<p>Well, as much as my son teases me about my CC addiction, he jumped on the chance when I offered to ask my CC friends for some help :)</p>
<p>He is involved in a program at his school where groups of students adopt families in need and purchase food, clothing and some toys for them for Christmas. His family is a set of grandparents and their 5 grandkids ranging in age from 2 to 15. They have been raising these kids for the past year and are understandably very stressed by their situation. Although the program only typically covers clothing needs and toys for the children, my son and his group really wants to get something nice for the grandparents, but are stuck for ideas. He thinks the grandparents are around 60 years old.</p>
<p>How about a gift certificate for a family-type restaurant? That way, the grandparents could use it themselves for a dinner out, perhaps without the kids. Or maybe a Starbucks gift card, and they could then buy coffee, tea, or take everyone for a latte and treat.</p>
<p>That’s very thoughtful of your S and his friends.</p>
<p>Target gift certificate, gift certficate at a movie theater, magazine subscription if the volunteers are aware of any special interests, gift certificate for a “family” portrait, or gift certificate for a maid service to come over all day and thoroughly clean the house (my favorite idea). In the non-gift certificate realm and pricier, robes and/or slippers, a plush towel set for each grandparent, a nice coffee machine/coffee grinder/beans, or crock pot and crock pot cookbook. A hand-held vacuum for easily cleaning up small messes would also be a great addition with so many people in one place.</p>
<p>My personal favorite as well so far :). Are you allowed to volunteer for the family as well? If so, I would say get them a pass to the movies, a romantic dinner, or maybe a local spa place (my grandparents love those (there is a place nearby with hot tubs in every kind of special environment you could want like a rain forest, mountain landscape, etc), but they’re not typical so it might not be for everyone lol) and also give them a certificate or something that’s good for you to babysit the kids whenever they want to use their passes. Just throwing it out there. </p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas. Any others? It’s really hard I know what to get them because the students don’t know much about the grandparents, and when they asked the grandparents numerous times what they might want for themselves, the grandparents said they just want to be sure the kids’ needs are met.</p>
<p>Get them a Wii. It is apparently the most popular thing at nursing homes these days - and the whole family could use it. Granted, that might be out of your son’s price range.</p>
<p>I also thought of perhaps a grocery store gift certificate. When we were doing foster care, a meal out would NOT have been our favorite gift - taking a bunch of kids out to even a family restaurant was often more trouble than it was worth, but buying groceries for that many adds up.</p>
<p>Thanks Binx. What do you think about gift cards for pizza delivery for the family? That was one of the kids’ ideas ~ just a night off from cooking, clean up and all that might also be a nice break.</p>
<p>I wondered about pizza, too. A night off for the parents, and fun food for the kids. (Although they might eat more than their share already - poorer people often eat more junk food, because it’s cheap and filling.)</p>
<p>Another idea would be to buy a big turkey or ham for Christmas dinner. Or even a really nice fruit basket. You mentioned food in your OP, along with toys and clothes - is food expected already? Am I being redundant, suggesting food items? How about a gasoline card - do they even sell those?</p>
<p>It’s too bad you don’t know more about them. We helped with a family a couple years ago - just 3 kids, mom, and grandma. But I knew them, so it was easier to surprise them with things they wanted. And we filled stockings for them with little things - just because it’s fun to have things to open! Candles, stationary, postage stamps, gloves, bath and body products, book light, etc. </p>
<p>Stockings for the grandparents might be fun for your son and his friends to do - stuff to make the grandparents feel good without breaking the bank. If you still went the route of gift cards, you could tuck them into the stockings. </p>
<p>It’s nice of your son to do this. Hope he enjoys it.</p>
<p>Great idea about the stockings, Binx! I think that would be the best ~ to fill them with a variety of some gift cards, gas cards, maybe some gloves for the Grandpa (it’s cold here), some bath and body products for the Grandma, etc. They could probably come up with lots of ideas!</p>
<p>The students bring a tree to the home and decorate it with lights with the kids, they bring boxes filled with lots of food, purchase clothing items the kids really need and then try to fulfill wishes that the kids have for toys, games, etc and have them all wrapped for Christmas morning. It’s really something to see how much the students at the school gather up for the families, and while parents and community members contribute, the students at the school donate the majority of the money and gifts from their own pockets. I also like that the students have the personal contact with the families. Puts things in perspective for the students, many of whom have so much, to see those families who have so little. </p>
<p>The seniors at the school are in charge of this annual project and it really is heartwarming for everyone involved. I was involved in something similar when I was about 9 years old and I will never forget delivering gifts to a child around my age who lived with so much less than I had. Their house was sparsely furnished, but neat as a pin. The little girl just couldn’t quit jumping up and down with excitement. I have never, ever forgotten them.</p>
<p>Again, thanks to all. I will pass it all along and I know he will be grateful for your help :)</p>
<p>This is a touching thread. It is heartwarming that you remember helping a family from all those years ago. Your S and his friends will remember too.</p>
<p>Twenty years ago at my work we purchased all the Christmas gifts for a family in a similar program (though we did not get to deliver the goods). Each family member got to request a specific gift item. The dad asked for a flannel shirt, but the mom asked for an electric popcorn popper. I always remembered that: obviously they didn’t have a microwave and made popcorn on the stove the old-fashioned way. Instead of asking for something for herself, the mom asked for the popcorn popper to provide an easier treat for her family. Just as you always remembered the little girl who was excited to receive her gifts, I have always remembered that mother asking for a popcorn popper as her gift. (More momlove…)</p>
It is apparently the most popular thing at nursing homes these days - and the whole family could use it. Granted, that might be out of your son’s price range.</p>