Here is how it all went down:
Lexi and I spent about a week or so receiving packages with shoes, toys, art supplies... I was very curious to see how Alexis would react to this: a bunch of toys and fun things arriving and it's not for her. For a child who already has everything, this was going to be a lesson in how others have bigger needs and how to control your own desires. Despite my reservations about how a 5 year old would react to boxes of toys coming in that aren't for her, it was actually quite exciting for her. We would open boxes, sort through all the goods, put them in order, photograph some, show a little to Lexi, and we would talk about it. She knew everything about the family and was REALLY excited to meet them and give them all the toys. She's very sensitive to other's tragedies as it is, so she was very concerned about how they were doing. On a Sunday afternoon when everything was ready, we agreed to meet at the mall and go shopping at Gymboree together. Up until now I had been talking to Diana, the sister, and this was going to be somewhat of a surprise for the kids. Yvonne (the young mom of 5 kids) introduced everyone in the family, the 3 year old son, 2 girls, ages 6 and 7, and two older teenage boys, The older boys stayed out, and the rest of us walked into the store to see what we could find. While the family walked around with the 3 year old son, the girls (me, Lexi and the two daughters) ran around the store finding cute undies, adorable dresses, trying on kitty cat headbands and making sure mom approved of our selections. I might or might not have had to be a unicorn for a few minutes 🙂Table of Contents
OOLY
Ooly was amazing. Not only did they eagerly send a MASSIVE box of art supplies, but they made sure that all the kids in the family had what they need based on age, sex and preference. There were colorful scented markers and pens, glittery pencils, adorable erasers and pencil sharpeners, notebooks, craft kits and seriously anything a kid could only dream of. Even I was giggly watching the beautiful colors flying everywhere as they were exploring the box.Pediped
My love for Pediped shoes isn't simply because they are amazing, durable, comfortable shoes but also because the owners of the company are wonderful, compassionate people who I have the privilege to know personally. All the kids got much needed sneakers and dress shoes. The girls were giddy over their colorful sneakers (I want a pair!) and the boys solemnly discussed their new kicks in the corner.Learning Resources
Learning Resources sent some awesome games and building sets listed below. Anthony, the 3 year old boy zero'ed in on the dinos and did not let up until the box was open. He spent the WHOLE time putting them together and taking them apart. If you have children under 3, don't even hesitate to buy this amazing educational toy.Educational Insight
They sent the following games: Playfoam Go! (ages 3+) Kanoodle® Jr. (ages 4+) Freeze Up!® (ages 8+) Travel Blurt (ages 10+) Personal note: Lexi thought Freeze Up was so much fun, even though it's meant for ages 8+ and it's definitely the kind of game that would make little ones think about their sounds and their vocabulary.Â
These are pretty amazing ideas for games and toys on the go that you can play while traveling, road tripping or in small spaces like hotels room (smart thinking!)
Stuck on You
This brand came a week later due to the customization aspect of it, so Diana stopped by and picked them up. This was very sweet and made the family very happy because all of the items had their names on it. The majority of the items were school gear, which is exactly what the kids needed.
After playing and seeing what awesome goodies they had, the whole family posed for photos with us and then the kids played at the playground while the adults chatted. Listening to Yvonne talk about their struggles and specifics of losing their home and having to live in a hotel made me think about how many families there are out there that could use a day of fun to relieve all the stress they are experiencing, at no fault of their own.
I urge anyone who reads this to take on a family, or a person. Not just donate money or goods, but try to get involved with someone specific and make their life a little brighter. From now on, I will try to think of even more ways Lexi and I can contribute to the world and make a difference in someone's life. Whether it's free business coaching (something I already do) for someone who's trying hard to make a difference in their lives, photography lessons for those showing passion for the art, some love and time spent with kids who do not get that attention (I'd love to foster kids in the future).
I felt it was a great lesson for Lexi. The meeting part sort of went over her head, but the stories and our preparations really impacted her, she spent days talking about it and the challenges the kids must be going through.
2 comments
I’m CRYING! How wonderful of you to do this!
Aww don’t cry!!!