Season for Giving: Kids Christmas Donations for Hurricane Sandy

From cookies to coloring books, I've been busy trying to focus on Christmas "goodness" rather than the awful acts that happened last week. I think over the weekend, I baked every cookie my mom and I baked together when I was a kid! And in between baking, I wrapped up sending out holiday cards - especially to some online acquaintances that have become special people in my life this past year. I also had fun with a "pay-it-forward" project I wanted to do: Shop for super storm Sandy kids for Christmas. I had taken a little poll on facebook (since I'm not a parent) to see if I was on the right track - and hands down YES: Kids art supplies beat toys! My pay-it-forward came from having received a $100 cash gift from Jeff's mom when she was here for Thanksgiving. She said it was to go buy something nice for myself - but I don't "need" anything, and these kids do. I had planned to go shop (last) Friday, but with the news of Sandy Hook, I didn't head out until Sunday. I picked up some pretty good deals at Big Lots on artful activities for all ages from coloring books + crayons + colored pencils, charcoals & pads, art kits, water color paints + brushes + pads... and even a few cool journals for those writer tweens, some warm & cozy socks and a few toiletries. I donated all these goodies to "Stuff the Bus for Hurricane Sandy." Even if they don't make it to New Jersey in time for Christmas, the activities will be donated to a Sunday school church....

 

 

Kids Christmas Donations to Stuff The Bus for Hurricane Sandy

 

 Monday through Friday -- 8 AM - 5 PMBarker Bus Company
81 Chimney Rock Road #2
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

If you're local, call Peggy at 732-580-6475 before you arrive if possible.
 Out of town donations may be sent to Barker Bus's address above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added in some throws & a card too...

 

A little tough to do this year (to be 'jolly') but doing what I can from here to help!

And so can you!

 

 

 

New Jersey still needs our help!

 

 

There are ways to help, no matter your location...

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Continuing Sandy Help: Support the First GivingTuesday!

Now that the rush and prep of Thanksgiving has passed, along with the store stampedes of Black Friday shoppers and Cyber Monday bargain hunters - Welcome the inaugural year for Giving Tuesday! This is a great way "to put the rest of the holidays in balance" as founder of Giving Tuesday Ilene Heissman stated in an interview at CBS News. What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday A movement to create a national day of giving on November 27, 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. You can follow along on Twitter at #GivingTuesday, along with the dedicated facebook page at Giving Tuesday.

 



This day will be the first of its kind. Coinciding with the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping. Although there are several charities you can support with donations, considering Super Storm Sandy "just" happened, I'd strongly suggest this inaugural day of "Giving Tuesday" be of donations to help the Sandy Survivors in New Jersey and New York, who even though have dropped off from trending on twitter and not a hot topic in the news - these people STILL need our help.

While you decorate your mantel for Christmas, remember those in need.

 

While you pull out the totes of Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and cards out of your attic, basement or garage, remember those in need.

 

 

While you decide where to hang this years Christmas lights,  blow up Santa on the lawn, and place reindeer on your roof, remember those in need.

 

 

While you shop the malls for this years latest winter trend, remember those in need.

 

 

See more photos and learn how neighbors are helping neighbors in New York by hiring 5,000 people to help with the Sandy cleanup at U.S. News on NBCnews.com.

 

 

Besides donating funds or even blood to the Red Cross for this Giving Tuesday, here are just three of the many organizations to donate to for Sandy Help:

 

 

RESTORE THE SHORE

 

 

"Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday - THIS is the one that counts. Donate to RestoreOurShore to send funds to nonprofits working to help our neighbors rebuild. Spread the word, let's make it happen. #RestoreOurShore http://facebook.com/RestoreOurShoreNJ "

 

 

REBUILDING TOGETHER

 

"We ask you to make "Rebuilding Homes After Sandy" part of your first GivingTuesday. Go directly to the campaign here: http://igg.me/p/259293?a=1649322, or visit www.rebuildingtogether.org/recovery for more ways to get involved. Thank you!"
 

SECRET SANDY

 

 

Volunteer, donate supplies, send a gift or register to give at SecretSandy.org - A wonderful way to support this GivingTuesday by remembering the children affected by Sandy. Let them know that even though they may no longer have a home, Santa has not forgotten them this year...

