Yes it is time to already start talking about Christmas 2007. Greg LOVED the donation to Dallas Children's hospital last year and we are going to do the same thing again this year.

So! With that said, since the school supplies are marked down right now, it is a good time to start gathering items to submit.

Crayons
Coloring books
art paper
colored pencils
pencils
construction paper
water colors
glue sticks
markers
small puzzles
small craft sets (for older kids)
beads and bead cording

If you have questions about other items to send, please let us know. But right now this is the starting point. I know that crayons, paper, colored pencils are really inexpensive right now so pick up a bunch to send in. If you can just pick up 10 boxes of crayons (right now they are .12 cents at walmart!) that will be GREAT. Pick them up and send them to me. Whatever you can send is much appreciated.

Cut off is November 15th. I will have to box things up to ship by December 1st to get to the hospital in time for them to notify Greg/Debby of the gift before Christmas. I will try to take a picture of the collection before it goes out.

Questions or when you are ready for the mailing address, email me at songbirdie@comcast.net

Thanks everyone!

Thanks Chris I was wondering if we were doing that this year. All school supplies are on sale everywhere. Will get right on it.

:cheerleader: I already started gettings things. I have 20 boxes of crayons and 10 two packs of gluesticks and will pick up some more this week. I will bring them next time I come over Chris. :wavey:

too funny, I almost picked some stuff up on Saturday when I was at Toys R Us :lol:

:clap: I'm all over it.

Sounds good!

Thanks for letting us know.

This is going to be fun again. :)

I know that Rox and Shell can confirm this -- but Greg was THRILLED about the donation last year. He really loves that we have shifted focus to people like this rather than sending things to him. And for me it feels great to do something good that can really help people who really need it. :D

Stopped at Walmart on my way home today and just so everyone can see that Chris was not jokin when she said everything at Walmart right now is really inexpensive (I'll share prices)

got 10 boxs of crayons (10 cents each)
5 (2 packs) of glue sticks (20 cents each)
2 water colors (50 cents each)
4 packs of 12 colored pencils (i believe they were 50 cents each)
2 packs of 11 colored markers (50 cents each)

I'll be going to the dollar store to get coloring books, construction paper, etc

Cool! I've been kinda sad since (1) my kids are older and (2) we homeschool so we don't need any back to school stuff this year. It just doesn't feel right not buying back to school supplies lol. And now I have a reason. Once school starts here (not until the end of August) I'll also keep an eye out for when Walmart and Target start the clearance for supplies. Usually I find some great deals on construction paper.

I have put my mom on the project too. She works at Walmart and can watch for the discount bins. heehee. Oh! And I dunno about everywhere else but here in TN they do a "tax free holiday" for school supplies. So any school supply is available with no sales tax for a day or 2 before school starts. So I will be able to go that weekend and pick up a few more things at an additional savings. :) (I will wait for the craft type things until after school starts -- watching the Hobby Lobby or Michael's ads during after school starts will work for that. :) )

He absolutely loved it. :wub: So glad we are doing it again this year. :clap:

:high5: I've started getting stuff yesterday got 20 boxes of cryaons and 10 boxes of markers, I'll getting more stuff soon. I think this great.

If anyone lives near a STAPLES someone told me they are having a huge sale. I going to check it out Saturday.

Thanks for the heads up! :)

Thanks Judy.

I went to the dollar store today and got some coloring books, doodle paper, construction paper

Do you buy the basket yet?

I can send some $ for you to buy the packing supplies if that would help.

Shipping is a small hassle for me lately so I'd love to help pay for the shipping if that would work. let me know.

^ I love your sig banner, Iwa.

that would work Iwa. Just drop it in the mail or paypal to me. That would be just fine. :)

Aww, your sig banner is adorable too, Birdie!

I so wish I was there w/ you guys. You had a blast, I can tell! :)

Birdie, I'm gonna paypal you my donation as well. Use it for whatever you need. Going shopping with (2) three year olds is not always fun. lol.

Will send the donation tonight. :wink: Glad we are doing this again as this is the type of gift that Greg wants and perfers us to do. :)

:high5: I love this, this is great can't wait to get more stuff.

Found boxes of crayons at Walgreens today 29 cents with a coupon max 3 boxes........great buy

I will also be sending a donation b/c Im not good at shipping stuff. I never really get around to it so I might send it to you! Let me know if that is ok! :P

Haven't quite figured out what I want to do yet... Have too much going on at the moment.. ^_^ Greg will love this though. :)

I went to STAPLES today bought 16 packages of pencils, some rulers, and markers along with crayons I already have and colored pencils. I love to shop for stuff like this and we have to November. I should be sending you a big box Chris when the time comes.

That works. I can either use it to shop for additional items, or use it toward the shipping costs. :) Either one will work on this end. If you need my mailing address, let me know or you can paypal to songbirdie@comast.net

Please email me your shipping address I don't think I have it!
Thanks ;)

email sent. :)

Thank you :)

So the box I was going to use to send you the items Chris--well doesn't fit everything I have....LOL....Oops.

Heehee. I have already been looking for boxes to pack the stuff in. It should be interesting. (Thank God there is a UPS shipping store nearby! :D)

Birdie I paypaled you my donation. Let me know if you got it. TY. :)

Nothing yet Rox, but I will keep you posted. :)

Gracias!

adding to the tally...

so far I have 10 boxes of crayons (24 ct), 10 pkg. glue sticks (2 ct.) and 5 boxes of colored pencils (12 ct).

Walmart (here at least) has RoseArt brand stuff pretty cheap right now - crayons for 12 cents a box, colored pencils and markers for 50 cents each. I didn't see any of the markers out when I was there this morning but there was a bunch of people in my way. <_<
I'm still keeping my eyes open for some deals on construction paper.

:high5:

Okay I see what I did wrong. I accidently typed your email addy wrong when I sent through paypal. That's why it kept coming back as "unclaimed". lol.

As soon as I take care of the mistake, I will resend it. :)

heehee :giggle: no problem Rox. :) It's all good.

I was looking at the hospital site tonight at their wish list. They also have small things like card games (uno, go fish, old maid, regular playing cards), travel sized games, even small plastic toys or hotwheels cars. Small items that are fairly light to ship would be great to add to the mix later on.

But I can do some more shopping to fill in the boxes once we know how much it will cost to ship etc. I am so darn excited. And I have friends and coworkers collecting items too. hehee.

looks like a trip to the dollar store is in my future. :yes:

oooh I almost picked up some of those sorts of items on my last trip to the $ store :lol:

:giggle: