Time To Help Those Less Fortunate!

[James Buchan]

Hey all,

I asked Cindy to bring up the idea of adopting a family for this christmas at the recent breakfast. Turns out that I have been nominated to organize it so I have gone ahead and got all the information to make this happen.

Now I need your help. To sponsor a family the Christmas Bureau asks that a minimum of $150 of food/presents ect. be collected for a family to have an enjoyable christmas. This includes gift certificates, non perishable foods, toys for children and a little something for the parent (s).

This will be an easy goal with all of us getting on board so there is no reason we can't exceed this amount and really make someone's life a little bit easier over this holiday season.

I am awaiting confirmation of the family that will be assigned to us so I will be able to pass on the needs of the family (# of children and ages, one or both parents etc...)

The Bureau asks that delivery of the hamper be made no later then the 18th of December so we need to make this happen rather quickly. As soon as I have the family information I will pass it on to you all. I will be able to pick up any and all donation or you can drop them off to me at either my work or home.

If you want to donate a food gift certificate please purchase it from Safeway so all of them will be from the same store.

[Matt]

That sounds like a good \"strictly german\" idea.  

You can count Jen and I in for it, just lay down the details.

[James Buchan]

That's were the idea came from! It's something that should be a tradition for our community.

[Chris]

Geez James, I already bought breakfast for your wife and kid.

But I am in for sure, keep us posted as to the details.

[James Buchan]

Funny guy....

[Russ]

i'll donate 50.00 if you do the shopping?
i usually give some to the food bank but this will be just as good.
great idea guys

[James Buchan]

Me Shop?!?!!?

Ummm that's Cindy's department - I'm Management. (Don't tell her I said that though)

Thanks Russ, you have set the bar very high!

[~Manda]

Count us in too James
thanks for spearheading this!

P.S I won't tell Cindy, but it will cost ya!    

[James Buchan]

I already told her - she always finds everything out anyways. I've asked her to log on here to keep in the loop.

[HeliMike]

Awesome idea  

I'm poor right now but I'll throw in 20 bones for sure.

It's definitely not cool to have kiddies with no presents or grub for x-mas.

Where do I drop it off and when?

Oh - I'm spreading the word here at work already so maybe I'll have a little more to donate but I think I'll need any info you can get. People ask questions so I need to give 'em some answers.

-Mike

[James Buchan]

Ok just got the info on \"our\" family:

We have a family of 4 to help out this year
Dad: John
Mom: Colleen

2 Kids:
Joseph: 16yrs (boy)
Coral: 11yrs (girl)

They Live in Langley City in an apartment.

I have more information on them but it most likely shouldn't be posted here for the families privacy etc...

I have set our name up at the Langley Christmas Buraeu as - The Volkswagen Owners Group - I am the contact.

I will be calling the family directly to get an idea as to the kids xmas wishes and to see what the parents are like as well cause I am sure they are doing without to help there kids out and would really appreciate something unexpected to open this year.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I like the idea of getting a Safeway gift certificate. I'll pick one up this week and drop it off to you.  

[James Buchan]

I will post a breakdown of all the things the xmas bureau lists is appropriate for food stuffs to purchase this evening.

Also after speaking with one of the parents I will post what the kids interests are as well.

By looking at their address it looks like they live in the industrial area of langley near willowbrook safeway so it should work out well for them to shop there if they don't own a vehicle.

[Shane]

James, Find out what the 16yr olds boys Present he is wanting ... It's on Pointblank... Nothing is more Christmas than seeing the joy on others faces... Knowing you have done something for someone else....
 

[James Buchan]

Cindy has placed a call but at 6pm both parents were still at work - will try again at 7....

Cindy has a list of stuff to ask like cloth sizes and likes/dislikes.

[James Buchan]

Here is a guideline from the Bureau for foods to purchase:

Meat and Perishables: Gift cert's are suggested. Other meat suggestions are ham's,sausage,bacon etc...

Veggies: Fresh or Canned, Potato,Corn,Carrots etc...

Fruit,Desserts,Treats: Fresh or Canned, nuts, cookies, candy etc...

Beverages: Coffee,Tea, Hot Chocolate, Fruit Juices,Pop etc... Alcohol not suggested.

Dairy: Eggs,Cheese, Margarine, Butter etc...

Staples and Sundry: Sugar,Flour,Buns,Bagels, Cereal,Pasta,Peanut Butter, Canned Fish, Olives etc...

This list, plus more is compiled from family requests (not ours but all in general) It's up to us to decide how much and what to donate.

I would suggest perishable be bought the morning of delivery ( date to be set after talking to the family ) but around the 18th.

If you are planning on a present for one of the family members I would appreciate it if you wrapped and labeled the package - no joke gifts, these people are reaching out for help not ridicule.

I would also suggest if enough money/presents are collected a second family be adopted as well - seems like we might have enough response for more than one family to have some help from us this season.

 

[Shane]

Tell Cindy to get in contact with Amanda about shopping  

[moni]

count me in. kudos james for spearheading this; it's also very cool that we got a family with two teenagers -- they often get forgotten in the \"toys for tots\" campaigns and the like... i'll pick up stocking stuffers and some food, and can drop 'em off by dec. 12 (gotta wait 'til payday to start shopping!).