 

 

Yordan and Joey wait with their parents in line to receive Red Cross relief items, like cleanup kits and diapers, in Jersey City at the bulk distribution of relief items in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 17, 2012. Photo by Gwen Eamer, Canadian Red Cross

 

 

What am I doing for this Giving Tuesday? I'm giving by helping to spread the word here on the blog, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Facebook, and even on New Jersey & Long Island News Chanels (who didn't know or report about the day!)  And I'm happy to say, my donations I boxed up here in AZ and sent to New Jersey (read about: Clearing the Closet to Help Make Donations) made it to shelters on the shore this past weekend!! (Thanks to Betty Shepard "Rocking The Rescue" of Wisteria Cleaning in New Jersey!)

 

Even BEYOND this FIRST Giving Tuesday -

Please continue to Help Restore the Shore!

 

 

Thank you for stopping by...

and your support of Sandy Help + Giving Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Around Town: Donating & Discounts at Savers Thrift Stores

Savers is a thrift chain that is not only in the US, but it is also in Canada and Australia (better known as Value Village). Contributions to Savers here in Arizona go to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. And the really cool bonus to donating to Savers: You receive a coupon for $3 off your next thrift purchase plus you can get stamps on your Saver discount card. Stamps for the discount card are acquired every time you donate and when you make a purchase. When the card is full, you can then use the card as an extra discount of 30% off your next total purchase... And when shopping the already low prices of thrift, this adds up to incredible savings!

 

Other collected donations after 

sending donations to New Jersey Sandy Survivors...

 

Last August, we had had a garage sale, but these items weren't enough for one - so it's good to donate to the local community.

 

 Over the past year, I've also made several donations to Goodwill. Getting an extra discount at Savers when donating is a great way to help save when shopping thrift.

And speaking of extra discounts at Savers: 
This Monday for Veterans Day, Savers is having a SALE: 50% off (most) everything in the store. The only items the extra discount can not be applied to are red ticket seasonal items (cold weather accessories) which are actually NEW items they sell at a fantastic discount! Thrift Tip: How To Help with Sandy: These cold weather goods are GREAT items to purchase and donate to help Sandy Survivors - for men, women, and kids!

With the upcoming holiday season, this sale is also great way to save on items such as dinnerware, glassware, barware, textiles and even some new additions to refresh your existing holiday decor. You can even find some sequin items to add sparkle to a holiday outfit.

 

 

 ABOUT SAVERS FROM THEIR SITE:

"Savers is no ordinary thrift store. As a leader and pioneer in the retail thrift industry (for 56 years), we're a place where people from all backgrounds love to shop for great selection, deals and treasures. But there’s also a higher purpose for what we do. Savers was founded in 1954 on principles such as giving back and providing opportunities—core values we still embrace today. Our more than 140 nonprofit alliances share this thinking and inspire us with their work. Partnering with local charities is not a byproduct of our business—it’s how we do business. So when you shop at Savers, you help support many local community programs"

 

To find a store in your area, or to learn more about this thrift chain and their other programs to help you save you money plus help save the planet when donating and thrifting, visit their website at: SAVERS.com

It's a VERY clean, well lit, organized and friendly place to shop thrift. 

Have you ever shopped thrift at Savers? Don't forget to be there Monday for the additional 50% off savings (here in the US) and on the 19th in Canada at their other chain: ValueVillage.

Thanks for stopping by...

How Fall Closet Cleaning Can Help Make Donations

Fall closet cleaning can help with donations: for Sandy Survivors as well as your local community. After purging my closets last weekend, I was able to help with both. Last weekend, after Sandy had hit, I felt a major sense of urgency to help in some way. Being located across the country, I could have donated funds to the Red Cross. But since I have acquired so many home textiles and cold weather goods over the years, from working retail plus shopping thrift -- I felt the urge to purge. I started in one closet, and it led to another, and a cabinet here plus a trunk there. I was able to clear out four 40lb boxes of blankets, sheets, towels, sweaters, coats, jackets and even a few (new) toiletries (like soap & shampoo). I also added in a few (new) cleansers and cosmetics products the hubs has brought home the past year as gratis. Gratis are basically vendor product gifts, usually new to try or lines being dropped. I don't 'need' all this stuff like so many others are in need on the east coast now. So I asked Jeff to bring home some empty boxes, and I sorted and packed up these donations to send to a contact in New Jersey. Over this weekend, my contact (Betty Shepard of Wisteria Cleaning) and a few others are getting together to bring these and several other donations to shelters near the shore.

