This is a very special letter, and we hope you will take time to read it carefully because its contents are important to so many.

Certainly, it is very different from the usual letters you receive at this time of year because we don't want computer games, bikes or puppies.

Instead, we are the people who brighten lives, human and animal, and in some cases we actually save them. We are men and women, Bermudian and non-Bermudian, young and not so young, and of all races and creeds.

We are children's and senior citizens' organisations, and the ones who work with the disadvantaged. We give support to the orphaned, comfort to the sick and dying, cheer to the lonely, help to the physically abused, and shelter to the battered and abandoned. We also work with animals, giving them food, treatment and new homes.

In short, we are the helping hands of Bermuda, and we love what we do throughout the year, but our work is not always easy because our needs are greater than our resources. Like everyone else, when Christmas comes around we hope that the season of goodwill will touch all hearts and translate into real help for those we serve.

If the list seems long it is because, in these increasingly expensive times, those needing our assistance are growing in number, and we find we cannot meet all of their needs without more help.

If you cannot bring us everything we wish for, we would be thrilled to receive something because everything really makes a difference to the lives we touch throughout the year.

Thank you, dear Santa.

*** Agape House/Friends of Hospice We're refurbishing, so donations towards new bedspreads is what we wish for. Cheques made payable to Friends of Hospice should be mailed to Suite 124, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11.

*** Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda For our office we wish for: a fax machine, a high-speed colour printer, 2-drawer filing cabinet and desk.

For our work we would love our own passenger van. For our little brothers and sisters, we would like passes to different attractions, such as the aquarium and glass bottom boat as we take them out in groups. Donations are also needed towards airline tickets for next year's cultural exchange trip between our little brothers and sisters and those in New York. Please mail cheques to PO Box 3261, Hamilton HMPX. Telephone other good news to Ms Diane Murray at 292-2802.

*** Bargain Box: We desperately need volunteers to help in our popular Pembroke store. Even if you can only give an hour it helps. Maybe working folk could donate a lunch hour? We are open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Please call Mrs. Bea Stott at 292-4324.

*** Bermuda Red Cross: Help is wanted in the following areas: 1. Drivers to take the elderly and indigent to weekday appointments. 2. Volunteers to train as CPR and first aid instructors. 3. Blood donors and registered nurses to help in the Blood Bank. 4. Assistants for two-hour stints in our equipment rental department -- opening hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. 5. A volunteer Youth Co-ordinator to re-start our Junior Red Cross programme. Please call 236-8253.

*** Bermuda Riding for the Disabled: Most of all, we need money to buy food for our ponies. A bale of hay costs $24, and a bag of horse feed $13.

Alternatively, would anyone, or a group, be willing to sponsor a pony? It costs $6000 a year. We would also welcome any of the following: A boom box so we can play music to the children while they ride. Apples and carrots for Christmas treats. Railings and matting for our new mounting block. Someone to build us a nice cupboard in which to keep our riding equipment. Please make cheques payable to the Bermuda Riding for the Disabled and mail them to PO Box WK 525, Warwick WKBX.

We also need more people to help us during the week because we can only ride as many children as there are helpers to walk beside them. We do this Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Please offer your help to Mrs. Moira Benbow at 238-7433.

*** Bermuda Society for the Blind: As long as we receive donations from the public we can keep going, so your generosity would be appreciated. Cheques should be mailed to Beacon House, 1 Beacon Street, Hamilton HM12. We would like to extend a big thank-you to everyone who has helped us this year and wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

*** Brangman Home: Would anyone like to donate garden rakes, a microwave, plastic storage containers for sandwiches, drinks, plastic glasses, thermoses for hot lunches, or a clothes dryer? If so, please call Lynette Webb or Kelly Lyons at 292-3699 to arrange delivery.

*** Fair Havens Christian Care Centre: Having just moved into our new home, some small, white clothes hampers, and small electric room heaters will complete our needs. Mrs. Barbara Burchall awaits your call at 295-2319.

Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau (BFAB): Our biggest needs are cat food and donations. We also welcome any cat-related items for our Ocean View Cat Shelter, such as beds, toys, pooper scoopers, blankets, towels and old bathroom rugs to make the cold cement floor more comfortable, bowls and plates.

Charities: All I want for Christmas is...

Please mail cheques to PO Box WK 91, Warwick WK BX, and call 236-2595 to arrange delivery of other gifts.

*** Devonshire Parish Rest Home: These are our needs: Radiator-style electric heaters; pots -- all sizes; rubber sheets for beds; adult Pampers for ladies; toiletries such as powder, tooth paste, peroxide and mouthwash. Please telephone 292-1738 to arrange delivery.

*** Hope Homes: We have asked so often for a lightweight truck to collect and move our things around. Is this our lucky year? The truck doesn't have to be new -- as long as it moves and is safe. Also, we are always looking for sincere, honest, dedicated people to volunteer. If they like working with disabled folk we welcome them. Contact Mrs. Douglas at 292-7206.

*** Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda: If you can volunteer for a minimum of 21 hours a week Mrs. Debbie Byrd would love to hear from you at 236-2488. Also, the decrepit office chairs are giving our loyal staff terrible backache, so three decent chairs would be heaven. We also need a colour laser printer (not new but very healthy is fine) and a digital camera. Please call Ms Lena Ostroff at 236-2488 with glad tidings.

*** King Edward Hospital Continuing Care Unit: We urgently need financial assistance to purchase electronic lift devices for patient handling. That is our biggest goal for this year. Please make your cheques payable to The Bermuda Hospitals Board, attach them to a memo stating they are for the Continuing Care Donated Funds account, and mail them to: PO Box HM 1023, Hamilton HMDX. Questions? Please contact Miss Kathy-Ann Lewis, programme manager.

*** Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA): Donations are always welcome, and we thank our members and friends for their generous support throughout the year. Mail cheques to us at PO Box HM 64, Hamilton HMAX. We wish Bermuda a happy, healthy holiday season extending throughout 2001.

*** Lefroy House: Some pretty framed scenes (not bigger than 11 x 14 inches) would really brighten our walls, as would some throw rugs for the rooms. We always need volunteers to feed the patients and escort them on outings. Mrs. Rosheena Masters awaits your call at 234-0525.

*** Meals on Wheels: Volunteers are needed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Duties and hours are as follows: Cooks 9 a.m to 11 a.m., potwashers 10.15 a.m. to approximately 1.30 p.m., drivers and assistants: 11.15 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. Please call Miss Barbara Frith at 236-1815.

*** The Lighthouse: We have five bedrooms, each with two single beds and 2 windows, all of which require co-ordinating sets of curtains, bedspreads and throw rugs. We also need matching mat sets for our four bathrooms (any colour). We are short of drinking glasses and plastic storage containers in all sizes. To arrange delivery, please contact Mrs. Ruth Skinner at 292-5941 before 2 p.m. Monday to Friday.

*** Packwood Home: Any of the following choices would be very much appreciated: 25 identical 5 x 7-inch plain picture frames (wall type); nice drinking glasses (all sizes); a camera; talking books; craft materials, such as knitting needles and wool. Our ladies would love necklaces, brooches and clip-on earrings as well as hair clips and bows, pop sox or stockings, small perfumes, lotions and soaps. For our gardening project we need pots, seeds and plants.

Administrator Miss Adriann Tucker is standing by at 234-1459.

*** Patients' Assistance League & Service (PALS): Our overriding need is for donations. Apart from the Government grant of $100,000 per year, for which we are very grateful, we depend entirely on public support to exist. Without such generosity we would be forced to close. Our operating expenses this year are $600,000.00, which means that we must find the other $500,000.00 ourselves. We have had more cancer patients referred to us than ever before, and patient care begins from the moment of diagnosis. Without PALS we don't know what would happen to them because neither the Hospital nor the district nurses could cope with the numbers, so PALS is performing a vital service. Please make cheques payable to PALS Operating Fund.

Donations are also welcomed towards the cost of our new purpose-built building, which gets underway next year. We have been a tenant for 20 years and our needs have outgrown the space we occupy. Cheques should be made payable to the PALS Building Fund.

Our mailing address is PO BOX DV 19, Devonshire DVBX.

*** Pembroke Rest Home: We are refurbishing bedrooms with special armchairs and furniture suitable for the elderly. We have a supplier who imports them for us, so all we need are donations towards the cost. Make cheques payable to: Pembroke Parish Council (specify "For rest home furnishings'') and mail them to: The Pembroke Parish Council, PO BOX HM746, Hamilton HMCX. We really need a generator for when the electricity fails. Also, our residents like to interact with the public, so volunteers who play music are needed throughout the year.

They also welcome visits from children and homemade goodies. Can we please have volunteers to take our folks to see the Christmas lights? Please call 292-1864 to help.

*** Physical Abuse Centre: Bath towels, dish towels, an electric tea kettle, flip chart with easel, electric room heaters, ironing board cover, light bulbs, overhead projector/screen, stereo system, toaster oven, twin bed sheets -- take your pick, we need them all! We have a very great need for a van to pick up and deliver things as well. Please telephone 292-4366 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday to discuss delivery of your gifts.

*** Summerhaven: Our wish is for the following: radiator-style electric heaters, a blow dryer, commercial washer and dryer, and volunteers to drive our bus -- (whatever time anyone can spare is acceptable). Please give the good news to Mrs. Wade at 293-2099.

*** Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA): We would appreciate toys for our cats and dogs, as well as collars and leashes. Volunteers are wanted to walk our dogs in the afternoons, and socialise with our cats. We have kittens that need to be socialised. Are their people willing to foster them? Our office is in need of a computer scanner which is compatible with IBM PC. We are also looking for 74 homes for the dogs we have waiting to come to the shelter. Donations are always needed too. Please make cheques payable to the SPCA and mail them to 32 Valley Road, Paget PG 05.

*** Sunshine League: Who can help us with the following: Replacements for our old stove, freezer and dining room chairs; a cutlery set from Bermuda Hotel Supplies; window treatments (call us for details); miscellaneous items on Gibbons Co. registry. Aberfeldy Nurseries gift certificates; art/craft supplies; board games; hard top hair dryer and blow dryer; pens, pencils and paper; towels, wash cloths and plastic hangers; personal care vouchers (hair cuts/hair grooming); movie vouchers? We also need energetic volunteers and committee members as well as tutors for children. Please call us with your good news at 292-4360.

*** Westmeath: We're looking for a Christmas angel, angels or company to "adopt'' our front garden, planting the flower beds and keeping them pretty. Our kitchen staff would love a commercial mixer, and our residents would welcome some nice potted plants to brighten the interior. Volunteers are required in these areas: driving residents to appointments and taking them for drives, especially at weekends; help with feeding patients; hairdressing; assist in the nursing wing; assist in our thrift shop, which is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All I want for Christmas is...

Matron Jenny Gibson is standing by at 295-2451.

*** Windreach Recreational Village: Our most important wish is to see a lot more of the special needs population, of all ages and abilities, enjoying the facilities here. We also need volunteers so we can make everyone's visit successful and meaningful. We also need financial help to finish paying for our wonderful activity centre. Cheques payable to Windreach Bermuda Trust should be mailed to PO Box WJ 654, Warwick WK BX. Call Jacqueline Horsefield at 238-2469. Take a virtual visit at our website: wsww.windreach.org No caption