Brighten a columnist’s day with a nice, big donation

Republic columnist Karina Bland fills in for Clay Thompson today.

Clay Thompson will be back soon. When I visited him this week, he told me he appreciates your inquiries and good wishes.

While I was there, he told me a story about a firefighter who, along with other firefighters, had been handing out ice cream to homeless children on a hot summer day a few years ago. They ran out of ice cream before they ran out of children. They promised they would come back tomorrow. One little boy asked, “What if there isn’t any tomorrow?” “Isn’t that awful?” Clay asked. It’s a tough question coming from anyone, let alone a child. It’s a question someone without hope asks. You know how you can help make it less awful? Donate to Season for Sharing. “If you really want me to feel better, send a lot of money,” Clay said.

It’s kind of like in “Peter Pan” when Tinkerbell’s light faded and the only way to save her was to clap your hands and say, “I do believe in fairies.” Clay said the thing that will brighten his light is donations to Season for Sharing.

Make a gift to Clay’s Anti-Gooberism campaign and you’ll qualify for special gifts. Give $100 or more and get a Valley 101 notepad. Donors of $500 receive admission deals to museums around the state. A gift of $1,000 or more puts you in a drawing for a skybox for 12 at a Diamondbacks game. To qualify, use the coupon on page 4A and send it to this special address: Goober-Be-Gone, PO Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 850389250. Or you can make a digital gift at sharing.azcentral.com.