Gift Help: Mentee's family

[explorer2001]

I mentor a 15 year old whose family I met through the shelter where I volunteer. The family is moving at the end of the month into their new (not shelter related) apartment at the end of the month. Every year I do gifts for the family.

Family is mom, mentee, and 2 year old little boy. Last year I got mom a new work wardrobe, mentee her phone and lots of toys for the boy.

Mentee just had her birthday and I made $150 donation to her school's robotics club. She is very active in the club and kept talking about them needing to raise $150 for new equipment. She loved it. (Extra MM because I get a charitable deduction).

So far I have a cute mug with cocoa for mentee, a back up phone charger for mom, and a Fischer Price toy car set for the little boy.

Now I'm struggling with what to do for the rest of the gift... I don't want anything too big or heavy with the move.

I am thinking a Walmart gift card or local grocery store city card rather than more stuff.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

[ddi741]

I like the gift card idea, presumably they will need random things for the apartment.
But if you could also do something more for the teen. I have to say if at 15, I got hot chocolate for Christmas I'd be dissapointed, even knowing the GC was for 'all of us'. Maybe a little piece of jewelry or sweater or something.

[hopenotlost]

I like the idea of the grocery store card, or maybe even a Visa gift card.

[explorer2001]

Dec 17, 2014 10:25:24 GMT -5 ddi741 said:

I like the gift card idea, presumably they will need random things for the apartment.
But if you could also do something more for the teen. I have to say if at 15, I got hot chocolate for Christmas I'd be dissapointed, even knowing the GC was for 'all of us'. Maybe a little piece of jewelry or sweater or something.

Good point about something more for my mentee. I'll have to think about it some more. May a gift card to the local movie theater that will be walkable from her new apartment or a dress I know she liked.

[mbcdefg]

Grocery gift card sounds good.

For the mentee ... maybe a name-brand item? Even something from Marshall's - handbag, cosmetic bag, a piece of clothing.

Or a few pieces of makeup/perfume from Ulta or Sephora, or some fancy soaps from Lush.

[genet313]

I like the gift card idea, b/c it is a useful gift.  But I would also get a few small things to supplement - things they might want, not things they need.  Like a nice body lotion/body wash set for mom and mentee so they can feel a little pampered.

Could you also get them a gift certificate to a local restaurant?  It might be nice for them to have an excuse to go out and celebrate their new apartment (particularly for mom). Not even somewhere fancy, just someplace they can sit back and relax and savor the moment.

[lurknomore]

What about instead of grocery store like a BBB card? Then they could have some money to settle into their new apartment and maybe splurge on some furnishings (kitchen stuff, lamps) that they might not have been able to otherwise have.

And I like the idea of the dress for mentee. Do you know if her brother is in need ot winter gear (coat, boots, etc)?

[explorer2001]

Good ideas ladies!

I think I may swing by their new area this evening and see what's around and pick up some extra fun stuff.

[explorer2001]

Dec 17, 2014 10:59:04 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

. Do you know if her brother is in need ot winter gear (coat, boots, etc)?

Little brother doesn't need winter gear. It is one of the good things about living in AZ. It's 65 and raining here, not really cold.

[explorer2001]

Update: I dropped off their gifts last night. Everyone loved everything. I ended up doing the following:
Mentee: cocoa and mug set with a cartoon character she likes (she squealed when she opened it), movie theater gift card, dress, and bath and body works shower gel, body spray and poof.
Mom: grocery store gift card, backup phone charger, bath and body works shower gel, lotion and poof
Little brother: Fisher Price little people construction play set with cars and carrying case. He literally tore the box apart and started playing with it and hadn't stopped when I left.

Thanks for all the help in getting this completed.