Need Ideas *UPDATE*

[Biscuitsmom31]

DD 10 has a friend whose family could use a helping hand. The mom is single with 4 little girls and works as a nurse's aid at a nursing home. They don't have a car or phone.

DH and I have decided to anonymously play Santa Claus for them. Here's where I need help. I don't know what sizes the girls wear, or what they want for Christmas. They definitely need clothes, the ones they have are pitiful. How can I covertly find out what else this family wants/needs? They don't have a phone, so I can't call.

Any suggestions?

 

[luvpooh]

that is so sweet of you
maybe a 'big' gift of a Walmart/Target gift card for the family then a small gift for each of them? Coloring books/crayons, DVD's(?), small toys, dolls?

 

[browneyes106]

Have you seen the kids a lot to sort of determine sizes for clothing?

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Have you seen the kids a lot to sort of determine sizes for clothing?

Not really. I do know they are in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade. That's about it.

 

[java]

These are the AVERAGE size for kids that age (my experience anyway)

1st grade is size 6x/7(small)
3rd 8/10(medium)
5th grade my dd was skinny and would still fit in the 10's (slim)(large)
7th I would guess 13/14 or an adult small?(xl)

Perhaps go someplace that does gift receipts so they can easily exchange if needed

And I would suggest basics. So they could get a lot of use out of them. You are very very nice to be doing this.

 

[browneyes106]

I think maybe gift cards could work well or maybe go over talk to the mom about what the family needs.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

DD talked to her friend last night. We weren't getting anywhere with the covert tactics so DD finally asked them outright what they needed and wanted for Christmas.

It's so sad. This little girl told my daughter she's been going without socks and underwear and stuffing her feet into too small boots with cracks in them - and it's freezing here! My heart just breaks for these little girls.

However, when DH and I emailed our co-workers to see if any of them wanted to help this family, the response has been overwhelming. It brings tears to my eyes to type about it. We are going to really come through for this family!!

 

[cheermom1]

DD talked to her friend last night. We weren't getting anywhere with the covert tactics so DD finally asked them outright what they needed and wanted for Christmas.

It's so sad. This little girl told my daughter she's been going without socks and underwear and stuffing her feet into too small boots with cracks in them - and it's freezing here! My heart just breaks for these little girls.

However, when DH and I emailed our co-workers to see if any of them wanted to help this family, the response has been overwhelming. It brings tears to my eyes to type about it. We are going to really come through for this family!!

so sweet they will love everything it feels good to help

 

[browneyes106]

DD talked to her friend last night. We weren't getting anywhere with the covert tactics so DD finally asked them outright what they needed and wanted for Christmas.

It's so sad. This little girl told my daughter she's been going without socks and underwear and stuffing her feet into too small boots with cracks in them - and it's freezing here! My heart just breaks for these little girls.

However, when DH and I emailed our co-workers to see if any of them wanted to help this family, the response has been overwhelming. It brings tears to my eyes to type about it. We are going to really come through for this family!!

That's good that your coworkers are wanting to help maybe your DD can get the sizes the kids need.
Th

 

[Trish Bessette]

How wonderful of you!! Doesn't it make you feel good inside?

I just delivered my adopt a family gifts yesterday. I had 2 boys to shop for. Plus I got a pretty tote bag and filled it with fun stuff for the Mom (shampoo, bath and body work stuff, nail polish, etc).

Each boy got 5 new outfits plus toys. I'll be thinking of them on Christmas morning!

 

[HelenePA]

why not buy the parents a prepaid cell with some time on it? virgin is the best prepaid carrier we've found.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

why not buy the parents a prepaid cell with some time on it? virgin is the best prepaid carrier we've found.

Great idea.

 

[luv2nascar]

God bless you for thinking of them during this holiday season.

 

[2BigKIdz]

Would you be able to contact the school the children attend and see if the teacher's would be able to give you a size for the clothes? Or if you know the nursing home where the mom works, maybe a co-worker could tell you?

This reminds me of a little boy in my SIL's classroom. He is in 3rd grade but very small, and is wearing his big brother's clothes, his brother is in 7th or 8th grade. He can't keep his pants up. His teacher's bought him some clothes that they keep at the school and let him wear them while he is there so he has clean clothes and is not constantly having to hold up his pants. The poor little thing is always filthy, they are trying to work out a way he can take a bath at school. The mother has 0 interest in her kids, she has several. She couldn't even be bothered to fill out his free lunch forms. The teacher went to the house and had her fill them out on the last day or the little guy wouldn't have had lunch all year. My SIL wants to adopt him.

 

[HelenePA]

OP I wanted to let you know they have very cute sneakers on sale at walmart for 10$ in fact they had a whole lot of clothes on sale very cheap (at least by me)

 

[RNMOM]

This is a wonderful thing you are doing. If you consider gift certificates or cards...she would need some way to get to the stores. Could you /would you maybe arrange a shopping trip for them? Perhaps give gifts for them on Christmas day that are not the "big" gift then arrange the transportation to the store for shopping? Just an idea.

If I know girls, I have boys btw, most love some type of purse or bag. Maybe even bags for school with new supplies and things. Hair accessories are big too as well as bath/beauty supplies. Bath/shower gels, shampoos and brushes and curling irons. There are a lot of things many of us take for granted that these girls would appreciate. Perhaps making up a basket for each with these kind of items as well as one for the mom. Socks are pretty generic in size so those might be tossed in too.

If you are able to get donations for Walmart or somewhere similar to do a clothes shopping trip and have extra for blankets or quilts those might be useful. Chances are they are hungry and cold if money is very tight. Has mom been able to get onto any assistance for heating? How about insurance for the children? In our state there is a program called Healthy Start these kids probably could get on and would cover dental as well.

If possible, do these kids need transportation to doctor's or dentists appointments? Maybe this could be another form of assistance that keeps on giving.

 

[Keira1387]

Your are doing a wonderful thing for these kids! Please keep us posted!