# Help for people whose Christmas just got ruined?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 21, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690 "2012-12-21T01:43:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/1 "2012-12-21T01:43:16Z")

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A Facebook friend of mine just had her basement flooded, ruining tons of toys, clothes and furniture-- and perhaps most tragically, all the kids’ Christmas presents.

Where can she go, whom can she talk to, what can she do to get some help from generous and kind-hearted people?

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**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/2 "2012-12-21T01:51:06Z")

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Her insurance carrier?

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**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/3 "2012-12-21T03:40:13Z")

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Facebook?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/4 "2012-12-21T03:44:57Z")

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Since the OP is looking for advice, let’s move it over to IMHO.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/5 "2012-12-21T04:19:31Z")

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You could try contacting a few local media orgs to see if they might be interested in publicizing the family’s plight. I’m sure if people in the community found out about this that there would be some kind people who would want to help.

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**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-people-whose-christmas-just-got-ruined/644690/6 "2012-12-21T04:31:35Z")

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^^^ The local media down here has reported a few stories like this, and people have come out of the woodwork to help out.

Alternatively - local Churches can sometimes help in situations like this. Salvation Army/Red Cross may help with clothes. Toys for Tots may help with gifts.

Good luck.

-D/a