Season of Giving - Information and Wishlist

[scribellesam]

Hello, everyone. I'm @ameliapond's sister. Her DH, unfortunately, has been moved into hospice care, so she will unable to act as organizer going forward. I am a fairly regular poster over at MMM and am happy to take over for her if this is all right with everyone. 

I have set up a Paypal account at paypal.me/scribellesam and you can contact me either here via PM or at [e-mail] with any questions or issues. 

Austin's House Children's Shelter Amazon wishlist: Link (You can also find it by searching for Austin's House Children's Shelter or using my aunt's email address, included below) Posters mentioned being prompted for a phone number by Amazon when using the wishlist, here it is: [phone]

Shipping addresses (The second is the actual, physical address if that is needed):

Austin's House
PO Box 784
Minden, NV 89423

Austin's House
3589 North Sunridge Dr.
Carson City, NV 89705

My aunt, the director of the facility, can be reached at [e-mail] if you have specific questions about wishlist items. 

Here are the comments she included with the wishlist link:

Most of the items are for specific kids. We have a unique situation this year with two large sibling groups with very complicated cases, where the judge has said he wants the kids to stay at Austin's House for the next few months. That's actually pretty rare -- they are generally moved to family foster homes within a couple of months. We also send Christmas gifts with any children who leave during the month of December - to help out their familes - whether biological or foster. So, kids who arrive starting now but leave before Christmas will be taking presents with them. 

I've also included some facilities items -- after eight years, a lot of our basic supplies are pretty worn. But...if people only want to donate to the children - of course we're grateful for anything! Also, people should feel free to get similar but not necessarily identical items to what is on the list - they might find better prices elsewhere, or find something they like better that's similar, and that's ok. Also, I didn't research whether any of the items are being shipped from overseas with long lag times - so they might need to eliminate based on that. 

If people want to learn more about the agency, our website is www.austinshouse.org; It's really outdated and wonky, but the information on it is pretty current. We also have a Facebook page, and I would love to get our page likes to 1000 - if you want to put that challenge out there!

Final notes from me: Unfortunately, I will be unable to follow through on @ameliapond's wonderful stocking stuffer idea, but if people would like to put together their own stocking stuffer packages to send directly to the facility with gift cards and branded items as suggested, that is great. The staff can simply distribute among the children present during the holiday season as needed. 

Please let me know if I've forgotten anything or if you have any issues I can address. Austin's House is so excited, and I've witnessed this group do amazing things in the past, so I'm pretty excited on their behalf! 

[twotrue]

This is perfect! I do suggest that if someone purchases an item on the Wish list, but from another location, please let scribellesam know so the item can be removed to avoid dupes.

[secretlyevil]

scribellesam, thank you for keeping this year's season of giving event moving forward.

[pixy0stix]

scribellesam - I need a phone number for the amazon shipping address.

Unless I'm doing this wrong somehow?

[badgergrl]

Amazon is asking me for a phone number too...

[dexteroni]

That's a good list. I sent a few things but I had a hard time choosing!

It asked me for a phone number too. I just googled and found it. I don't want to post it here without permission, but if you google "Austin's House Carson City," it comes right up.

Thank you for taking this on, scribellesam. I'm so sorry about @ameliapond's DH. (((((hugs))))) Your family will be in my thoughts.

[karinothing]

Oh no. I didn't realize her husband had gotten to that point. Please pass along our love.

I will make a donation as well

[scribellesam]

Sorry, I'll add in the phone number now.

[downtoearth]

Thanks for doing this and hugs to @ameliapond and her DH.

[notsocreepylurker]

<hugs> to Ameliapond and her hubby.

Amazon says my stuff will be delivered 11/10 and then 11/13-11/18 for 2 things.

[eponinepontmercy]

Is there a deadline?

[ssmjlm]

@tokenhoser was nice enough to XP this to MMM, I just sent a few things from the wishlist!

[scribellesam]

Nov 6, 2015 15:38:30 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

Is there a deadline?

I'm not sure, I would think we could keep it going through mid-December for sure, maybe longer if there are still items available that can be shipped in time for Christmas.

[Deleted]

Would it be okay to globally sticky this for a week or even a day or two? I think that CEP does a great job organizing this and posters from other boards would love to jump in and WOW this place in a big way.

[pescalita]

Done, thanks scribellesam! Is there anything we can do for ameliapond?

[secretlyevil]

Nov 6, 2015 16:55:05 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Would it be okay to globally sticky this for a week or even a day or two? I think that CEP does a great job organizing this and posters from other boards would love to jump in and WOW this place in a big way.

this has been discussed during past events and decided against. There is plenty of crossover to other boards that the message just sort of spreads naturally.

Also, IMHO, the community-wide pinned message should be used sparingly.

[Deleted]

Nov 6, 2015 17:10:04 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

Nov 6, 2015 16:55:05 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Would it be okay to globally sticky this for a week or even a day or two? I think that CEP does a great job organizing this and posters from other boards would love to jump in and WOW this place in a big way.

this has been discussed during past events and decided against. There is plenty of crossover to other boards that the message just sort of spreads naturally.

Also, IMHO, the community-wide pinned message should be used sparingly.

Fair enough.

[secretlyevil]

Nov 6, 2015 16:59:40 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Done, thanks scribellesam! Is there anything we can do for ameliapond?

yes, please let us know what we can do.

[pixy0stix]

I posted on ML last night. I don't want to do a global sticky. Plenty of people come here.

[scribellesam]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind thoughts for Amelia. I know she appreciates your support.

[josieposy]

Good thoughts for Amelia and DH.

[elleblue]

Just placed a small order. I'll probably buy additional items later but I wanted to get a jump on things before the wishlist empties out.

[WOT?*]

My thoughts are with Ameliapond and her husband, as well as the rest of your family scribellesam Thank you for taking the time to coordinate this on her behalf. I know she must have a zillion other things on her mind and taking her time right now.

I assume it's okay to post on FB with a "if you would like to buy a foster child a toy, please click the link." My family knows that fosters are a soft touch, and I'm hoping that maybe my brother's family might also be pulled in since they've been foster parents for about 30 years now (with three adoptions and I don't know how many have passed through their doors.)

My thanks also to your aunt for taking care of those in the system that don't have a voice of their own.

[Velar Fricative]

Thank you for the information.

I had no idea two regular posters I "see" all the time were sisters. My heart breaks for @ameliapond and her DH and for their families.

[scribellesam]

Wow! Two days and a third of the wish list is already gone. You guys are amazing.

[scribellesam]

I just received this email from my aunt:

I wanted to let you know that I was AMAZED when I came to work today - gifts from our wish list already started arriving yesterday, and we got another big box this morning. I am so grateful and humbled by this support Thank you for your help!

[mominatrix]

The wishlist link isn't working for me...

Is it me, or is there a problem with the link?

[pixy0stix]

Nov 9, 2015 18:02:35 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

The wishlist link isn't working for me...

Is it me, or is there a problem with the link?

I can get it to work. Does this help? www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/21WVPAMMB5G8D/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v?

[mominatrix]

Nov 9, 2015 18:03:42 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Nov 9, 2015 18:02:35 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

The wishlist link isn't working for me...

Is it me, or is there a problem with the link?

I can get it to work. Does this help? www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/21WVPAMMB5G8D/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v?

That comes up as 1 thing, a book.

[secretlyevil]

That's odd, both links are working for me. Hmmm...are you on a computer or phone? Maybe try restarting the phone? That's worked for me in the past.