The TENTH Annual Winter Wishes Gift Drive! MeFi Cares! December 12, 2018 12:49 PM Subscribe
It's here! (Finally!) This year's drive marks a decade of MetaFilter's donations to New York Cares' Winter Wishes program. More details are inside, but for those in a hurry, here's the link right to the wish list.
Please forgive the delay, especially after I emailed the announcement and then disappeared into the ether. Even my mail carrier has asked what's going on with this drive. I'm more or less fine and very excited for this best part of the holiday season!
This year's letters are from:
- kids aged 6-8 in a public school program in Brooklyn, some of whom have special physical needs.
- seniors at a church-based program for low-income seniors in the Bronx.
Here's the Amazon wish list containing their gift wishes, as well as gift cards in various denominations. Those are used to fill in for out of stock items, combined for larger gifts, and donated directly to the organizations.
Last year, we also collected menstrual supplies and gave them to this shelter for homeless LGBTQIA youth. You donated 22 menstrual cups, 3 very large boxes of pads, and 2 very large boxes of tampons. The shelter also received a significant amount in Amazon gift cards. For this year's drive, we can again collect supplies and cards for this shelter, or we can choose another recipient. I'm happy to add to the Amazon list according to MeFi's wishes. Please comment with your thoughts!
Because of my delay, it's important that I get the kids' gifts in as soon as possible, so please prioritize those gifts and use Prime shipping whenever possible. There's an option on the list for email gift cards; if you don't have Prime, I'll order a gift for you using my Prime account. The seniors are fine with the later schedule. I'm planning to deliver to the youth shelter (or wherever else you folks choose) between Christmas and New Year's.
I'll keep an eye on this throughout the day, as there's basically always something awry with the Amazon list, from my error or Amazon's. I'm actually still transferring seniors' items from the first list I'd made, which refuses to go public, to the list we're now using. If you need my address or phone number, I've added it to my profile.
AND, no year would be complete without a link to MeFi's first Winter Wishes collection, which happened organically via an AskMe post from felix grundy.
Happy holidays!
Please forgive the delay, especially after I emailed the announcement and then disappeared into the ether. Even my mail carrier has asked what's going on with this drive. I'm more or less fine and very excited for this best part of the holiday season!
This year's letters are from:
- kids aged 6-8 in a public school program in Brooklyn, some of whom have special physical needs.
- seniors at a church-based program for low-income seniors in the Bronx.
Here's the Amazon wish list containing their gift wishes, as well as gift cards in various denominations. Those are used to fill in for out of stock items, combined for larger gifts, and donated directly to the organizations.
Last year, we also collected menstrual supplies and gave them to this shelter for homeless LGBTQIA youth. You donated 22 menstrual cups, 3 very large boxes of pads, and 2 very large boxes of tampons. The shelter also received a significant amount in Amazon gift cards. For this year's drive, we can again collect supplies and cards for this shelter, or we can choose another recipient. I'm happy to add to the Amazon list according to MeFi's wishes. Please comment with your thoughts!
Because of my delay, it's important that I get the kids' gifts in as soon as possible, so please prioritize those gifts and use Prime shipping whenever possible. There's an option on the list for email gift cards; if you don't have Prime, I'll order a gift for you using my Prime account. The seniors are fine with the later schedule. I'm planning to deliver to the youth shelter (or wherever else you folks choose) between Christmas and New Year's.
I'll keep an eye on this throughout the day, as there's basically always something awry with the Amazon list, from my error or Amazon's. I'm actually still transferring seniors' items from the first list I'd made, which refuses to go public, to the list we're now using. If you need my address or phone number, I've added it to my profile.
AND, no year would be complete without a link to MeFi's first Winter Wishes collection, which happened organically via an AskMe post from felix grundy.
Happy holidays!
I don’t have Prime; I don’t understand what you mean by “I’ll order a gift for you using my Prime account.”
posted by notyou at 1:25 PM on December 12, 2018
posted by notyou at 1:25 PM on December 12, 2018
notyou, Amazon Prime offers free 2-day shipping. If you don't have a Prime account but would like to order something to be delivered quickly, I'd be happy to place the order using my own Prime account, and you can send me an email gift card for the amount of the gift you choose. There's an email gift card on the wish list that has my address on it.
posted by houseofdanie at 1:30 PM on December 12, 2018
posted by houseofdanie at 1:30 PM on December 12, 2018
My first time participating—just ordered the Pete the Cat books! I have Prime and they should arrive by Saturday.
