Gift for 10 year old girl for charity

[uk_wildcat]

My son's class has adopted a 10 year old girl for Christmas. Her list just says she needs clothes, pajamas and anything electronic. She wears a size 12/14. I have 2 boys, so I don't have a clue about a 10 year old girl. I am trying to get some budget items if possible. I have a $10 coupon for JCPenney that expires tomorrow that I could use. I would like to get a clothing item and a small toy.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

How about trying this:

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.asp...cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=42249|50177|69194|69196

and

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.asp...cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=42249|50177|69194|69195

The jeans are $14.99, and the shirt is $6.99 If you add another shirt (or a roughly $3 item), use the code 104you to take $10 off $25 or more.

I didn't try it to see if it would work. It seems like it should though.

 

[momxx5]

Jeans are hard to buy for a 10yr old, even with sizes listed. My 11yr old DD barely weighs 60lbs and is just not fitting into some size 10 slims. Jeans just have too much variables.....cut, high/low on hips, straight/flare legs, etc.
If you really want to do jeans please consider gift reciept....or even a $15 gift card on a catalog.

Shirts & sweaters are all on sale now so tops would be great. They have super cute fleece hoodies for $20 and my DD loved them when she saw the styles. JC Penny also has jammies on sale.....you could include slipper socks, Bath & Body works hair shampoo/conditioner, lip glosses.

As for toys.....board games, books, art supples....those would be big hit here.

 

[robinsegg]

Would you consider getting the jeans, but attaching the receipt (or your phone number) to the card so they could exchange them easily?
As for electronics . . . you'll want to consider things that don't require a computer and don't need odd batteries. Discount stores (eg walmart, target) have handheld games (yahtzee, battleship, etc) at reasonable prices. I haven't checked what kind of batteries they take.

 

[McKelly]

Well, when I hear she wants electronics, I think Nintendo DS. Could several parents chip in together and buy her a DS and a game or two? I know you said budget, but I have DD10, and she plays that all the time.

Or maybe an MP3 player, but then she would need some way to download music.......... How about a CD player with some music CD's? More expensive than you probably were thinking, but if you knew some of the parents in the class, maybe you could go in together. YOu could send a note home with the class and ask for monetary donations for a bigger item. I know many parents who would rather just send in cash, rather than be bothered to purchase a gift., just sayin!!

 

[uk_wildcat]

Well I hit the mall and found nothing good at JCPenney or Old Navy. I was about to give up and decided to check out Macy's. I found a ton of stuff on the clearance rack and everything was an additional 50% off today. I got her about 9 tops and spent $27. I stayed away from pants because when I went back and checked her size, she is actually a 14/16 and I had no idea if she is a tall girl, a husky girl or just bigger all over for a 10 year old. I have a son who is almost 8 and wears a 10 in pants and 12 in shirts and he isn't fat, just a tall kid who is wide chested.
Anyways, I think I will try to find a small toy later this week - maybe a BF sale and then I will be done. They did ask that people send in money if they can't shop and they will go out and buy gifts for her, so maybe they will get enough to buy her a nice electronic. Without knowing if she has access to a computer, an MP3 player doesn't make sense and a DS is a bit out of my price range.

 

[Cindy B]

NO NO NO to expensive electronics.. and I have a a reason.

This is something that I wrote on anothe response to angel trees.

Here's another thing to think of... I will tell you a story about my urban school teaching experience. This school had a full school wide toy and gift drive for all students. (K-8). Very generous donations included bikes, playstations, books, clothes, DS's, etc..

On a specified day, parents or guardians had to come and claim their large bag for each child. Some parents came and gladly accepted. And then there were some that "sold" the gifts/angel tree gifts for drugs or cash.. these parents demanded receipts so they could get cash.
From what I saw first hand, I don't trust these that much now.

Yes, parents were selling and hocking any thing that was high value and the kids never got it. If a high level gift was given (one of my kids did get a DS!) I had to lock it up and make sure none of the other kids got it and hand it only to the parent. Then I had to worry if the kid was going to get mugged with it.

(yes, this was the 2nd most dangerous city in America!)

 

[NYCDiane]

NO NO NO to expensive electronics.. and I have a a reason.

This is something that I wrote on anothe response to angel trees.

Here's another thing to think of... I will tell you a story about my urban school teaching experience. This school had a full school wide toy and gift drive for all students. (K-8). Very generous donations included bikes, playstations, books, clothes, DS's, etc..

