Mefi Holiday Gift Drive for Children!

November 21, 2012 7:57 PM

Hello all you Santas out there! Time once again for our (4th!) annual holiday gift drive for children. Step inside to see how you can help out.

Previous Years: 2009, 2010, 2011

We are once again fulfilling wishes for the NYCares Winter Wishes program. Many children, particularly impoverished children, in the NYC metro area were affected by Hurricane Sandy, either directly through the loss of their homes, or indirectly through a parents' loss of wages due to the storm & transit/gas issues. We are fulfilling requests from 45 children, who range in age from 4-7. These children are part of an educational program in lower Manhattan.

Check out the Metafilter Cares Amazon Wish List to see what they're wishing for. Some kids were very specific while others were more general, and I tried to choose items I thought they would like. I love learning about the new toys every year- I guess "bey blades" are a thing this year? Who knew?

Amazon has made it possible to add notes on wished-for items without linking to a specific item, so I added a few notes to the list on items I thought you shoppers out there might have a fun time chasing down. If you're planning to buy one of these items, please "claim" on the list when you begin to avoid duplicate purchases; if you end up not being able to find anything, drop me a line and I can make it available again.

If you have alternate items you wish to buy for any of the kids, let me know and I'll adjust the list.

spec80 has once again graciously agreed to be our toy warehouse/wrapping party hostess at a TBD date. We hope to deliver our toys to the host organization sometime in mid-December.

I'll be away from my computer for much of Thanksgiving & Black Friday, but I will respond to your e-mails and questions upon my return!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero to MetaFilter-Related at 7:57 PM (82 comments total)

I just got some of the bey blades. A friend of mine has a kid with them. They are sort of a duelling tops game, and pretty cool.
posted by annsunny at 8:29 PM on November 21, 2012

I claimed the crayons. Love sending art supplies! This is the first time I've done this so not sure if I did it right and it is taken off the list.
posted by kanata at 8:37 PM on November 21, 2012

Is this the place to claim? I'm claiming the Ty Beanie Baby Hello Kitty if so.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 8:45 PM on November 21, 2012

Protip: if you want to see all of the notes together (wishes not translated to a specific item yet), sort the list by "price (low to high)".
posted by batmonkey at 9:03 PM on November 21, 2012

I bought a toy dog. This is probably the high point of our holiday season because everything else is such crap right now. The toy dog makes me cry, so that's probably the right call.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:18 PM on November 21, 2012 [5 favorites]

I bought the football. And had it gift-wrapped, I hope that was OK.
posted by cyndigo at 10:56 PM on November 21, 2012

I just got the big black lab! Happy Holidays!
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 11:25 PM on November 21, 2012

Aww, SweetTeaAndABiscuit, I was just thinking that the huge black dog was an *excellent* present. Well done :)

This is a great idea. I think my husband and I will sit down tonight and pick a few toys to give away.
posted by third word on a random page at 2:17 AM on November 22, 2012

Man, I kind of want that big black lab! And Easy Bake ovens are microwaves now?? I feel so old!
posted by kanata at 4:19 AM on November 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd like to claim the "Merry Christmas pillow." It's a quirky request and I'll do my best to interpret it. Off to search. I'll need to hunt around for this one - any idea what the deadline is?
posted by Miko at 5:33 AM on November 22, 2012

What a great idea! I just got the hot wheels cars and fold up hot wheels box/track. I hope Child 39 loves them as much as my 4 year old would. Thanks TPS.
posted by Measured Out my Life in Coffeespoons at 6:02 AM on November 22, 2012

Barbie doll and baby doll feeding set done! Thanks once again TPS and spec80.
posted by gaspode at 7:01 AM on November 22, 2012

Ooh, I call power rangers. I had no idea that was still a thing!
posted by modernserf at 7:41 AM on November 22, 2012

Everything old is new again! The Power Rangers were just on the parade!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:58 AM on November 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

So just to clarify, if we ship to the registry address, it will go directly to the recipient? If so, I should have it gift wrapped?
posted by triggerfinger at 8:18 AM on November 22, 2012

The registry address is spec80's address. All the gifts go there, and a bunch of mefites wrap them and deliver them to the organization that gets them to the kids.
posted by gaspode at 8:19 AM on November 22, 2012

Thanks for organizing this TPS. Any kid who likes Spider-Man is ok by me.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 8:24 AM on November 22, 2012

Got it, thanks. I ordered the Barbie and convertible set to be shipped there. Thank you so much for organizing this!
posted by triggerfinger at 8:26 AM on November 22, 2012

Of course now I see that all of that information about shipping/wrapping is on the left side of the amazon page. Thanks for answering anyway gaspode!
posted by triggerfinger at 8:28 AM on November 22, 2012

Thanks for setting it up again! I was torn between the Avengers DVD (Joss! Renner's Arms!) and the sparkly purple roller skates. A new generation of roller derby has won out!

