Book of Dreams

For Catherine Odurokwarten, the gift of a laptop computer from Book of Dreams readers will help her in many ways as she and her daughter move forward in life.

Cole Odenweller is thrilled to again be riding a bike, a special three-wheel model for the 15-year-old, who has an undiagnosed neuro-degenerative disorder.

That old adage about never forgetting how to ride a bicycle came home in a sweet way in Woodland this month.

Here's the complete list of wishes in The Bee's Book of Dreams series.

For years, the Clean & Sober holiday party was a chance to celebrate and encourage sobriety and help heal the wounds of drug and alcohol addiction.

Jose Ruiz and his family will never forget the day their camping trip in Colusa County became a nightmare. It was Sept. 16. They finished breakfast and were packing up. The youngest, 5-year-old Cesar, begged unsuccessfully for someone to take him swimming once more.

For those without a home, a bicycle can be a precious commodity, providing a way to get to work or an appointment, to pick up some groceries or to just feel free.

Some children are born strong, with good health and resilience on their side. Some are more like a china cup, delicate and not easily mended.

On a warm September day, an army of volunteers dropped in on a little-noticed neighborhood in south Sacramento and helped repair some of the poorest housing stock in the region.

When a child gets cancer, a family's life can be turned upside down.

It can be a dark and confusing road, the one a veteran walks after his or her war duty is done.

For more than 30 years, the Stanford Settlement Senior Center has helped to lift the loneliness that often shadows those growing older.

The Spirit in the Arts program is aptly named. People come here to create art. In the process, their spirits are lifted and filled.

A year ago, Catherine Odurokwarten was 19, single and overwhelmed as she raised her infant daughter.

Rhett Seevers never knew the joy of crossing a finish line. He had cerebral palsy and passed away unexpectedly in 2004 at age 7.

Macy Coad is a quintessential kindergartner, tinkly-voiced and sweet as the morning. At age 5, she has endured more pain than most of us face in a lifetime.

For people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, the holidays can be especially hard. Loneliness, isolation from family and painful memories can sweep in and not only bring sadness, but also undermine even the most courageous attempts to live in sobriety.

Real-life job skills. The joy of cooking. Friendship and camaraderie. References on a résumé. Hope for a more stable life. Such is the bounty that comes to mothers working at Plates Café and Catering, a program of the St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children.

For many years, the Mother-Baby program, run by Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, helped numerous women and their children. But those who ran the effort knew they were missing something crucial – fathers.

Never has duct tape served such a noble purpose.

Cole Odenweller cannot express his own dreams.

Choose which dreams you would like help come true.