On a specified day, parents or guardians had to come and claim their large bag for each child. Some parents came and gladly accepted. And then there were some that "sold" the gifts/angel tree gifts for drugs or cash.. these parents demanded receipts so they could get cash.
From what I saw first hand, I don't trust these that much now.

Yes, parents were selling and hocking any thing that was high value and the kids never got it. If a high level gift was given (one of my kids did get a DS!) I had to lock it up and make sure none of the other kids got it and hand it only to the parent. Then I had to worry if the kid was going to get mugged with it.

(yes, this was the 2nd most dangerous city in America!)

I agree... A friend of mine "adopts" a family every year through her church. I do the majority of the shopping for her because she's completely clueless about what kids like/want, etc (she didn't even realize how "important" a Christmas stocking is to a kid!)

Anyway, one time, I came back with all the receipts, etc. and gave them to my friend. She explained to me that the church won't let you put ANY papers, cards, or any sealed envies with the gifts. Why? Because of the same reason you said ---- many of the parents would exchange their kids' gifts for cash for drugs. You also couldn't include any money for the families for the same reason and they asked you not to purchase any expensive gifts, such as electronics. The church would have the families open their gifts right there at the church while they held a Christmas dinner for the families so they could at least be assured the kids would get the gifts that were bought for them.

 

[pigletto]

NO NO NO to expensive electronics.. and I have a a reason.

This is something that I wrote on anothe response to angel trees.

Here's another thing to think of... I will tell you a story about my urban school teaching experience. This school had a full school wide toy and gift drive for all students. (K-8). Very generous donations included bikes, playstations, books, clothes, DS's, etc..

On a specified day, parents or guardians had to come and claim their large bag for each child. Some parents came and gladly accepted. And then there were some that "sold" the gifts/angel tree gifts for drugs or cash.. these parents demanded receipts so they could get cash.
From what I saw first hand, I don't trust these that much now.

Yes, parents were selling and hocking any thing that was high value and the kids never got it. If a high level gift was given (one of my kids did get a DS!) I had to lock it up and make sure none of the other kids got it and hand it only to the parent. Then I had to worry if the kid was going to get mugged with it.

(yes, this was the 2nd most dangerous city in America!)

Cindy, I have heard many stories like this and gave them alot of thought and consideration when I picked a family from a local charity to provide gifts for last year.
I went to the woman organizing the charity and she asked a bit about me and why I wanted to give to her organization.
I explained to her that when dd was very little, we were on our own, and that I had to scrounge to provide a Christmas for her.
I am in a much better place now years later, and I wanted to provide a Christmas for someone else.
She matched me up with a family that consisted of a single mom and one daughter.
My now 12 year old dd and I had so much fun purchasing for them. Their lists were so small and modest. With coupons and price matching I was able to go above and beyond their lists. All mom wanted was a crockpot, so we got her one and taped a 100 dollar grocery gift card inside.
The dd wanted some modest toys.. we got her a DS as well.

I had moments when I wondered if these things would be sold, but I had a bit of an epiphany.
It didn't matter.
My dd and I spent a marvelous day being able to give back. That was a gift to US.
And once my gift, my intent to make someone smile leaves my hands.. that is all I can do.
I certainly hope our gifts were met with joy. And the woman at the oraganization called me personally on Christmas eve to say that the woman and her daughter were so very grateful.
I guess what I am trying to say is that giving was far more powerful than the worry I might be scammed.
I still choose to believe that there is a little bit of good out there.

 

[Cindy B]

Its not a might in some cases, it is a reality. I saw parents trading stuff out of bags and giving cash. I saw side deals in the pick up line that was NOT for toys if you know what I mean (drug dealing)

I saw a mother basically try to sell herself to another person for what was in the bag or the cash equivalent to what was in the bag. She offered a bunch of things for cash.. that was sad and eye opening at the same time.

Of the 500 kids in the school, I helped distribute every bag. I only got a few thank yous and more of "Is that it?" "Where's the receipt" "what no cash", "Can I trade" and stuff like that. I got cursed at more than a few times.

I can't in good conscious give away things unless I personally know the recipient and know that it is't going to get sniffed up, sipped up or shot up. Maybe I'm cynical, but I know the reality of what I saw. That toy drive had the greatest of intentions but in reality it was not all goodness and light and good will to all.

I'm just telling others to be wise and a more modest gift will not be either be traded, sold, stolen or bartered.