(Amazon claims they'll be there on Tuesday! Woo Amazon Prime!)
posted by librarianamy at 8:41 AM on November 22, 2012

One helicopter, on the way. And when it gets there, boy, will its rotors be tired.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:51 AM on November 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you for doing this, teeps and spec80.

Also, Tech Decks!
posted by box at 10:41 AM on November 22, 2012

Thanks so much for setting this up. A freshly-deposited freelance cheque, a turn-around from a rotten morning and a close call - just missing a surprise medical bill - means that I needed to show my gratitude to the powers that be somehow.

I, too, was torn between the Avengers DVD and enabling a future Derby Queen - so thanks, librarianamy, you solved that dilemma for me!

And I have spent so much time at school confiscating many many Bey Blades and Tech Decks, leaving them in the office for return at the end of the day! I was sorely tempted to inflict them on other people, but I behaved. I can assure those of you who buy them that they are what the boys from Grade 2-5 play wit, mostly at school and when they're not supposed to, and same up to Grade 6 for Tech Decks.

Yesterday I was told that one of our kids from the nearby shelter was moving to housing in a suburb and it was his last day with us (we're lucky - some kids don't even get a day to say goodbye.) I asked him if there was anything he'd like to do at lunch recess to make it his best day ever at our school, and he asked if he could invite a friend to play Bey Blades in a corner of the yard. He promised he'd put them away if it drew a crowd and it got out of hand. He has always been a peach of a kid, and I've never had say a word about his behaviour. Of course I let him. I know he would never send one up the slide and into a kid's eye, which is why we've banished them.

I also accidentally went home with a Skylander in my pocket yesterday (confiscated for "barfing" ketchup on another kid's pants, sigh), and I felt really bad about that. They are the other big thing, primarily for Grade 3s, if anyone needs a hint about what to get someone.
posted by peagood at 11:58 AM on November 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm in! Really enjoyed adding The Amazing Motorized Web Shooting Spider-Man to the gifts crossed off the list. . .
posted by bearwife at 12:53 PM on November 22, 2012

I feel badly for only being able to do tape, but tape is what I did. Every bit of package-sealing stickiness will be full of love, though!
posted by batmonkey at 4:27 PM on November 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

Great job! GO TEAM MEFI! Batmonkey, don't feel bad about buying tape; I don't feel bad about buying batteries. Surely the precise point of this exercise is from each according to his ability, to each according to his need*.

(Hey TPS, I think the Justin Bieber sneakers are Supra sneakers. I think specifically these are the most famous ones, and the kid sizes are cheaper but I don't know if Amazon stocks kids. Please let's not discuss how I came by this knowledge. Let us never speak of it again.)
posted by DarlingBri at 5:56 PM on November 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

The shiny shoes for Child 41 are on their way!
posted by PorcineWithMe at 7:25 PM on November 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

YAY! More batteries (AAA) and a Ben 10 toy are on their way. Thanks for organizing this, TPS and spec80!
posted by wiskunde at 8:18 PM on November 22, 2012

Could you confirm whether the books must be on tape or is it ok if they are on CD?
posted by brujita at 6:13 AM on November 23, 2012

The kid asked for tapes, so I'm not sure if CDs would work too. Seems hard to believe anyone still has a tape player?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:14 AM on November 23, 2012

Thanks for organizing, ThePinkSuperhero!
posted by the young rope-rider at 7:01 AM on November 23, 2012

Ok, I found Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann and Andy on cassette.
posted by brujita at 7:03 AM on November 23, 2012

Terrific idea. Thank you for doing this. I wanted a remote control car SO BAD as a kid, so I hope the child who requested one enjoys it as much as I did.
posted by Zosia Blue at 8:18 AM on November 23, 2012

Fun and easy way to give--thank you for organizing this--Harley and Barbie w/Horse on their way to you. I didn't think to get gift wrap, so thanks in advance for taking care of that as well.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:34 AM on November 23, 2012