Thanks so much for facilitating this!
posted by bookmammal at 1:32 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thanks so much for facilitating this!
posted by bookmammal at 1:32 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you so much for organizing this again! Some adaptive toys and art supplies are on their way now.
posted by Stacey at 1:45 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Stacey at 1:45 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
You rock. Seriously.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:00 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:00 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
Done and done. Thank you soooo much for doing this, I hope you're feeling better.
posted by Marky at 3:06 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Marky at 3:06 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
I emailed you a gift card for a blanket, as I don't have prime. Thanks again for organising!
posted by kjs4 at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kjs4 at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
@houseofdanie: Ohhh. Yeah, okay, I get it. (In years past I did have Prime so this workaround is new to me).
Echoing others: thanks for organizing this!
posted by notyou at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Echoing others: thanks for organizing this!
posted by notyou at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Done! This is my new favorite holiday tradition. Thanks for organizing it, and sending happy wrapping thoughts your way. :-)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 3:55 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SuperSquirrel at 3:55 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm poking through the list, and uh, has Metafilter already basically decimated this list? I'm totally happy to go the gift card route, but if more is coming I'll wait. :)
(Also, menstrual supplies for the queer kids is making me tear up and I think that sounds like a great idea. Can we Prime them supplies throughout the year?)
posted by joycehealy at 4:19 PM on December 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
(Also, menstrual supplies for the queer kids is making me tear up and I think that sounds like a great idea. Can we Prime them supplies throughout the year?)
posted by joycehealy at 4:19 PM on December 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
joycehealy, if change the filter to "Purchased" (top right of the list), you can see what's already been purchased. Mefites are speedy and generous!
posted by kjs4 at 4:26 PM on December 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by kjs4 at 4:26 PM on December 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Holy shit. I am constantly blown away by this place. :)
posted by joycehealy at 4:30 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by joycehealy at 4:30 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
There's some more stuff I'm putting up this evening to replace stuff that went out of stock. I'll also add the menstrual supplies or whatever else after people have had a chance to chime in. Having that available throughout the year is a great idea!
posted by houseofdanie at 4:39 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by houseofdanie at 4:39 PM on December 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
I just went back to look at the list again...and SO MUCH has already been purchased in just a couple of hours! I’m a little teary. This place is full of good, good people.
posted by bookmammal at 5:07 PM on December 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by bookmammal at 5:07 PM on December 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
Since there have been no objections to the LGBTQIA youth shelter donation idea and there's been some enthusiastic support, I've added menstrual items to the wish list. I'll keep that portion of the list open til after Christmas. I tried to find the best value for each type of item and also tried to avoid overt references to "feminine" products for "women," etc.
posted by houseofdanie at 6:55 PM on December 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by houseofdanie at 6:55 PM on December 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Missed most of this, but just ordered something to be sent - it's such a joy to participate and to see all the purchased items on the list!
posted by needlegrrl at 6:02 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by needlegrrl at 6:02 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Amazing!
posted by lydhre at 7:51 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 7:51 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thanks for doing this again!
posted by sevenyearlurk at 8:23 AM on December 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by sevenyearlurk at 8:23 AM on December 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you so much! Sending supplies to the youth shelter now.
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:27 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:27 AM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Done and done. This and Quonsmas are my favorite things about this place.
posted by dbmcd at 10:17 AM on December 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dbmcd at 10:17 AM on December 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Less than 24 hours after the post, the first package has arrived! It is a Body Shop gift set and a little pink kiddie keyboard. Amazon did not see fit to include any kind of packing slip, so I don't know whose package won the race, but it is now resting comfortably with some Gatorade.
posted by houseofdanie at 10:46 AM on December 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by houseofdanie at 10:46 AM on December 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
Danie, I can't thank you enough, not least for the rare opportunity to give tampons for xmas. Once again, your wishlist is a high point of the holidays in my quiet life, and some not-necessarily-feminine but essential products should reach you on Sunday.
