Christmas General Store Gift Drive
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!In August, children get to select the school supplies they need and pick out a brand new backpack. Over 400 children received a backpack last year! Our school supply drive relies on people like you to collect needed items to be distributed in August each year.
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:
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
Drop off items by December 5th so they can be available for children at our Christmas event.
You may also request our General Store Amazon Registry List and purchase items to have them directly shipped to Joy Meadows.
Thank you for playing a vital part in helping Joy Meadows support children in foster care, foster parents, kinship parents, and biological caregivers reintegrating with their children!
Ready to Host a Donation Drive?
Fill out the form below and we’ll help you get started with the Donation Drive Toolkit, including:
Electronic Fliers about Joy Meadows to share with your audience
Electronic docs for marketing materials, and info to share on social media about your Drive
Joy Meadows swag: stickers, bracelets to share for awareness
QR code for additional fundraising or donations to your drive