Just a quick reminder about our Freebies2Deals Secret Santa Project! I am going to extend the deadline to Dec 17th! But I can’t go any later. So, if you would like to help by donating items, you can check the list below. Or, you can donate monetarily and I will use coupons and go do my magic to purchase items to give! THANKS Everyone!
Once Freebies2Deals became what it was, I really thought that all of us needed to ban together to do a group Secret Santa Project. So for the past two years, we have done just that.
In 2010, we donated full Christmases to 25 needy families! I did a video of that adventure here, if you haven’t seen it.
And, in 2011, we donated a bunch of toys to The Primary Children’s Medical Center to their Children’s Cancer Unit. Here is a video, if you missed it.
I have been waiting… and waiting for something to just jump out at me for this year’s project. Normally, I announce what we are doing in October so everyone has enough time to gather what is needed. But, I felt like I had to wait for some reason to decide. Well, I have decided that we need to help two organizations this year!
Reader Jen let me know about an organization called the Utah Youth Village. The Utah Youth Village takes in children who have been phsycially, or sexually abused, or who have been deemed wards of the state generally because of abuse and neglect. And there are some who have failed the foster care system.
I truly believe that Christmas is for Kids. For the kids at the Utah Youth Village, they really need some Christmas spirit and to believe that someone somewhere loves and cares about them. It breaks my heart thinking about little Children not having a loving family, or being alone on Christmas. So, this is when we all need to jump in and give them a little love and hope!
Good thing that all of the kids have been adopted for their Christmas Gifts!! However, they do need simple things like New Winter Coats (All Youth Sizes), Winter Hats & Gloves, Warm Socks, Snow Boots, Pillows, Blankets (Twin or Full) and Bedding (Twin or Full).
On top of helping the Utah Youth Village, reader Shayla also let me know about how there are a lot of families with the Ronald McDonald House that need help as well. At the Ronald McDonald house families are able to stay near their hospitalized children who are seriously ill or injured. Some of these families were all involved in an accident and family members are recovering slowly at their own pace. That means Dads aren’t able to work or provide any type of regular household items like food, laundry detergent and other items. Not to mention, their kids will not be receiving a Christmas. ðŸ™
Here is a great list of what the Ronald McDonald House needs. However, here are the Christmas List items that they are particularly looking for:
Gifts for Babies and Children (boys and girls)
- Newborn– 18 months Toys
- 2-5 years old Toys
- 6-14 years old Toys
- Footballs
- Basketballs
- Soccer balls
- Plush toys
- Development/ educational toys
- Children’s’ DVD’s: G– PG rated (doesn’t have to be new)
Gifts for Parents and Teens (men and women)
- Women’s cosmetic sets
- Women’s bath/body sets
- Cologne or Perfume
- Men’s toiletry kits
- Handheld electronic games & batteries
- Scrapbooking kits
- Small tool kits
- Pen sets
- New release DVD’s: G– PG-13 rated
- Wii, X-Box, Nintendo 64 games (doesn’t have to be new) Rated E for Everyone
Gifts Cards for Families ($25 or less)
- Smith’s grocery and gas
- Fresh Market
- Wal-Mart
- Target
- Maverick
- Chevron
- Tesoro
- Barnes & Noble
- Toys ‘R Us
- Bath & Body Works
- Old Navy
- Home Depot
- Olive Garden
- Red Lobster
- Pizza Hut/ Domino’s
- Sizzler
- Chili’s
- Applebee’s
- Visa gift cards
Holiday Needs for the House
- Plain wrapping paper and ribbon (for holidays and to be used year-round)
- Tape
- Fresh fruits and veggies
- Spaghetti Sauces
- Crackers
- Yogurt
- Milk
- K-Cups for Keurig® coffee maker
- Mayonnaise
- Box cereal
- Salad Dressings
- Butter/ margarine
- Store bought frozen dinners
- Laundry detergent
- Sanitizing wipes
- Wood cleaner
- Pine Sol– or like product
- Postage stamps
- Copy paper
- Batteries
A lot of these items you probably already have in your food storage or stockpile. So it would be REALLY easy to donate them!
On December 13th, I will be taking all of the Freebies2Deals donations to the Utah Youth Village and Ronald McDonald House to be donated to these children and families. I know it will make a huge difference. If you are wanting to help, NO donation is too small. I know money is tight for all of us, but even the smallest gift will make a huge difference. I know we will be seeing deals left and right. So, get your kids involved! Have them pick out a toy to donate!
I hope you guys are excited to get in the true spirit of Christmas and help out those who really need it! I would love any and all help I can get from you guys so we can make this just as successful as it has been the past two years!!
WAYS TO HELP and DONATE:
If you would like to join us and donate, you can email me, melea@freebies2deals.com with the subject “Secret Santa”. Make sure you tell me which city you are in. You can ask me for a drop off address, if you would like to drop off all your donations. Then, I can take them with my big haul. Or, I can give you a shipping address if you are far away or out of state and would like to still help.
You are also more than welcome to drop off any of your donations directly:
- Utah Youth Village at 5800 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84121.
- Ronald McDonald House at 935 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. (7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- If you choose to drop off your donations directly, please take a pic of you and your family there donating it and email it to me so I can put it in our video!!!
I know in the past, some of you have asked to just donate monetarily. That is just easier for a lot of you. If you choose to do that, you can send any money donation via Paypal to politis@hotmail.com. I will use any money received to grab discounted gift cards and other things these families could use!
Rosanna
Do ALL the items need to be new that are donated to the Utah Youth Village? Like snow boots and blankets?
Mandy
Melea, I just want you to know that I think you are wonderful! You work so hard throughout the year to save us all money, and then you work even harder during the holidays to make sure ours are special without breaking the bank! I love that you help charities every year, and you inspire me to do better. I always intend to do more during the holidays, but then I get so wrapped up that I forget. Thanks to you and your reminders, I’m able to take some time away from the holiday craziness and remember that there are so many less fortunate than I am. I just donated some money through PayPal, and I know that you’ll do your “deals magic” to stretch it further than I could for these kids and families. Thank you so much for being so caring; you’re a great example to us all! 🙂
Briana
We were one of the cancer families up at Primary’s that year you put together a project for ICS. I didn’t know you guys did that. I went and watched the youtube video you put together for that and it brought tears to my eyes. So awesome! Thanks for all you do!
Jennifer
That is so awesome that you do so much for such good charities! The last several years our family has donated to another worthy cause: Candy Cane Corner (which benefits families at The Road Home, YWCA of Salt Lake and Volunteers of America, Utah); and in prior years to the Forgotten Patient Christmas Project at the Utah State Hospital. Maybe some ideas for you for future years. =-)
T.K.
I am sure sure Utah Youth Village will accept lightly used items. I used to work with them. Sometimes it is really difficult to keep everyone in warm clothes that fit.
shayla
Melea thank you isn’t enough. I am so excited you choose to do the Ronald McDonald home , I was telling people and you would have thought i had one a million dollars (well i kinda did). I know that you will make alot of families Christam a little easier. And a big shout out to those that help and donate it hard to realize anyone not haveing a great Christmas until your there. Please take of yourselves and have a great Holiday.
Shelly
I am so grateful for your service. Both previous projects have impacted people that I know and love! A simple thanks doesn’t seem like enough but I know that families have benefited.