 

[pigletto]

Its not a might in some cases, it is a reality. I saw parents trading stuff out of bags and giving cash. I saw side deals in the pick up line that was NOT for toys if you know what I mean (drug dealing)

I saw a mother basically try to sell herself to another person for what was in the bag or the cash equivalent to what was in the bag. She offered a bunch of things for cash.. that was sad and eye opening at the same time.

Of the 500 kids in the school, I helped distribute every bag. I only got a few thank yous and more of "Is that it?" "Where's the receipt" "what no cash", "Can I trade" and stuff like that. I got cursed at more than a few times.

I can't in good conscious give away things unless I personally know the recipient and know that it is't going to get sniffed up, sipped up or shot up. Maybe I'm cynical, but I know the reality of what I saw. That toy drive had the greatest of intentions but in reality it was not all goodness and light and good will to all.

I'm just telling others to be wise and a more modest gift will not be either be traded, sold, stolen or bartered.

I am really sorry for the experiences you had. I would feel exactly as you do had I seen that.
I think I just had a much better experience with giving and I am fortunate for that.

 

[redrosesix]

I have a different perspective on this selling items issue. It used to be my job to coordinate all of the agencies and recipients city-wide for everything from food hampers to gift cards to presents. In fact we had a computerized registry that tracked all of the parents and children who received anything.

Right off the top, about 3 percent of all recipients of this type of aid are doing this to live off the system -- many of them also commit welfare fraud or shoplift. Well over 10 percent of those who should be asking for help never do. And the rest are somewhere in the middle.

But if somebody is going to sell their child's DS for drug money, they will also sell a can of beans, a pair of socks, anything. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Most of the mothers who applied for assistance made sure their children got what they wanted/needed. But what about those who never applied, or waited until the last minute? These were the kids who went without Christmas, so it's hard to say that was better for the kids that there parents had more pride, or didn't want the system to know they were in trouble, etc.

So, to the OP, I applaud your efforts on the clothing -- good thinking to get shirts instead of pants. And I would support a group effort to buy the kid a DS. If the mother sells it, she won't get it, but I think if that's the case the child won't get any of the other items either.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

when I was a senior in high school, my senior class adopted a family with 6 kids. They were a family of 8. They had nothing. They needed everything.

We collected for a whole month. We had worked so VERY hard getting everything just right. Complete outfits, everything for all 8 people. Holidays meals. Gift cards for groceries for later. Presents for the kids and adults.

The 4 class officers and our sponsor were allowed to deliver the presents. I was so excited -- what I had been working on so hard for a month was here and we were anxious. We drove all the cars with all the gifts over to the house and we all loaded up our arms and went to the door. A man was wathing tv, in a white undershirt drinking a beer. He told us "yea -- just leave it there" and pointed. He never got up, never said thank you, never stopped drinking or watching his show.

It was many years ago but something I'll never forget.

I continue to donate but I don't want to meet the people or know much about them. That one day ruined it all for me.

edited to add: please consider buying new socks and underwear for this girl as well. I think it is a thing that is probably not thought of often.

 

[Cindy B]

I have a different perspective on this selling items issue. It used to be my job to coordinate all of the agencies and recipients city-wide for everything from food hampers to gift cards to presents. In fact we had a computerized registry that tracked all of the parents and children who received anything.

Right off the top, about 3 percent of all recipients of this type of aid are doing this to live off the system -- many of them also commit welfare fraud or shoplift. Well over 10 percent of those who should be asking for help never do. And the rest are somewhere in the middle.

But if somebody is going to sell their child's DS for drug money, they will also sell a can of beans, a pair of socks, anything. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Most of the mothers who applied for assistance made sure their children got what they wanted/needed. But what about those who never applied, or waited until the last minute? These were the kids who went without Christmas, so it's hard to say that was better for the kids that there parents had more pride, or didn't want the system to know they were in trouble, etc.

So, to the OP, I applaud your efforts on the clothing -- good thinking to get shirts instead of pants. And I would support a group effort to buy the kid a DS. If the mother sells it, she won't get it, but I think if that's the case the child won't get any of the other items either.

In my former job, the parents wouldn't sell food, but things like electronics, lottery tickets -- (apparently the black market lottery ticket trade is HUGE), bootleg DVDs, Obama items.

The exceptions to this rule were baby formula and some other stuff. Rice and beans were freebies and they wouldn't sell those. Quite frankly the school was 100% free lunch-- kids got free breakfast, free lunch and free dinner if they stayed after school. The parents didn't need to buy food and some didn't so the kids didn't eat on the weekends unless they stole food.