Season of Giving - Chosen Charity and Information

[pixy0stix]

Wrapped gifts! pandce.proboards.com/thread/401555/pip-wrapped-gifts

SCROLL DOWN IN THIS POST FOR LINKS AND INFORMATION

twotrue's organization is our chosen charity! I turn it over to you, lady.

From the nomination post (written by twotrue):


**I edited the post to share more of the story just provided to me.**

I work for Wildwood Programs .  We serve individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism and Down's Syndrome.  We support people starting at age 5 and remain with them throughout their life.  We have a school, residential services, employment services, adult education, workforce development, recreation, and what seems like a million other things.

I am the Assistant Director of our Foundation and just this morning received a call from one of our social workers looking for assistance for two families.  The church that has helped these families in the past is now requiring that the people they help be members of their congregation. 
Here is a quick synopsis:

Family 1 -  This is a two parent family, both have disabilities.  The mother has some mental health issues but was previously working at a daycare.  Due to an unexpected pregnancy (the baby was just born) she is not able currently work at the daycare.  She wants to work and is looking for place that might fit her need (social concerns + location + time).  The father has social anxiety issues but picks up jobs as a construction worker whenever possible but the jobs are few and far between.  He was staying at home with their one year old while mom worked so that they didn't have a daycare bill.  With the exception of her father they have no family in the state and a very small support system.  They do not have a vehicle and 80% of their income goes to rent.

They have a newborn baby girl, a 1y/o boy, a 7y/o girl, a 10 y/o girl and a 12y/o girl.

The 10 year old is in our school program here at Wildwood.  The social worker says that this family will have nothing for the holidays without the support of an outside organization. 


Family 2 - This is a single parent with two children living at home - a 16 y/o girl and 9y/o boy - and a 19 year old son whom lives with the grandmother.  The 16 year old has a disability that keeps her from going to public school.  The mother currently stays home with the daughter, trying to home school her and get her GED finished.  The daughter would like to attend cosmetics school once her GED is complete.  The 9 year old boy receives some services from Wildwood for his learning disability, but he currently able to attend public school.  The only income in this home right now is public assistance.


The social worker is looking for any and all help that someone can provide.  Christmas trees, a holiday dinner, clothes and toys, etc.

Obviously if these families are chosen by the board I can coordinate the activities and will work with the social worker to create a wish list of needs and wants.

__________________________________

UPDATE:


I just spoke with the social worker who nominated these two families as well as the teachers and support staff that serve some of these kids. Everyone is excited, thankful, and totally on board with helping. So here's how things will work.

The social worker (SW) is meeting with both families (the parents) today (perfect coincidence of timing) and will share the news with them. He will start putting together a wish list with them and hopefully get me some of the items by the end of the day. I have the phone numbers for the families and will follow up with them after the SW tells them about this.

There will be four ways to give:

1) Purchase an item directly from the Amazon wish list (to be created). I will set it up to deliver straight to my office where I have volunteers and staff that can help wrap things.

2) Purchase an item on your own and mail it to my office.

3) Paypal money for a specific item or for me to purchase things off the list or not available on Amazon. My paypal address is [e-mail] If you paypal please let me know if you want it to go to something specific.

4) You may send a check directly to my office. Make checks payable to Wildwood Foundation (2995C Curry Rd, Schenectady, NY 12303). On the notes line of the check reference GBCN holiday giving. I see all donations made to our foundation and will be able to process these donations in a way that will then allow us to purchase things for these families.

If anyone wants to make a donation via credit card please PM me and we can arrange that.

If anyone needs a tax receipt for either money donated (if you send a check to Wildwood you will automatically get a receipt) or for a gift purchased please PM me and I'll happily take care of that.

I think that is it for now. I stressed to the SW and the teachers I spoke with that this group is ready to get started and the sooner I get info the better. When items from the list start coming in I'll create the wishlist and update again.

________________________________



Wish List Link: amzn.com/w/2BL3TOEE9SHTQ

I've received the detailed lists and have started to update the Amazon wish list accordingly. What I'm going to do is try to put 2 gifts per person (unless it's small/inexpensive stuff) up on the list to begin with to have a well rounded list. I will continue to add as time allows, but it takes a lot longer to find the items than I thought. As mentioned before - unless specified below - brand/specific item is not important. I'm trying to find a range of prices.

The jackets I put on the list yesterday have doubled in price (good sale yesterday) so I'll probably go change those. With that in mind if you find a different version or are going to purchase some place else let me know and I'll delete the item from the list.

