Giving Feels Good: Adopt a Family Gift Drive

Today we gathered to wrap all of the gifts we collected for the Adopt a Family Gift Drive for our assigned family from La Casa de las Madres. A few months ago I contacted the shelter to ask if our community could participate in their Adopt a Family holiday program. Three weeks ago I was sent a sheet describing our assigned a family: a mom and her two 9 year old kids with sizes of clothing, preferred colors and their gift "wish list." At minimum we were required to provide one family gift, two gifts for the mom and three gifts for each child:

For the family, a full sized sheet set.

The mom asked for a tote bag purse and a large soup pot.

Child #1 asked for a art set, toy train and a model car/train kit.

Child #2 asked for a Thomas the Tank Engine shirt, Thomas the Tank Engine toy and a pair of jeans.

I was informed that Child #2 has some developmental disabilities which is why he asked for the Thomas the Tank engine items, something usually a much younger child would be interested in. We were up for the challenge. 

A sign up list was posted online for anyone in the community to select from, and I added many additional items I thought the family would need. We don't know anything about the family or their circumstances, but I was told all gifts would be appreciated! 

Other items we bought for each family member included PJs, robes, games, socks, underwear, warm hats, warm coats, books and toiletries. And, man oh man, there were probably 25 small stocking suffer gifts per person as well: stickers, pens, makeup, candy, legos and other cool things!

Sports Basement, once again, generously welcomed us to use their Big Room to host the Wrapping Party. I confirmed with those who RSVPd to bring tape, scissors and whatever wrapping paper they wanted to donate to the effort.

Boatloads of wrapping supplies

Sorting the gift haul by recipient before wrapping.

We started by unloading and sorting all of the purchases by recipient - man, here was a LOT! It felt like it was Christmas morning as a kid. 

Little elves wrapping away!

We put on some good music, poured some mimosas at got to work! Each gift was lovingly wrapped, tied with gorgeous ribbon and labeled carefully with the initials of the recipient and the contents of each package. 

Sandy's advanced bow tying maneuver.

We finished by 5:00 pm and loaded most of the gifts into my car.... like Santa's sleigh.

There were so many gifts some went to Trina and Meg's houses for storage. The plan is to deliver all of the gifts to the shelter on Thursday afternoon. I will probably be more excited than the staff at the shelter. 

Many thanks to Marcia P., Marsha S., Catronia, Margo W., Meg, Trina, Sharla, Elena, Sandy, Sandy W. + Frankie + Edie, Tina L., Judy J. for contributing so generously to our family's wish list and all of the other gifts.

The gifts are so perfect. The family is going to be so overwhelmed with this generosity. Here is a list (what I remember!) of the items that will be dropped off at the shelter this week for our family.

Family Wish List: Full Sized Sheet Set (Bed in a Bag)

Family additional gift: a towel set for each member of the family

Family: TONS of stocking stuffers! Like 20 little items for each person in the family. So fun!

Child #1 Wish List: Art/Drawing Set, Model Car, Train Set, Art Supplies

Child  #2 Wish List: Jeans, Thomas the Tank Engine Shirt, Thomas the Tank Engine Toy Train Kids

Additional gifts - each child is getting: maze game, lego set, Bathrobe, PJs, Books, Socks, Undies, Undershirts, Warm Coat and Hat

Mom's Wish List: Tote Bag/Purse, Large Soup Pot Mom

Additional Gifts: Large Stock Pot, PJs, Slippers, Toiletries, Makeup, Warm Coat & Scarf

Many thanks to Tanzeem, Linda E., Marcia, Marsha, Sharla, Sandy, Meg, Tina, for pitching in to tackle wrapping the pile of presents, for donating wrapping supplies and for your infectious positive spirit! Giving feels good.