SOMEBODY is gonna get a kicking sweet John Cena doll in the mail.
posted by The Whelk at 10:26 AM on November 23, 2012

I'm in! I ordered a thing. YAY HELPING KIDS!
posted by rmd1023 at 10:33 AM on November 23, 2012

Yay! Bey Blades it is. (It's the only toy my nephew plays with these days, so that feels appropriate.) Thanks for organizing this - such a great easy way to participate.
posted by gemmy at 11:27 AM on November 23, 2012

I'm going to get "a toy" for child #40. What do 5-year-old girls in Manhattan want these days?
posted by SMPA at 11:36 AM on November 23, 2012

OH HEY.

They totally have a PDF with gift suggestions if the kid said something really generic. Yay.
posted by SMPA at 11:55 AM on November 23, 2012

Made some list updates; watching cable TV has given us some further ideas on what kids want!

If you have purchased something for one of the children listed in the stickies, please sure to claim the item on the wish list so we don't get duplicates, thanks!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:07 PM on November 23, 2012

Holy crap. You guys are fast and terrifying in your gift-giving efficiency.

Someone's getting a toy puppy, to compensate for the real puppy I will never have.
posted by snickerdoodle at 12:59 PM on November 23, 2012

'Robot dog'? That's a great Christmas list item right there.
posted by box at 2:45 PM on November 23, 2012

Only four items left on the list - will more be added?
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 8:08 PM on November 23, 2012

Whoa! That was a lot to go at once - did some one go in and buy everything in one jubilant swoop?!
posted by batmonkey at 8:23 PM on November 23, 2012

As to the kid who wanted books with tapes...how about I get a kids cd player/boombox ( yeah yeah) for her?

Then others could send her books with cd's.
posted by tsaraczar at 6:43 AM on November 24, 2012

That would be awesome, tsaraczar! Let me know if you find one you want added to the list, or need the shipping address to buy from somewhere else.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:53 AM on November 24, 2012

As for adding more items, I might add some more on Monday after I call the program director and see if there's anything else the organization might need. I'm guessing they could always use stuff like books, art supplies, etc, but I'm going to check and will report back.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:57 AM on November 24, 2012

I'm violating my feminist conscience here...but here's the boombox I'll get. Now tell me where to send it to!

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Blue-Barbie-Boombox-White/dp/B0049Z0Q2E/ref=sr_1_29?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1353770278&sr=1-29&keywords=kids+cd+player
posted by tsaraczar at 7:19 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Added to the wish list for you for easy shopping! Adding some book/CD sets now...
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:14 AM on November 24, 2012

Got the Dr Seuss books & cds. Thanks for doing this!

I selected the standard shipping option. Hope that's okay! If not let me know so that I can change the shipping speed.
posted by livinglearning at 11:39 AM on November 24, 2012

tsaraczar: "I'm violating my feminist conscience here...but here's the boombox I'll get. Now tell me where to send it to!

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Blue-Barbie-Boombox-White/dp/B0049Z0Q2E/ref=sr_1_29?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1353770278&sr=1-29&keywords=kids+cd+player"

Uh-oh. I just ordered this off the wishlist! If there are two, please do whatever you think is best with it when it arrives!
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 12:06 PM on November 24, 2012

I went to a musuem in order to check some historical details in the reading room and I got assaulted by a WW2 USO show and then found a PERFECT SQ gift!
posted by The Whelk at 4:12 PM on November 24, 2012

If you're able, please add some more - I get paid this week and would really like to participate!
posted by ChuraChura at 3:06 AM on November 25, 2012

I turn my back for one minute! I'll see if something else pops up.
posted by tsaraczar at 8:15 AM on November 25, 2012

Oh boy. It looks like everything is going to come this week. I will update as it comes and communicate with TPS to make sure everything has arrived and will be correctly bundled.
posted by spec80 at 2:08 PM on November 25, 2012 [2 favorites]

Count me in as someone else who would like to participate if there is more to do!! (I'm an expert on six year old boys.....)
posted by anastasiav at 5:41 PM on November 25, 2012

tsaraczar: "I turn my back for one minute! I'll see if something else pops up."

