We get the kids what they ask for based on letters they write. Most have never had anything new before and they ask for shoes and clothes and because of sizing it doesn't lend itself to much more than shopping for each family specifically. Many do not even ask for them selves but instead for their siblings.
Some ask for holiday dinners like they see on TV. Last years trip to the grocery store filled 17 baskets.
It typically involves 12-15 volunteers at different stages and about 180-200 man hours. It is labor intensive. One lady hand decorated and filled 75 stockings last year with hygiene products, cologne, candy and a small toy. The stockings alone involved 3 members donating close to $1350 worth of items needed to fill them. Multiple deliveries were made involving volunteers trucks, cars and 20ft trailer last year. 53 Pairs of shoes were purchased or donated last year.
Have you ever shopped for a Pregnant Mom that has nothing? Any idea how much it costs to provide clothes, diapers, formula and food for a newborn? With a lot of effort from several people we rolled two truckloads of absolutely everything a newborn would require for a kid up to a programs doors and unloaded it for the 7 ladies in residence.
We had an emergency shelter that was being renovated and had no way to prepare hot meals. Monday through Friday they received donations from a local restaurant that would prepare meals and have them delivered. One member here paid for a huge propane grill and all the accessories so staff could prepare something other than sandwiches on the weekend.
Do you know there are kids on the streets every year? Kids of all ages but many between 11 and 17 that COULD be in a warm bed in a Foster Home? Instead they run away when shoved into one to live in a car or under a bridge with their parent. We unloaded a truck loaded with sleeping bags, backpacks filled with pop top foods, wool hats, gloves and heavy jackets to a local church where a couple of members distributed it.
All of these causes are typically overlooked by larger, organized efforts and rely heavily on local grass roots efforts.
Here are a few pictures from last year. We do get them some toys and games but most of what they want is clothing and hygiene oriented.
