Give Forth the Bacon! (Gifts for Special Needs Kids))

[Disneyphile]

GusGus and I adopted a few holiday wishes from the "wishing tree" at the Community Center this morning.

The three children we chose are not only from needy families, but they also have special needs, or are siblings of special kids, and they all have requested Disney items, including Disneyland tickets. That last wish choked me up, because I think about how I sometimes take it for granted and can go anytime I want... and here are some kids who just want one day with Mickey.

So, we wanted to ask our friends here at LoT if anyone would like to chip in and help - make it a gift from our community as a whole. :)

We understand if anyone can't help or are already contributing to other resources - it's a really tight economy and it's tough to help. But, if you have the ability and desire, please post or PM me.

As for the Disneyland tickets, we're trying to check with CMs on donating any unwanted comp passes (if they still give them out on occasion), and possibly try to check with Disneyland directly. If you have any connections to help with that, it would be very helpful.

As for presents, the following have been requested by the two sibling girls (ages 3 and 4-1/2):


Disney Princess movies and toys
Leap Frog toys
Disneyland tickets and Disney Dollars


And, the unrelated 2-year-old boy has asked for:

Winnie the Pooh plush toy
Cars' Mater ride-on toy
Sesame Street Giggle Driver


The cards do not list clothing sizes, but I can check with the case manager, if anyone has clothing to give. Besides the wish lists, other items are also welcome. All gifts must be new and unwrapped.

Any donations are due on Sunday, December 14th so that we can box them up or do any last minute shopping for delivery to the center the next day.

Please let me know if you would like to contribute. Even simple dollar toys can make a kid happy.

And, how awesome would it be to know that we sent a special family to Disneyland!

Thanks! :)

[katiesue]

Brilliant idea. I'm in - I've sent you a PM.

I have a lot to be grateful for and I need to spread it around a bit.

[Kevy Baby]

GusGus and I adopted a few holiday wishes from the "wishing tree" at the Community Center this morning.Always interesting to find out what my wife is up to by reading LoT

[Disneyphile]

Always interesting to find out what my wife is up to by reading LoTI'm sure she would have mentioned it when you got home tonight. ;)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I love this idea.

We've already picked up a tag and I'm hoping to pick up a few more. The hard thing about this economy is that fewer people will be able to help and more will need help... so as much as I'd love to lavish on a few, I'm trying to spread out my charity to help more people. I was sad to see so many tags were still left to be picked up.

I would bet that dealing with Disneyland directly might help - or we might know someone with some pull (a nom de plumey type of person.) But if not, we'd be happy to donate a bit towards the tickets.

[~MS~]

I'm IN! Do we know if they have DVD capability? I bought two copies of Sleeping Beauty when target had it for 11.88 I'd be happy to contribute one to the cause! I'll help towards the tickets as well. Do you have paypal or would a check be a better option so we don't lose any thing in fees?

[Disneyphile]

I'm IN! Do we know if they have DVD capability? I bought two copies of Sleeping Beauty when target had it for 11.88 I'd be happy to contribute one to the cause! I'll help towards the tickets as well. Do you have paypal or would a check be a better option so we don't lose any thing in fees?I'll call the case manager tomorrow about DVD access. Most homes have them now, since cheap players can be found for less than $50.

As for tickets/Disney Dollars contribution, check would be fine. I'll PM you my address for that and the movie (just wait until I post after hearing from the case manager, of course). :)

[~MS~]

Got the PM and I'll wait to hear from you. I reserve the right to add to the box before I ship it.

[Disneyphile]

The family does have a DVD player.

And, ticket-wise, there are five members of the family - the special needs child, their two siblings (mentioned above), and mom and dad.

[Snowflake]

Count me in, can I paypal you some $$ toward the tickets or some of the gifts?

[Disneyphile]

Count me in, can I paypal you some $$ toward the tickets or some of the gifts?Surely!

disneyphile at gmail dot com (disneyphile@gmail.com)

[Snowflake]

Done, thanks for doing the legwork to you and GusGus, this is very swanky in these hard times!

[JWBear]

Surely!

disneyphile at gmail dot com (disneyphile@gmail.com)

I just sent you some too.

[Disneyphile]

Thank you!

Ken and I are contributing a couple of the toys this weekend, but, we'll do the main shopping right before deadline so we can pick up what's left. :)

[~MS~]

I have Sleeping Beauty, the straight to dvd Ariel DVD and a small contribution towards the tickets on the way!

[Disneyphile]

I have Sleeping Beauty, the straight to dvd Ariel DVD and a small contribution towards the tickets on the way!
Awesome! Thank you!

