COME ON, IT'S NOT EVEN THANKSGIVING YET

November 10, 2010 1:40 PM

Holiday Heads up! After the great success of last year's gift drive, I'm organizing another for this holiday season.

Consider this my official report back on last year's drive- it went great. All 12 of our kids got exactly what they wanted, plus the various accessories to make that thing work (batteries, etc). In addition, thanks to your overwhelming generosity, the organization got additional direct shipments of diapers, books and toys, which were greatly appreciated.

Here's a thank you e-mail I got from the organization after the founder tracked me down on Facebook: I have been hoping to find the person who was so kind as to help us out in a big way this Christmas Season. If you are the Kate who offered to put our information on your web page asking for donations, I can not thank you enough! Since our phone conversation last Monday we received almost two dozen cases of diapers more than enough for each of our mothers to have one, and boxes of children's books and toys for infants. What a blessing you have come to be to us here in East Harlem.

Given how well it went last year, I'll be organizing it again for this year, and for more kids! Stay tuned for the Metatalk post in 3-4 weeks where I reveal the list of what our kids are asking for and ways you can help.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero to MetaFilter-Related at 1:40 PM (45 comments total)

Awesome! I am in.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:54 PM on November 10, 2010

Early opportunity for help: If you are in NYC and in a situation where you are able to sign for packages during the day and do some short-term (2-3 weeks) storage, please drop me a line.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:55 PM on November 10, 2010

Love it! I'm in. thanks for being awesome as usual, TPS.
posted by dbmcd at 2:00 PM on November 10, 2010

Oh, awesome. I was just thinking of this the other day when I realized that Thanksgiving is upon us in a few weeks. Thanks, TPS.
posted by scody at 2:04 PM on November 10, 2010

Cool, and with the Aussie dollar worth more than the USD, it's only right that we should pitch in to help out our poorer USian friends.

Having said that, I wonder if we should organise a downunder version as well?
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:15 PM on November 10, 2010

I'm in again! Thanks for doing all of the legwork on this again TPS.
posted by burnmp3s at 2:15 PM on November 10, 2010

Missed it last year, will be in this time!
posted by Ms. Next at 2:22 PM on November 10, 2010

Cool, and with the Aussie dollar worth more than the USD

Today's exchange rate has the US dollar and the Australian dollar at virtually 1:1, with the US dollar worth slightly more. So bleahh.
posted by longsleeves at 2:32 PM on November 10, 2010

Thanks for the reminder. Between this and Child's Play, my Amazon.com history's gonna make it look like I have kids!
posted by TrishaLynn at 2:40 PM on November 10, 2010

Count me in. And sincerest thanks for dong this.
posted by bearwife at 2:59 PM on November 10, 2010

Today's exchange rate has the US dollar and the Australian dollar at virtually 1:1, with the US dollar worth slightly more. So bleahh.

You must be stuck in Nov 10th still. Here in the future, I'm getting 1 Australian dollar = 1.0024 U.S. dollars.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:01 PM on November 10, 2010

Yes, this is great. Thanks!
posted by Rock Steady at 3:03 PM on November 10, 2010

That bike thing still brings a tear to my eye. I will be happy to contribute.
posted by anastasiav at 3:05 PM on November 10, 2010

I'm in, and thank you for the hard work it takes to pull this thing together.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:19 PM on November 10, 2010

I loved it last year. Sadly, economic circumstances are such, I'm going to have to bow out this time around. I'll keep an eye open for next year, when I WILL have a positive cash flow. Yes, I will.

I WILL have a positive cash flow. I WILL have a positive cash flow. I WILL have a positive cash flow. I WILL have a positive cash flow.
posted by hippybear at 3:56 PM on November 10, 2010

I'm in.

Also, TPS, how much stuff would I be accepting? I can totally take packages at work and pile them up at/under/in my desk. Unless, you know, it's a pony. Or an entire christmas tree.