Sorry! I was all excited, and checked that tab before I checked this one!
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 8:02 PM on November 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

Will more be going up? I'd love to get something.
posted by zizzle at 3:52 AM on November 26, 2012

Ok! I spoke to the organization, and they said the thing they're really in need of at the moment is craft supplies, given budget difficulties. Some items were things they mentioned (toothpicks, plastic knives, q-tips, construction paper), and other were things I thought they might enjoy having for their craft closet. I have created a special wish list with these items that will ship directly to the organization (the recipient is aware he might be receiving some packages). Please let me know if you can think of any special craft supplies you'd like to purchase and I will add them to the list!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:24 AM on November 26, 2012

How about these sticker jewels? They also come in jumbo size for smaller kids. My kid also likes the foam stickers, which she can draw on. Also, glitter (yes, I have the girliest of girly girls).
posted by snickerdoodle at 9:28 AM on November 26, 2012

Added! Did I choose the right kind of foam stickers?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:32 AM on November 26, 2012

Suggestions based on Sunday School craft experience & this list of classroom art supplies:

Paper Rolls (1) (2) (3)
Sponges & Sponge Brushes & Regular Brushes (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Plain manila office folders
Foam sheets (sticky or plain) (1) (2) (3)
Crayon rocks
Play foam
Dough tools
Yarn (1) (2) (3)
Clothespins (1) (2) (3)
Paper plates (large) (small)
Tape (regular) (double sided)

Glitter is significantly messier than glitter glue.

As an FYI, many teachers prefer Sargent over Crayola for pencils especially, but also crayons and markers.
posted by SMPA at 9:54 AM on November 26, 2012

Awesome, thanks!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:56 AM on November 26, 2012

Day 1 with bonus corgi

Edit: ok it lets me rotate it but it doesn't save the setting so I will take a better picture tomorrow but for today, tilt your head, please
posted by spec80 at 2:45 PM on November 26, 2012 [2 favorites]

The corgi is helpful for scale! Thanks, spec80.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:14 PM on November 26, 2012 [1 favorite]

Here it is organized in my dog safe room.
posted by spec80 at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2012 [1 favorite]

asaaah I can see the doll I got ahhh this is so cool.
posted by The Whelk at 4:04 PM on November 26, 2012

Thank you, spec80, for lending your apartment and posting pics!
posted by the young rope-rider at 5:37 PM on November 26, 2012

yipes, I didn't realize I was kinda late and the presents are there already. I finally picked out a Christmas Pillow and it's en route. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find a nice Merry Christmas pillow. Hope it's not too late. I sent you a note w/ shipping info, spec80.
posted by Miko at 10:12 PM on November 26, 2012

Can we add some more stuff please? I was late!!
posted by k8t at 6:14 AM on November 27, 2012

Still plenty of items available on the crafting list for the organization!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:50 AM on November 27, 2012

GOOGLY EYES FOR ALL!!!!

Thanks TPS and spec80 for this.
posted by lrobertjones at 8:25 AM on November 27, 2012

Day 2! I keep on accidentally activating the robot dogs!
posted by spec80 at 5:13 PM on November 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

I missed buying things from the MeFi list, but I have ordered some construction paper from the organization's list! I added a note that said "From Team MetaFilter" to jog the recipient's memory since this is going straight to the organization. Yay!
posted by jessypie at 7:18 PM on November 27, 2012

Yarn ordered for kids! Woo-hoo!!!
posted by zizzle at 5:48 AM on November 28, 2012

Gift Wrapping Party is up!
posted by spec80 at 6:38 AM on November 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

If you have a large vehicle and could help with package delivery on a weekday (probably Mon 12/10), shoot me an e-mail/MeMail.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:26 AM on November 28, 2012

Oh, man, there's still so much stuff on the org's list!

If I get a good bonus, I'm totally going to be hoping that list is still up (mid-January) so I can do something more.
posted by batmonkey at 11:43 AM on December 1, 2012

I just sent stuff from the craft supplies list to them. Thanks so much for organizing!
posted by msbubbaclees at 7:13 AM on December 2, 2012

I totally missed the announcement this year but glad to see there is still stuff on the craft list. Thanks for running this again!
posted by burnmp3s at 8:35 AM on December 6, 2012

The gifts have been delivered! Thanks to spec80 for hosting and houseofdanie for driving everything over!

There are still organizations who need help fulfilling wishes; it's not too late if you still want to do some gift buying this year!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:33 AM on December 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

I just reminded my friends/family about the arts & crafts wishlist - there's still lots of items on there, for folks waiting for bonuses and stuff.
posted by SMPA at 6:45 AM on December 18, 2012