Wishing many blessings to you and yours, Danie, and to all the generous and kind people here on Metafilter.
posted by vers at 2:31 PM on December 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
Wishing many blessings to you and yours, Danie, and to all the generous and kind people here on Metafilter.
posted by vers at 2:31 PM on December 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
Current tampon total: 4,188! Incredible! Great job, Mefites! <3
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:01 PM on December 13, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:01 PM on December 13, 2018 [6 favorites]
Done! Are all the toys gone? I ordered a shit ton of tampons and gift cards tho.
posted by k8t at 8:06 PM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by k8t at 8:06 PM on December 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Hey ho, late to the game, but sent you a couple of menstrual cups and packs of wipes.
posted by telepanda at 9:28 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by telepanda at 9:28 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also late to the game, but sent pads and a gift card. Thank you for taking charge of this! Sending lots of love to all!
posted by wiskunde at 4:18 PM on December 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wiskunde at 4:18 PM on December 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Update (ish)!
Could the folks who ordered the following things please track them and let me know when they might arrive? I am hoping to deliver the kiddie stuff tomorrow, but I'm missing a couple of things. The senior stuff is okay for a bit longer.
USPS toy mail truck (I have the UPS one)
Switch adapted Leapfrog My Pal Scout (I have the switch)
Burt's Bees Tips to Toes Gift Set
Target gift cards
Great Bay Home reversible quilt set (I have one of two)
I realized that one reason the gifts went SO quickly is that there are NO duplicates this year! Amazon did something with their wish lists to help prevent that, thank god. Every year, there's a long process of itemizing and sending back a ton of duplicate gifts and getting back gift cards to make a second donation.
I also didn't register for as many letters this year as in some past years because it's really hard to know how many folks will be participating and how much they'll be donating. There was one year where it took a while to get all the items purchased, and that was kind of a nail-biter. Also, most years, there's a couple of donors who send a LOT of things and cards; in the absence of even one of them, getting the list purchased would be a lot more difficult. Having a fall-back donation option (the shelter) helps a lot. However, I definitely could have done more letters this time.
posted by houseofdanie at 9:39 AM on December 18, 2018
Could the folks who ordered the following things please track them and let me know when they might arrive? I am hoping to deliver the kiddie stuff tomorrow, but I'm missing a couple of things. The senior stuff is okay for a bit longer.
USPS toy mail truck (I have the UPS one)
Switch adapted Leapfrog My Pal Scout (I have the switch)
Burt's Bees Tips to Toes Gift Set
Target gift cards
Great Bay Home reversible quilt set (I have one of two)
I realized that one reason the gifts went SO quickly is that there are NO duplicates this year! Amazon did something with their wish lists to help prevent that, thank god. Every year, there's a long process of itemizing and sending back a ton of duplicate gifts and getting back gift cards to make a second donation.
I also didn't register for as many letters this year as in some past years because it's really hard to know how many folks will be participating and how much they'll be donating. There was one year where it took a while to get all the items purchased, and that was kind of a nail-biter. Also, most years, there's a couple of donors who send a LOT of things and cards; in the absence of even one of them, getting the list purchased would be a lot more difficult. Having a fall-back donation option (the shelter) helps a lot. However, I definitely could have done more letters this time.
posted by houseofdanie at 9:39 AM on December 18, 2018
Also, no one's late to the game! We're still collecting for the youth shelter til the end of the year, and they have no end of need for period products and gift cards. Periods are expensive and so is living without a permanent residence.
posted by houseofdanie at 9:50 AM on December 18, 2018
posted by houseofdanie at 9:50 AM on December 18, 2018
Uh oh, am I the only one here? I got the Burt's Bees set and the little mail truck, but I still need to track down the other items. The kiddie things are being delivered in the morning and I'm going to need to put an "IOU" in the package for the My Pal Scout toy. Would love to know when to expect it. Thanks!!
posted by houseofdanie at 2:44 PM on December 19, 2018
posted by houseofdanie at 2:44 PM on December 19, 2018
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posted by brilliantine at 1:11 PM on December 12, 2018 [1 favorite]