I'll list everything requested in this post and then come back here and cross out as things are purchased. The items with * next to them have been added to the wish list. And of course neither of these families is expecting everything to be purchased. Whatever we do they are grateful for, the items are just to give us options.

Family 1

D 3m girl - purchased: high chair and toys
not purchased: 6-9m jacket (amazon has an awful selection), diapers size 2

M 22m boy - purchased: winter coat and bib set, Vtech Nest and Learn animals
not purchased: Let's Imagine Elmo, Big Block Dump Truck, 24m clothes

I 12y girl - purchased: art supplies, paper, sketch pad, Monster High Monster Maker, Alex Ho Chalk Salon
not purchased: winter jacket, slippers size 9

N 7y girl - purchased: slippers, Frozen doll, Hello Kitty Watch, Bicycle
not purchased: winter jacket

S 10y girl - purchased: set of 3 purple pans, apron and pot holder set, pink spatulas, Flutter bye doll, Headpones, Peg+Cat DVD
not purchased: winter jacket

For the Family (I found out the parents were so overwhelmed and grateful at the thought of their children being helped they didn't want to ask for things themselves. These are items the social worker has heard them mention and think could be useful/desired):

purchased: Blockus (family board game)

not purchased: toaster oven, flat iron

*this family doesn't have a Christmas tree. I'm on the look out for a small artificial one (so they can use it again next year). If I can't find a reasonably priced one I may see if my local tree stand will donate a small real tree.

Family 2

A 19y male - purchased: winter coat, WWE 2013 PS3
not purchased: Nike (size 12, red, black or blue), anything NASCAR related

K 16y female - purchased: winter coat, Batman DVD set
not purchased: Converse (size 10 not white or pink), Deb gift card, DVDs from Castle, Mentalist or Bones

C 9y boy - purchased: winter coat, batman books, batman stickers, Batman wall decals and toy
not purchased: Tablet of some kind, Nike size 7 youth W

L grandmother - purchased: new watch
not purchased: Nike size 10, not white

M mother - purchased: dishes for 8
not purchased: Sketchers size 10, price chopper or walmart gift cards

[Deleted]

I expect the makeup thread to come correct for the 16 year old lolol

[secretlyevil]

Alright, time to get this party started!

[panicked]

Do we have wish lists for the kids yet? Or is this a surprise-type thing? What grocery stores are local?

[secretlyevil]

Nov 26, 2014 7:47:58 GMT -5 panicked said:

Do we have wish lists for the kids yet? Or is this a surprise-type thing? What grocery stores are local?

we have to wait for twotrue

[josieposy]

You're accepting $$ too right?

[twotrue]

I just spoke with the social worker who nominated these two families as well as the teachers and support staff that serve some of these kids.  Everyone is excited, thankful, and totally on board with helping.  So here's how things will work.

The social worker (SW) is meeting with both families (the parents) today (perfect coincidence of timing) and will share the news with them.  He will start putting together a wish list with them and hopefully get me some of the items by the end of the day.  I have the phone numbers for the families and will follow up with them after the SW tells them about this.

There will be four ways to give:

1) Purchase an item directly from the Amazon wish list (to be created).  I will set it up to deliver straight to my office where I have volunteers and staff that can help wrap things.

2) Purchase an item on your own and mail it to my office.

3) Paypal money for a specific item or for me to purchase things off the list or not available on Amazon.   If you paypal please let me know if you want it to go to something specific.

4) You may send a check directly to my office.  On the notes line of the check reference GBCN holiday giving.  I see all donations made to our foundation and will be able to process these donations in a way that will then allow us to purchase things for these families.

If anyone wants to make a donation via credit card please PM me and we can arrange that.

If anyone needs a tax receipt for either money donated or for a gift purchased please PM me and I'll happily take care of that.

I think that is it for now.  I stressed to the SW and the teachers I spoke with that this group is ready to get started and the sooner I get info the better.  When items from the list start coming in I'll create the wishlist and update again.

sushi - if you have any tips from leading the effort last year, please share them.

Thanks everyone!

[laurenpetro]

Twotrue, you are awesome. Seriously.

[wawa]

I think I remember this from last year - I'd recommend that anybody purchasing an item from somewhere other than the amazon wishlist make sure to post a note to the board (or to the wishlist? you can do that, can't you?) that the item has been purchased so we don't get unwanted repeats.

Otherwise YAY! Thanks for organizing twotrue! I'm very happy we're doing this again this year.

