ALAMOSA — Area residents are invited to help Amarah bring Christmas to “Kids Like Me” again this year.

The daughter of a drug addict, Amarah, who writes a weekly column in the Valley Courier, recalls hungry and sparse holidays while living with her mother. Now a teenager and living with her grandmother, Amarah wants to help other “kids like me” who may be suffering from abuse and neglect because of parents who are drug addicts and alcoholics.

“I just don’t want kids to go through what I went through,” Amarah said.

She encourages both donations and applications for recipients. (See the application with her column Amarah’s Corner on page 4 of today’s paper.)

Completed applications may be taken to Ace Hardware or mailed to Amarah’s Hope for Kids Like Me, P. O. Box 354, Alamosa, CO 81101.

Ace Hardware in Alamosa accepted donation drop-offs last year, and will accept them again this year. Donations to the annual Kids Like Me Toy/Food/Warm Clothing Drive may be dropped off at Ace Hardware, 157 Craft Drive, Alamosa, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Christmas gifts will be distributed on Friday, December 21st at the Church of Christ, 408 Victoria St., Alamosa, CO, from 1-7 p.m.

New clothing and toys are welcome, as are food donations. Cash donations may also be made through Amarah’s Hope for Kids Like Me at the address above.

“I’m very grateful for the churches and for all of the people in the community who step up every year with donations, cash, food, and gifts for kids like me,” Amarah said, “and preachers like Jerry Savelle and Creflo Dollar, who have helped me get The Action Bible for kids like me. And I’m thankful for all of the people on the Board of Directors of Hope for Kids Like Me like Dr. Barbara Troy, Erwin Young, Rosalie Martinez, Sherri Valdez, Ivette Atencio and everyone who has helped me do this, for kids like me. Thank you to everyone, with all of my heart. I couldn’t do this without your help.”

Amarah recalled that last Christmas New Hope Church in South Fork gave Kids Like Me the largest cash donation ever received and spearheaded the best Christmas that Hope for Kids Like Me has had so far.

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Martinez donated The Action Bible last Christmas; Dr. Troy bought a truckload of winter coats, toboggans, scarves, socks, underwear, boots and gloves; Marcie Schulz, Schulz Realty and staff, bought a truckload of toys and clothing; and Tracie Medina and Alamosa State Bank staff supplied a truckload of toys and clothing, as well.

Amarah also thanked Erwin Young for the work he does all year long not just for kids but also for their parents and grandparents who are raising children because their addict parents are in jail or dead because of their addiction. “God Bless Erwin Young for everything he has done, and does,” she said.

Amarah concluded, “For me, this is another holiday season without my mother. I loved her a lot, and I know she loved me, even though she forgot she did.”