Christmas Crazy Keeps Getting Crazier
The UPS man has worn a path through our front yard. That can only mean one thing--Christmas Crazy is coming along quite nicely. I have a guest bedroom quickly filling with toys. There are dolls and Legos, sewing kits and basketballs, gadgets and games . . . all of the things that will bring joy to kids of all ages. The toys will be delivered next Friday (December 16th) to Womansplace, just in time for Christmas.
We're currently at $2300, which is going to turn into a lot of toys. A LOT of toys.
But I want more.
I want there to be so many toys that Womansplace has too many toys. Not that there is ever such a thing, but I want there to be so many that they aren't carefully counting and dividing so that each kid gets exactly one thing. I want them to have room to breath. I want them to not have to worry this holiday season.
I want magic and joy to fill the heart of every kid Womansplace serves.
If you guys can drive that total up to $3500 by next Wednesday (December 14th), I will reward you. Sort of. It depends on how you look at it, really. Let's just say I am in possession of a few photographs of me from the days before I embraced my ruler-straight hair. They are group shots so you won't be able to fully enjoy the spectacle that is pink plastic glasses thicker than Coke bottles, but still. The photos are . . . something.
But I'm not posting them unless Christmas Crazy reaches $3500. So there.
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One of you asked a question which led to another question which sprouted an idea.
"Does Womansplace accept used stuff animals as donations?"
The short answer is no. Womansplace cannot accept used stuff animals because of concerns about cleanliness and safety.
However.
That question led to another question. "What do kids get when they check into the emergency shelter?"
The answer was that they get a toothbrush and a few other necessities. Consider that for a moment. The kids are caught in the middle of a crisis situation. They have fled everything that is familiar. They have grabbed a few essentials and ran away from home, with hopes of a new start in a safer place.
And they get a toothbrush.
We're going to help with that.
As an extension of Christmas Crazy, I've made arrangements with Womansplace to begin providing "Welcome Kits" for kids as they enter the shelter. They will be made up of a tote bag, a pair of socks/slippers, a small stuffed animal, a coloring book, and some crayons. Nothing extravagant, just a few small things that will hopefully make them feel a little bit welcome as they start along a new path.
Most of the details are already taken care of for the first few months, but if you are a knitter and have the time to make a few pair of socks or slippers, please let me know. My knitting skills are such that it would be punishment to get socks made by me. Maybe one or two or five of you can do better.
I'll let y'all know if I need anything else to make this tiny bit of magic happen. It's a simple thing that will go a long way in helping make a few kids feel just a little bit more comfortable.
Everyone deserves to be made to feel comfortable, whether they like it or not. ;-)
Christmas Crazy
Reader Comments (7)
I'm in for some slippers. I have a few friends that sew, would you accept donations of tote bags for the kiddos too? There are a lot of us that donate kits to Craft Hope, it would be nice to do something local with that as well. Usually we get a group and everyone donates a little something different to the packet to split it up. Let me know if that would be something you'd be interested in having donated and I could help put the word out too.
We have a stash of new toys to take in. I just have to wean off the drugs a little more this week to drive and we'll get them there.
I'm a knitter/crocheter and I'd love to help out!
My crochet skills are...beginner, I guess. I've recently been considering something called a "pajama party" which is part of pajamaprogram.org and mostly I think it would tie in seemlessly with your Christmas Crazy shenanigans. I found out about it a little too late this year but maybe you could take a peak and contact the local chapter? I'd definitely like to pitch this to my kids' school and see if we can make some of that magic happen next year. What got me? Some kids were given pj's and they didn't know what they were because they had always had to sleep in their clothes. I'm already shopping clearance pajamas (because I am a great bargain shopper...although you could still give me lessons). Just a thought for ya.
YOU ARE AWESOME! In the midst of all that is going on with you right now you keep giving and working so others can have better lives. I hope you are blessed so much you can't stand it all!
clearly i need to learn to knit. anyone wanna teach me so that my long winter nights can be productive?
I told you via twitter that I can't add socks to my queue until February, but I can teach people to knit or crochet sooner than that. :-)
so....i assume this is the idea you were referring to? can i get my gently used stuffed animals in on this??
what about adding in a homemade blanket for the kits? you know, the kind where you take 2 pieces of fleece and tie them together to make a nice cozy blanket?? I'm all over the blankets. I've been trying to find someone to give one to :)