 

How did I organize my donations? I started in a pretty cleared space: a spare room that is to become our guest room (next week!!)

 

After clearing pillows off floor, I started to gather donations from the closets, and stacked into category piles on the floor...

 

What started out as a few items quickly GREW. The mind set was to take the emotion out of it: These people NEED these things far more than I do. Some of the stacks I sorted were:

 

Towels

 

Textiles

 

Yes - I also sent an extra American flag I had..

 

Sweaters & Scarves...

 

Knit tops like tees & tanks: GREAT for layering under sweaters to help keep people warm in the winter...

 

Pre sorting like items together made it easier to fill the boxes with...

 

All clothing: Knit tops, sweaters, scarves, socks, bras, underwear (NEW), 

jackets and coats...

 

Blankets!

 

Towels and toiletries...

Sheets, sheet sets, and pillow cases...

But while I was purging my closets, I had also come across some other items I really don't need (like extra hangers or tea-light holders). However, not all of these items wouldn't necessarily be items needed at the shelters right now - so those items I took to donate at  another thrift store chain I learned about here in Arizona called Savers.

 

The extra donations not as urgent to send to New Jersey were separated and I donated these locally.

Then I built the boxes Jeff brought home...

 

I lined the boxes with kraft paper...

 

Lined...

 

Sorted...

 

Added a message to each box...

 

To let Betty know what was in each box. but without spelling it out, I used: C for Clothing, B for Blankets, S for Sheets and T for Towels...

 

Jeff brought them to UPS, sent ground...

And now the space is clear again, ready to get a makeover as a guest room, the closets are cleaned out and better organized plus this was a great way to help both the Sandy Survivors and my local community by donating to thrift.

 

Yesterday, I contacted a local shop I frequently visit, to ask them if we could team up to collect 6  categories of items to donate to Sandy Survivors: Sheets, Towels, Blankets, Coats, Socks & Sweaters. I'd like to be able to announce it this week to let locals know, but I haven't heard back yet from the shop owner. It won't cost them a thing to do, it won't take away from their business and it can give a means of others also helping with donations from afar. I'd be there to collect them, haul them home to sort and pack 9as I did here) and ship them to New Jersey, where they will be transported again to shelters on the shore in need xo

 

I can't BE there physically right now, but I'm focusing on what I can do from here.

 This probably hit me so strongly not only because I was born & raised in New Jersey, but also because along with friends, I have family there. One of which was my Godmother. She lives in Spring Lake, and the last time we had spoken was the morning of the storm... than I heard nothing from her, until yesterday. I had been calling every morning & every night, last night, I was able to speak with her and hear HER say, "I'm alright."

 

 

 I'm SO happy she's OK!!

But still, so many aren't and people still do need our help...

Here are some stories and info about other people donating to Sandy Survivors:

 

 Donate goods & supplies in Collingswood/Camden County area: Collingswood Farmer's Market, Saturday, Nov. 10 from 8am-12pm. Reader Tricia B. is coordinating an amazing donation effort using goods dropped off at the market. Check out this photo she shared - way to go, Tricia. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Collingswood-Farmers-Market/107197919352172

 

 Truck filled with donations from the generous Collingswood community. Credit: Tricia Burrough

And of course, Betty Shepard of Wisteria Cleaning in Wilingboro NJ, Rocking the Rescue!

 Rock the Rescue in Ocean and Atlantic Counties. 

Shared from Betty Shepard today: 

"Rocking the Rescue continues! JoAnn's SUV is packed with diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, food, coats, sweaters, new bedding & clothing donated by the members of the Moorestown Lunch group of BNI. Donations rolled in from twitter and Facebook friends."

 

Donations are piling up! This is wonderful to see.

Maybe some stores like Office Max or Staples could donate banquet tables, shelving or carts to help sort and organize drop off locals. I love the way everyone there is helping each other out!! And besides donations, don't forget about the displaced pets who are lost and need to be reunited with their owners. Learn more at: Hurricane Sandy - Lost & Found Pets.

 

Thanks for stopping by...