As for tickets, GusGus spoke with our main DL contact (I believe the very one LSPE mentioned). Unfortunately, DL won't give any. :(

So, we're on our own. For the whole family, single park, it would cost just under $350. If we can't do it, then we can get all of it in Disney Dollars/Disney gift card for the family to use towards offsetting the total cost. Either way, it looks like we'll really be able to help send the family to the park for the day. :)

I'm going to talk to a few other resources who might have company-purchased tickets or something they'll be willing to fork over. Even just one would help greatly.

[Kevy Baby]

...but, we'll do the main shopping right before deadline so we can pick up what's left. :)When is the deadline?

[BarTopDancer]

DP, you might want to remove the hyperlink from your email address.

disneyphile at gmail dot com or something to prevent bots from getting it.

[Not Afraid]

I did some editing to remove the actual email addy.

[Disneyphile]

When is the deadline?We have to turn it in by 5pm on Monday, the 15th. So, that's why the deadline to help out is the 14th, so we have time to pick everything up and deliver it. :)

Anyone know how much CM discount tickets are?

[Disneyphile]

Just bumping this up to remind everyone.

So far, we're still short of getting all the tickets. Everything else is covered though. Does anyone have any old unexpired comps sitting around that they are willing to donate to the family?

Also, would any LoT CM be willing to pick up the tickets from Company D so we can save on paying full price? Even if you can't personally contribute to the funds, can you spare a bit of time to help out?

[wolfy999]

Through the Team Center tickets are as follows: $69.00 1-Day Park Hopper (Adult 10+) $59.00 (Child). I'm heading to Team Center tomorrow if you want me to pick up tickets for the cause.

[Ghoulish Delight]

holy crap, that's a good deal!

[Disneyphile]

Through the Team Center tickets are as follows: $69.00 1-Day Park Hopper (Adult 10+) $59.00 (Child). I'm heading to Team Center tomorrow if you want me to pick up tickets for the cause.Do they have just the one-park passes?

[wolfy999]

They sure do....as soon as I get home I'll PM you with those prices. The computer I'm on right now is not user friendly (even if it does let me access LoT).

[Disneyphile]

They sure do....as soon as I get home I'll PM you with those prices. The computer I'm on right now is not user friendly (even if it does let me access LoT).Thank you SOOOO much!

I'm really trying to cut corners as much as possible on the tickets, because we're still about $100 short.

[Disneyphile]

Okie. According to Wolfy, here are the one day single park pass prices:

$62.00 Adult
$53.00 Child

That takes the total down to $283. Currently, counting expected incoming donations, we have $220. I think we can totally do this! :snap:

Wolfy - more funds are expected by week's end, so if you have some time this weekend, or Monday morning, that would be perfect. :)

[wolfy999]

I'm free all weekend and Monday AM also...so whatever works for you.

[Disneyphile]

Cool thanks!

I imagine that tax-deductible receipts will be offered at drop-off. If so, I'd like to propose that we give that to Euro/NA to support the operating costs of LoT since this is a community effort. What do you all think?

[wolfy999]

Thumbs up!

[~MS~]

I'm in!

[alphabassettgrrl]

Great!

[BDBopper]

Visible mojo to DP and GusGus for doing this and for everyone for helping the effort!

[Disneyphile]

I am happy to report that we are now only $23 short of the tickets. :D Thank you SO much to everyone who's contributed, not only monetarily, but with efforts and info.

Wolfy - I'll call you tomorrow to figure out a time for Monday morning to go purchase them. Thanks for helping with that!

[wolfy999]

May have to wait until Tuesday evening, hope that works.

[Disneyphile]

May have to wait until Tuesday evening, hope that works.Nope, since we have to turn everything in on Monday, the 15th.

No problem though. We'll get it handled. Thanks anyway.

[tracilicious]

What a wonderful thing you guys are doing for that family. This will be a spectacular Christmas for them.

[Disneyphile]

Thanks to some last minute donations, we have collected $340 in cash, plus all of the desired toys on the kids' wish lists. :) My trunk is SO full! (Especially from that huge Tow Mater ride-on toy.)

Tomorrow morning, I'll be meeting with a friend (a hopefully soon-to-be LoT'er) to purchase the tickets at DL's team center at the reduced rate. The remaining cash will be converted to Disney Dollars for the kids to enjoy during their special day in the park. And then, GusGus and I will be dropping it all off at the community center so it can be delivered to the families. :)

Thanks SO much to everyone who's helped out! Just imagine the smiles on those kids' faces when they enter the gates and see Mickey, all thanks to us! :)

[Not Afraid]

You guys are AWSOME!

[alphabassettgrrl]

You're awesome!!!

[~MS~]

That is soooo awesome Teresa! You and GusGus are angels in disguise for sure.

[katiesue]

Thank you guys for doing all the work!

[Disneyphile]

I have a photo of the whole stash - will hopefully get time to upload it this evening. :)