 

[reefreshd_jive]

hey. james when can i drop off 40 to you?
give me a call
604-786-9091

[James Buchan]

Me or Cindy will be around in the evenings, and on Saturdays. This month is a busy one for us - I can always make arrangements for picking stuff up as well if that is easier for people.

Cindy Spoke with the Mother last night and we got some family details:

The father had a stroke 2 years ago, and due to this lost alot of vision in his left eye. He was a proffesional driver for a glass company and lost his job due to this. He is currently on EI but is being \"re-trained\" and is nearing the end of his benefits. His wife said he is a very proud man and was against asking the Christmas bureau for help. But cindy talked to him briefly and he seemed relieved that there was some help this year. He has interest in computers - this is a field he is looking at getting trained in.

The mother works at a smaller department store in the shipping/recieving department. It sounds like she is on her feet all day, and she works full time. I can't imagine EI and her job pulls in alot of money so you can imagine how hard it must be to make ends meet on those two incomes. She said she didn't have any hobbies as she is quite busy with work and home. She did say she enjoyed scrap-booking when she had a chance and liked to read VC Andrews books.

The boy, Joseph, is into music. He has a bass guitar but has no training in it other then what a friend has taught him. He would really like to pursue playing the guitar and would love to learn how. he would also really like to learn how to play an accoustic guitar. He really enjoys snowboarding but it doesn't sound like the family has had the means in the last couple of years. He is also involved in theatre, I guess through school. He is tall the mother said, and wears mens size M or L - Large would probably be best.

The girl, Coral, is acually 11 years old, not 12. According to the mom, she is a \"girly-girl\" and is into the typical stuff. Sweet Valley High books, cloths etc. She also really enjoys Basketball. She has a keen interest in singing, dancing and choir as well. Her cloths size is 16 to Juniors (not sure what that means but Cindy did)

The family does alot together as a group, and it is fairly low-keyed stuff at home. The entire family likes to listen to various types of music, watch movies etc... They have a CD Player/DVD Player. It sounds like they were a typical family up until the father had a stroke and now things have just gotten to hard for them to make ends meet.

Any questions let me know.

[Bubba]

James, I would like to participate in this.  Perhaps someone real practical can suggest for a gift around the 100 dollar mark,   or maybe just cash?   Let me know.

[James Buchan]

Thanks so much Bubba!!!

Ideally for gifts if people decide to buy something please pm me so that doubles (you never know) don't occur. Also if it is clothing please include a gift reciept incase the sizing isn't right.

As far as a present I'm not to sure what would be a practical gift. One of the main things the bureau suggests is groceries so maybe a gift cert would be a good idea as we plan on doing a big shop prior to the delivery.

Also a big thanks to all of you who have pm'd me with offerings!

[vdubn4x4chik]

Hey James, I wouldn't mind participating as well....

just wondering if you wanted to bring your box and donation requests to the toy cruise ?? Central place for everyone to help out .. just an idea.
you can post this on BCVW if you want our help too, unless its just an aircooled family donation.

*dont mean to step on any toes, just thinking of helping*

 :blush:  

[James Buchan]

I think it's a great idea to get more people involved, could you maybe post on that website with the details, I've already got my hands really full over here.

I would love to go on the toy cruise but unfortunatly I am in school all day that day and it is my Birthday so I have a dinner that night.
 

[vdubn4x4chik]

school on sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  James is so hardcore    

[vdubn4x4chik]

Linked to BCVWDrivers.ca

check and make sure its okay ^^^

 

[red snapper]

James, you can count on us as well. \"mad props\" to you for getting this started.  

[James Buchan]

It's my last class before my exam for my OFA3 Recert - The last few times I just did the one week challange course and then write, but this year due to work being so busy I had to do it over 5 weeks (2 nights and sundays)

Hardcore, nope.....Stupid, Yep.

[James Buchan]

Hey everyone,


I would like to put a deadline on getting donations collected. I'd like to see everything in by December 13th (Monday) this way it give me and my elves 6 days to do all the running around and shopping.

If you are planning on donating gift cert's, or presents, can you let me know beforehand so we don't over allocate funds towards that, this way we can spread things around more evenly between groceries and presents.

Tentativly we are looking at a December 18th morning delivery - 1 week before christmas. This will give the family some time to get out and do some shopping for perishables, and hopefully some other goodies to make this a special holiday. Also I would like to organise a delivery party of sorts that day, maybe if the weather is good a few aircooled can make the chilly trip?

Once again thanks for all the support, keep it coming as the more there is the better we can help these people in need.

[Aircooled Angel]

I'm not sure if a delivery party is such a hot idea. I used to work at the share food hamper pick up location, and a lot of people are very embarassed about their situations. I remember one guy showing up with a bicycle expecting to carry everything home in his basket, and refusing to let me help when I offered him a ride in my van. I could see some people being very uncomfortable with a group of people arriving at their front door and seeing how they live. It takes a lot of courage sometimes to ask for help. Maybe just have 1 or 2 cars deliver it but make sure they know its from the whole group. Just a thought....
 
I would like to make a donation of some sort, however I have no idea if I'm going to be home in time. James could I mail a cheque or a gift certificate to you? Which is easier, which is needed?