My boss hates ponies and christmas trees.
posted by functionequalsform at 4:01 PM on November 10, 2010

Several people have dropped lines about helping out, which is great. No worries, functionequalsform, no need to stick your head in the Grinch's mouth!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:14 PM on November 10, 2010

Hooray! My Amazon account is at your disposal.
posted by JeffK at 6:27 PM on November 10, 2010

wish I could, but I'm trying to get people to buy the stuff on my Amazon wish list...

maybe next year when I have things like... heat, and light, and a job... yeah, a job.

Do you do this every year?
posted by patheral at 7:27 PM on November 10, 2010

I did it last year, and I'm doing it this year. No promises about future years :D
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:36 PM on November 10, 2010

I am in.
posted by gaspode at 8:01 PM on November 10, 2010

In in in!
posted by Madamina at 8:13 PM on November 10, 2010

My goal is to participate again this year (unfortunately I can only donate as I'm still overseas), and to perhaps not be so constantly mobile in my work that I can organize a gift drive for my own continent-of-residence next year (do it, Ubu! not like you have anything new and exciting on your plate, right?!?).

I thought about trying to do it this year and then remembered that I have 3 more countries I have to be in between now and Christmas, minimum. That and not really having time for sleep. Or Metafilter. I'm pretty sure I'm sleeping and multi-tasking right now.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:57 PM on November 10, 2010

I have a job this autumn, so count me in for at least some paypal diaper dollars!
posted by bilabial at 3:51 AM on November 11, 2010

Again I am in.
posted by ShawnString at 4:18 AM on November 11, 2010

I'm in
posted by darsh at 8:39 AM on November 11, 2010

I'm in!
posted by peep at 9:23 AM on November 11, 2010

UbuRoivas: Cool, and with the Aussie dollar worth more than the USD, it's only right that we should pitch in to help out our poorer USian friends.

Having said that, I wonder if we should organise a downunder version as well?

Yes! I'd love to do something like this in Australia. Anyone connected to a group that needs help?
posted by Kerasia at 1:18 PM on November 11, 2010

I'd like to help. What a great effort you're leading, TPS.
posted by Miko at 1:18 PM on November 11, 2010

Totally in again this year!
posted by kimdog at 1:45 PM on November 11, 2010

Oh I guess I am not needed on the package collection front, but I am happy to donate since I missed out on previous years.
posted by Julnyes at 2:02 PM on November 11, 2010

Yes! I'd love to do something like this in Australia. Anyone connected to a group that needs help?

A small amount of Googling & about the best I could find was the Barnardos Star of Wonder Gift Appeal.

Choice recommends that A direct contribution to a charity (without buying merchandise) is always the most effective way to donate but I do like the more personalised approach of directly donating to somebody found on a gift register.

I'll post a question in AskMe to see if anybody knows of any.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:18 PM on November 11, 2010

And...done!
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:29 PM on November 11, 2010

I'm in. Take advantage of me, baby.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:40 AM on November 12, 2010

Count me in too. I'd be glad to help however possible.
posted by elder18 at 9:06 AM on November 12, 2010

I'm a poor student, but I'm in for what I can, um, in.
posted by joshuaconner at 2:17 PM on November 12, 2010

I'll toss in a few bucks at least. What do I do?
posted by domo at 8:10 PM on November 14, 2010

where's the Buy (Donate) Now button?
posted by mrg at 11:30 PM on November 14, 2010

I'm in, where/what now?
posted by thinkpiece at 4:25 AM on November 16, 2010

There will be another post with instructions once I get our letters from New York Cares.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:31 AM on November 16, 2010

Count me in as well.
posted by scblackman at 7:38 AM on November 16, 2010

I'm in!
posted by katemonster at 11:47 AM on November 16, 2010

How much do I need to donate to the foodbank to hear you guys do Howl?
posted by nightwood at 10:48 PM on November 16, 2010

oops - wrong thread.
posted by nightwood at 10:49 PM on November 16, 2010

It's time!!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:00 AM on November 18, 2010