I have already donated a couple toys this year but since there is such a need, I think it's within my budget to come up with something else. Most of the requests I have seen this year have been for smaller items..hats, pajamas, art supplies, matchbox cars. I don't remember my kids ever having to ask "Santa" for such things. Yep, we're off to the store to cheer up a little face for the holidays. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Tea
----- Original Message -----
From: patchfreak
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 12:43 AM
Subject: [LbNA] holiday spirit


I know alot of you lb'ers are giving people, and I wanted to share
this w you.

We took our girl scout troop today to help stuff bags for toys for
tots & salvation army & they didn't have any work for us to do
because of a lack of donations! The girls (ages 8-10) were very upset
about some of the families not receiving toys for christmas, etc.
Apparently, not as many people are donating this year for many
reasons, financial strain/lost jobs, no advertising (walmart had
their barrels inside the service center this year, and not out by the
entrances to remind people)

Anyhow, the girls have been thinking of ways to round up more
donations. They wanted to "picket" in front of walmart, doing cheers
about toys, then we called local news stations & the newspaper, not
much response on a Saturday.

Well the girls ended up voting and decided to give up some of their
dues funded troop money, including for a field trip to a mystery
dinner theater & their xmas party - and voted (unanamousley) to spend
$110 to buy toys to donate. They headed to walmart, and went through
to pick out the best deals to get more toys for their money. They did
pretty well & we dropped them off at the distribution center.

What I would love is for you all to spread the word and encourage
people to donate new and unwrapped toys to toys for tots, or any
other charity that helps kids at christmas. Our girls learned a big
lesson in christmas spirit and giving, not receiving this year, one
that I hopes stays with them their entire lives, which is what girl
scouting is all about (yeah, yeah, yeah, i'm babbling)

Ask for bins at locations like walmart, etc. Their final date for
pick up is Dec 20th, so it's not too late!

Thanks for any word of mouth you can give us, or even if you can go
out and make your own donation!

Thanks,
E of JJJAKER
& GS troop leader :)





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am going to a Sorority Holiday dinner tonight and they are collecting unwrapped children's toys.?Our chruch also has a reach for a Star program where we purchase gifts for less forunate.? I had to pruchase a one time use camera for a girl 11-14 and a sweatshirt for a large boy.? My daughter alsolpicked a star for a?boy 11-16 who wanted a book.

It was sad to hear your story about your troop unable to help pack toys.? But God works in strange ways.??Your girls responded by giving their own troop money for toys .? What a great group of girls you? have.

STAR:W+S=DRR
Smithtown, Long Island, New York

----Original Message-----
From: patchfreak
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 12:43 am
Subject: [LbNA] holiday spirit






I know alot of you lb'ers are giving people, and I wanted to share
this w you.

We took our girl scout troop today to help stuff bags for toys for
tots & salvation army & they didn't have any work for us to do
because of a lack of donations! The girls (ages 8-10) were very upset
about some of the families not receiving toys for christmas, etc.
Apparently, not as many people are donating this year for many
reasons, financial strain/lost jobs, no advertising (walmart had
their barrels inside the service center this year, and not out by the
entrances to remind people)

Anyhow, the girls have been thinking of ways to round up more
donations. They wanted to "picket" in front of walmart, doing cheers
about toys, then we called local news stations & the newspaper, not
much response on a Saturday.

Well the girls ended up voting and decided to give up some of their
dues funded troop money, including for a field trip to a mystery
dinner theater & their xmas party - and voted (unanamousley) to spend
$110 to buy toys to donate. They headed to walmart, and went through
to pick out the best deals to get more toys for their money. They did
pretty well & we dropped them off at the distribution center.

What I would love is for you all to spread the word and encourage
people to donate new and unwrapped toys to toys for tots, or any
other charity that helps kids at christmas. Our girls learned a big
lesson in christmas spirit and giving, not receiving this year, one
that I hopes stays with them their entire lives, which is what girl
scouting is all about (yeah, yeah, yeah, i'm babbling)

Ask for bins at locations like walmart, etc. Their final date for
pick up is Dec 20th, so it's not too late!

Thanks for any word of mouth you can give us, or even if you can go
out and make your own donation!

Thanks,
E of JJJAKER
& GS troop leader :)





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm involved with Cub Scouts and I think perhaps one of the most
exhilirating things I encounter with them is when they catch the fever and
set their minds to "doing something" about a problem. I try always to tell
them they are never too young or too small to make a difference, and your
girls are doing just that! Awesome story...

But I have a flip side story, that in its own way is just as touching -
although I'm not sure quite what to make of it yet. One of the Assistant
Scoutmasters for the troop connected to our pack was contacted by one of the
local volunteer fire departments that collected toys for underprivileged
children. It seems they had such an overwhelming response to their drive,
AND they have had a lower than expected registration to receive gifts, so
that they have TOO MANY donated items for the kids on their list! They are
looking for organizations to help them track down needy kids and distribute
gifts and we're going to help with that. I'm thrilled that our local
communities have been so generous, but what's up with not enough people to
receive the donations? I've NEVER heard of that before!
--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]