First off, I'd like to take the time to explain a little bit about this project - both for newcomers and for those that may have missed out on our story in the past.
- What is the purpose behind this project?
The purpose behind our Stocking Stuffers project is very simple: To remind local children (and their families) that "Someone Cares!".
- How did this project get started?
This project got started several years ago, when our oldest two children refused to clean their room for months on end. Finally realizing they needed old stuff gone in order to make room for new things, old toys got bagged up to find new homes. Coming up on Christmas, we hated the idea of donating their used toys to the local thrift shop that would charge people for them - when we knew that there had to be people out there that would appreciate the small things we could offer.
So a CraigsList ad was created, offering free "stocking stuffers" toys to anyone that needed them. That first year, we managed to give out toys to about 30 kids in the area. While we loved the end result, we also felt that it just wasn't enough and somehow we would find a way to do more in the coming years.
- Who runs this project now?
Simply stated, we do. The same homeschooling family of six that started this project years ago. We do not have ties to any organizations, churches, or other community projects. We do periodically get items donated from private individuals for the exclusive purpose of re-gifting and dispersal. We also get support (directly and indirectly) from close friends and family who have made an effort to help us in various ways over the years as the reach and mission of this little project has grown.
- What is the purpose behind the Stocking Stuffers Christmas packages?
These packages are not intended to be the only Christmas gifts received (although we know that, in some cases, they are), nor are they intended to replace what the parents would normally provide for their children (although, in some cases, they do).
These packages are designed to be "stocking stuffers" (a small amount of small items that could fit into a stocking), to remind the children that people outside of their immediate family care about them - that their lives matter to someone else and to the world as a whole.
