Foster Care Gift Drive

I am literally always amazed by what people can accomplish.  I have seen it over and over in my adopted home town of Front Royal.  And another act has totally blown me away.  My friend Melanie Salins was a foster mom to 2 children before they were adopted.  She is now a mom to a beautiful and wonderful little girl who I only occasionally think about slipping into an over-sized bag and taking home.  Besides the fact that Melanie makes some amazingly cute baby gear (check out Baby Brims) she has also started a gift drive for Foster Children in our area.  There are 200+ foster children ages 0 -18 and Melanie wants gifts to go to all of them.  It sounds daunting but she has done it before and will do it again.  The gifts will be going to foster children in these counties:  Clarke County, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, Winchester City, and Evan's Home in Winchester.  

Melanie has requested items to be unwrapped and new.  Some great ideas are toys, games, art supplies, and gift cards to places like Target, Wal-mart, and Toys R Us.  We will also need gift bag and tissue paper donations.  Some local businesses have agreed to be drop off locations for gifts:  Play n' Trade in Front Royal (50 Riverton Commons Plaza Suite 50 Front Royal, Virginia 22630); Patsy's Pastry Pizza's in Winchester; The Little Gym in Winchester; and Butcher's Select in Winchester.

Melanie could also use some volunteers with bagging and tagging gifts and delivering them as well.   This is such a great cause and it doesn't take much to do it!  Picking up an extra gift while you are out shopping, or even re-gifting something that you never took the tags off or that never made it out of the packaging.  You can find some really cool toys and clothes on clearance at Target.  Usually around 30 - 70% off for things that they are clearing space for.  Having three boys I will be excited to roam the shelves for girly pink stuff.  Lets make this a great Christmas for the entire area!

Please help spread the word as well.  Even if you don't have extra money in your budget to squeeze in a gift for someone else, let your neighbors and family know.  I am sure there are plenty of people out there who would be thrilled to give but are not aware of this great cause!  I can think of some empty-nesters and parents of teenagers who miss the Lego/Barbie days . . .

Check out the Facebook event for the Gift Drive by clicking here.