12/20/2025
Someone asked for us to be "very specific" today when discussing the current needs. Here is a copy & paste minus the things that have arrived today..
Boys winter coats:
Large
XL x 2
Girls winter coats:
6-9mos
3T
6/7 (small)
7 x 2
8
10
14/16
Men's Winter Coats:
M
XL
5X
Women's Winter Coats:
M x 2
Wishlist items with several requests & / or a need:
Arts and Crafts for 10-18yos (tons)
Full sized bed sheets (5yof)
Bikes (5yof, 7yof, 6yom, & a few tweens m/f)
Bluetooth speakers
Board games
Building stuff (7yof, 11yof w/autism, 17yom with autism, & developmental delay, 11yom with autism)
Adult coloring stuff
Drawing stuff 7-17yo m&f
Electric Scooter 17yom (weighs 130lb)
Earbuds x 3
Fuzzy socks for a size 12 men's shoe (autistic)
Gaming stuff x 4 (2m, 2f)
Gift cards to stores or restaurants are on a lot of lists
Hand tools (teenage autistic boys)
Headphones (1m, 1f)
History stuff
Military history stuff
Tablet (a whole bunch of kids young enough to need the kind with a case or autistic)
Hats (6yo autistic boy, 4yo boy)
Jewelry - boys and girls 4-17 & I do know which ones have their ears pierced in case someone donates earrings
Anything K Pop Demon Hunters (for Girls)
Lego Kits for a lot of kids (some specified complicated Lego sets) - 11 kids are still on the Lego list (5-17 m & f)
Nerf guns / weapons - 3 more kids asked for them & a lot more would be happy to get one
Painting stuff (canvas, paint, easel, brushes, etc) x 6 (12-17 m & f)
Phones out the w***o
Pop sockets x 6
Religious items (Bible, books, bookmarks, blankets with Bible verses, etc & so forth)
Robux x 8
Science kits
Scooter for 3yom, 4yom
Sensory toys - 4 (all age range)
Sports stuff x 3
Stickers for up to 9yos
There are also still tons of kids that asked for clothes. Most of them at least have underwear and socks. Absolutely everyone on the list has a toothbrush & toothpaste, & we will most likely still have maybe 50 left after pickups and deliveries are over.
While we strive to make Christmas magical for each child, it appears several older kids will be lacking. To be completely transparent, some kids had extensive wishlists, which gives us a better Idea of what the child likes to do and see in their free time and the majority of those kids have "enough" to be acceptable. (For those of you who don't know, that specifically means Melissa Spencer isn't happy, but will have to do. It also means that several are not "enough" or "acceptable". As no child should go without Christmas, ever.) Alas, the first round of pickups is ridiculously soon & we appreciate those of you (especially Kathy Small, who is the main reason these teens have anything) that have made sure some kids will not go without Christmas. We ask that those of you that have not donated this year take a few seconds, remember your own childhood Christmases, & imagine what they could have been like if you just happened to be in a family going through a hard time...
We realize the economy is not in the best place, and some people are one unexpected bill or setback from homelessness. Just remember, every little bit helps & these are our neighbors, the children in your child's classroom at school, the children on their recreational football team, just children going through a hard time. If you can not give, please share, & /or say a prayer for these babies that you talk to in the grocery store. Two of these families do not even have heat. We have gotten some of these kids electric blankets, but if you have suggestions on how we can help these kids please reach out.
Lastly, if you have actually read this far, we appreciate you. We have 100 people requesting Christmas dinners and at this point, no way to pay for them. We are open to ideas and suggestions. Thank you for your time, patience, and consideration.
