Bought my first present tonight

[Elvira]

We went out shopping this evening, and I bought my first Christmas present for this year. Its for Santas Anonymous. A local charity that collects gifts for less fortunate children in our city. Every year we buy $100.00 worth. Last year we took in 20 gifts. I buy things as I see them on sale. Tonight, I found a Spiderman training studio. For boys age 3+. It has some kind of a mat and punching bag thingy, and a dvd in it. It was regular 24.99 and walmart was blowing them out at $3.00 so we bought a couple of them. Every year we have such a hard time finding things for little boys so when I found this, I had to grab it.

[Carrie]

Elvira, that sounds like a great deal. But the thought of Christmas shopping right now made my stomach clench, so much to do between now and Christmas!

[Elvira]

LOL I wasn't out Christmas shopping, we went out shopping for the normal junk... TP, laundry soap that sort of thing. I stumbled upon the toy, and bought it for charity. I collect things all year (or try to) for unfortunate children. Lots of people donate to MS society, cancer, that sort of thing, I donate to Santa's Anonymous for less fortunate children. I just remember back when my kids were little and their eyes would light up seeing all the presents under the tree. :) Just want another little boy or girl to get to experience that as well. I can't of course buy for all of them, but I usually manage to round up 20 or so gifts, and thats enough to make a few happy. :)

As far as Christmas shopping for family.... NO WAY! I am not ready to think about that. LOL I usually start that in Oct at the earliest.

[Sickie Ickie]

Very neat cause Elvira and great deal.

[Carrie]

Elvira, what a wonderful cause. I have often thought about trying to get a toys for tots drop off bin here at Christmas. But with my work schedule, I haven't done it. I'm so fearful that people might take the toys or donations. So many people that I know use a donation box at their display each year and collect for various charities. Such a good thing to do..one of these days I will do it as well, in some way. I admire you for doing that, Elvira, we just give money every year or toys for tots.

[bethene]

that's really cool elvira. I have given to toys for tots, but never that many,.
I also do shoe box christmas, alot of churches do them, they go over seas, usually some times here, you can either use a actual shoe box, but I use a rubbermaid box, shoe box size, cuz the people who get this have nothing, and the plastic their parents use to keep food good, etc. you put small toys, toothbrush and paste, soap, school supplies, hair brushes, combs, etc. hard candy too, I look for those things all year, don't want too cheap of things when they have nothing, but look for deals, I can get the info if any one wants it, I think Billy Grahms kid started it, it is country wide, and it costs 7 dollars for shipping. I have fun planning it, and trying to fit as much as I can in the box.
We don't have the Santa Claus annonomus here, but have something called the santa claus girls, whre each kid signed up gets a toy, and clothing article, like hat and gloves, , alot of old ladies knit hats and mittens all year for it, blankets too. And they collect $ for the toys, It is a cool organization, Sounds like you do a really grat job, with 20 gifts, and boys stuff is harder to find, in the shoe box things , alot of peopl don't do obys, especially oldrer ones, so , I make usre I do at lest one for them

[Elvira]

Thats so awesome bethene, its nice to be able to give back something. I've been very fortunate in my life, as have my girls. I've heard of the shoe box thing, I think we do that here as well... infact I'm almost certain. In any event, its a great cause as well. We also have a coats for kids drive, last year I rounded up about 15 winter jackets from my closets, laundered and sealed them in fresh clean clear bags, and dropped them off. It was such a good feeling to be able to help someone who might not have something like a winter jacket. Thank you bethene, its not to hard to round up 20 gifts, the tough part as I said in my previous post is toys for boys...man! I struggle with that every yr, and feel like I'm ripping off a little boy. I start to feel guilty...lol So, when I saw the spiderman training set...I was wooo hooo a toy for a boy!

Carrie I bet you could do a donation box at your display...I can imagine you draw lots of ppl. Alot here do it for the local food banks, its a success each year. Again, another charity we all seem to overlook.

[Nancj]

This just goes to show what the Holidays are really all about, especially whith so much going on now adays and the economy being so bad its nice to know that ppl still think of one in other and try to help as much as they can.
I'm with you Carrie my stomach turned when I read the tread. I'm so far behind on things I can't start to begin thinking about Christmas shopping.
But what a great idea Elvira to buy a little somthing when you find those deals, so many times I find deals like that and I wind up not getting it because I don't know anyone at the time I can give it to. And then I find myself scrambling during the Holidays trying to find gifts for charity.
Bethene I never heard about the Shoe Box Christmas, It sounds so nice. I like how you use a plastic box instead. I would have never thought about that. something so small, but something we take for granted. I have so many of those plastic boxes and when you mentioned it, it just reminded me just how much I use them. if you don't mind I'd like some information on it. is it mostly done through the church? I'd like to do something like that maybe with the kids school.

[Elvira]

We have done it every yr, so its like buying for family in a sense. I don't even think about it anymore, its like when I pass by kids toys I automatically look to see what there is without even thinking about it not being for my kids. Usually around nov I manage to find lots of things, however, thats getting so close to christmas and w/buying for my girls, and family, it gets super expensive. I love the feeling of having this started and hopefully done by sept. That would be sooooooooo nice!