[secretlyevil]

::does shaking white girl booty happy dance::

[downtoearth]

Nov 26, 2014 10:54:52 GMT -5 wawa said:

I think I remember this from last year - I'd recommend that anybody purchasing an item from somewhere other than the amazon wishlist make sure to post a note to the board (or to the wishlist? you can do that, can't you?) that the item has been purchased so we don't get unwanted repeats.

Otherwise YAY! Thanks for organizing twotrue! I'm very happy we're doing this again this year.

Yeah, good idea. And if you want it to be anonymous, I bet twotrue can get PMs so she can post here or on the wishlist for you.

[twotrue]

Just in case anyone is doing black Friday shopping and is interested in purchasing a larger item, I've been told the 9 y/o boy would love an iPad. He is non-verbal but does very well with technology. I did a quick black Friday search and it looks like Target might have the best deal. The iPad mini is supposed to be $249 and comes with a $80 Target gift card.


As for the rest of the list, I've been given some items but the moms are going to ask the kids what they would like Santa to bring and will get back to me on Monday. :-)

[sushi]

I don't really have any tips. I had an excel sheet to give the group am estimate how much they gave. It also helped me keep track of what was filled (like what I purchased with cash donations), along with the amazon wishlist.

And have a party for wrapping. It made it fun rather than tedious.

To be honest it was more work than I expected, but it seems is already part of your job, so it should be easier for you.

[gpw]

This is awesome.

One question -- can we donate $ without specifying a particular gift? Like -- I can't swing $250 for the iPad but maybe my cash donation can be combined with others to purchase the iPad?

[MrsAxilla]

Please let us know as soon as the Amazon wish list is set up. My son is very into tzedakah this year and I want him to choose what gifts to give. Thanks!

[twotrue]

Nov 27, 2014 20:01:32 GMT -5 gpw said:

This is awesome.

One question -- can we donate $ without specifying a particular gift? Like -- I can't swing $250 for the iPad but maybe my cash donation can be combined with others to purchase the iPad?

Yes, that is absolutely fine. Whatever cash is sent for non specific items will be pooled together and stretched as far as I can make it go.

[bimbi284]

This is so exciting!! Thanks twotrue for coordinating this and for the day to day work you already do. This sounds like an awesome org.

[twotrue]

I should be getting a more detailed wish list tomorrow and I'll put together the amazon list ASAP.

[twotrue]

Update: The two mothers had the children write letters to Santa this past weekend. I should have details by the end of the day or early tomorrow.

In the meantime both moms have asked for winter coats for all the children. I've added coats to the wishlist based on their sizes. I'm not wedded to these coats, I just tried to pick basic colors and styles. I also picked things that are eligible for Amazon Prime (I have a membership so if you want you can paypal me funds and I can purchase through my Amazon account and get the free shipping).

Here is a break down of ages and sizes so if you think a different style is better let me know:

19 male - 2XL
16 female - 3XL (very few 3XL choices with Prime on Amazon)
9 male - Men's L/XL
12 female - Junior's Medium
10 female - Junior's Medium
8 girl - 6x/7
18m boy - 24month **I already purchased this. I purchased the same set I got my boys earlier this season **
3m girl - 6/9 month



Here is a link to the wishlist:

[secretlyevil]

twotrue, the link isn't working.

[twotrue]

secretlyevil - try it now. I think I fixed it.

[pixy0stix]

Link still isn't working.

[secretlyevil]

Here is the error I'm getting still twotrue.

[twotrue]

Can someone try this?

[bimbi284]

Dec 1, 2014 16:13:28 GMT -5 twotrue said:

Can someone try this?

smile.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/2BL3TOEE9SHTQ

Works for me!

[wawa]

Dec 1, 2014 16:13:28 GMT -5 twotrue said:

Can someone try this?

smile.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/2BL3TOEE9SHTQ

works for me too.  success!

[secretlyevil]

Works!

[anonymous]

placed my order. please update if the list isn't covered and i'll get something else. I really like the coats you picked out

twotrue I bought the following from the wishlist but it's still showing up as avaiable-perhaps you want to delete?:

Avia Men's Puffer Jacket with Removable Hood, Black/Barn Red, XX-Large

[twotrue]

Dec 2, 2014 11:03:31 GMT -5 anonymous said:

placed my order. please update if the list isn't covered and i'll get something else. I really like the coats you picked out

Thank you!  I spoke with the social worker for the families late in the day yesterday and he had just received more detailed lists.  He should be sending them my way ASAP and then I'll update with the fun toys and stuff.

[josieposy]

I probably missed it. What is he deadline?