget.  And I hope their financial strain could be alleviated just a little… this would allow for meager gift giving without additional financial strife. 

I have enclosed a token gift toward the effort.

Thank you and Merry Christmas.

December 14, 2007
Sheridan Motor/Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #7

 Things are really coming together as we continue with the Christmas Wish campaign.  Shoppers are being sent out, presents are being wrapped and organized to get ready for delivery.   This is the 7th Christmas Wish....

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Dear Christmas Wish,

There is a family I  believe could use some help this Christmas.  They have three young children.  One only a few months old.  This newest baby had some serious complications.  He had seizures and spend 10 days in ICU and had quite a hard time up until about 2 weeks ago.  He is doing well now… they feel blessed with three wonderful children. 

The mother in this family was not able to return to work as quickly as planned because of the babies hospitalization… and the father missed about a week and a half of work to help with the children during this difficult time.  They got behind in a few bills and have no money for presents.  They will be fine in time.    I am hoping you can help this family for Christmas.

Thank you.

December 17, 2007
Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #8

 Most of the shoppers for the Christmas Wish Campaign are out…  that means packages will start arriving soon and as quickly as they come in…. they are delivered.   Thank you to everyone who has helped so far.   This is the 8th Christmas Wish we will be sharing with you this year, many, many more have been granted. 

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Dear Christmas Wish,
I’m not sure how to start this.  I am a single Mother of two.  Right now we don’t have a place of our own to live.   One child is staying one place and the other and I are staying at another.  I have a job, but things are really tough.  I just won’t be able to get them a Christmas.  They are at an age where it’s difficult to explain why.  

I would love for my kids and I to be back together before Christmas.  But with saving to get a house there is no extra.   

Thank you so much. 

December 18, 2007
Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #9

The Christmas Wish is in it’s final stages this year.  The last details are being done… and wishes are being sent out the door. 
This is the ninth Christmas Wish we will be sharing with you….

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Dear Christmas Wish,

I would like to nominate a family for the Christmas Wish. 

He is a single father and due to reasons beyond his control he lost his job the day after Thanksgiving.  He has since been trying to find work that would work around his daughter’s daycare/school schedule.  He has only been able to come up with temporary jobs and they are not even making ends meet.   The mother is completely out of the picture and there is no child support. 

They need anything you can give.  They are not picky people.. but I know they cannot afford any gifts. 

Thank you for your time and God bless.

December 19, 2007
Christmas Wish Campaign
Wish #10

This is the final Christmas Wish we will be sharing with you this year. 

You would think the gift goes to the recipients…. but it’s the amazement, looks of wonder, relief and gratitude that are the final homes of these wishes , that is the true gift of The Christmas Wish Campaign….

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Dear Christmas Wish,

I would like to nominate a family for your Christmas Wish Campaign…. A single mother and her children.  She works full time, but her salary is not large.  She also gets a little child support every month. 

I met her about 5 years ago.  At the time she had a drinking problem… just over 2 years ago, she quit drinking.  She persevered through some difficult times and a lot of negative pressure.

She is a quiet lady with a generous heart.  Even though her resources are tight, she doesn’t hesitate to help neighbors who need her.  She is very hesitant to ask for help for herself.

About a year ago I started helping her use a budget.  She wanted to be more responsible with what she made and what she owed, but never had any financial training.  We’ve been meeting faithfully about every 2 or 3 weeks to go over her income and write up a budget for her to use.  She does not have credit cards and operates on strictly a cash basis.

Each time we met, we encountered a juggling act trying to cover all the bases.  She made the decision a while back to quit smoking… it was unhealthy and she would save money every month that could go to paying off some debt.

I am very proud of her and the personal growth she has had over the past 2 years.  Knowing how tight her budget is, I would like to see your organization adopt her family for Christmas. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.