Children impacted by foster care have few opportunities where they are provided with dignity, choice, recognition and control. They have many people in their lives who they care for deeply, and little opportunity to extend generosity or recognize that relationship in a tangible way. That’s why we have an annual Joy Meadows General Store! 

Every December, Joy Meadows hosts a Christmas event for over 500 foster and adoptive children. It is full of fun activities for the children, but the main event is the General Store. Children get to “shop” and pick out new gifts for someone that they love. They get to wrap the gift with care and create a personalized card. It is amazing to see their joy in getting to select something for someone else.

Here is how you can help provide that joy through a General Store Gift Drive:

1. With your team, organization or volunteers, collect donations of new gifts that cost $10.  This can be done at an event or an ongoing basis that works for your team. Think of gift ideas your children would buy for a mom, dad, brother, or sister. A few examples include:
   • For mom: candles, lotion, journals, spa gifts, blankets, socks
   • For dad: gloves, hats, card games, shaving kits, sports items, coffee
   • For siblings: games, arts and craft kits, sensory items, toys, hats/gloves
   • For everyone: gift cards to various stores for $10

2. Email Jarred to Drop off items by December 7th so they can be available for children at our Christmas event.

3. You may also purchase items from the Amazon Registry List to have them directly shipped to Joy Meadows.