Let's talk about Extra Toy day! Extra Toy day is Sat Dec 21 10am-4pm at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Community building AKA Elf Dispatch HQ. This is for parents whose children have NOT been signed up with any agency or received help for Christmas. It's the last Hail Mary for help with children's gifts! We WILL cross check to make sure the kids are not one other lists.
You will need your photo ID or a Passport and ID for EACH child. ID for kids includes Birth Certificates, Their Hoosier Healthwise cards, School records, Birth record, or doctor's record. Social Security cards or children's picture DO NOT COUNT!!
IT WILL BE VERY COLD!! While we will attempt to let as many people into the building as we can, the truth is, there is only so much room, and there will be a line. Dress of freezing weather!!
Santa and Mrs Claus will be with us!! Kids can visit with Santa and you can take pics. Even if you are not there to get help, you are welcome to see Santa. He will be passing out the first Bell of Christmas ( while supplies last ) We will have a cookie bar, ( also while supplies last ).
We are accepting donations of toys, teen items, cookies, drinks, and snacks all day! If you want to drop off money to help cover the money we have spent, that's cool too!
You will go in Gate 3.
Feel free to share this information!
ALSO FOOD PANTRY WILL BE OPEN AS PER NORM SAT 1-3
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
What if you signed up for say salvation army and only got the clothe a child thing they do. Would those people not be able to come for extra toy day?
What happens if your child had a Santa but parent hasn’t got the call for pick up yet?
Wish I could help this year but doing Angel Tree deliveries for over 100 kids in Monroe county. You are all truly angels 🎅🎄😇
We have about 5 artificial Christmas trees that have been donated to us at ELF HQ at the fairgrounds We also have some ornaments as well. Please come and get them if you need one! We are in the Community Building now until 6pm tonight! and 11-4 Sat.
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you everyone who has been answering for me all of the questions on FB. We just have not had time to even look at Facebook today. The few of us that were at ELF HQ couldn't even sit down, SO BUSY! But, that is good. Hundreds of parents picked up today! We have been calling non stop and leaving messages, we emailed 2 people. Thus far we have 18 Santas who have not dropped at the fairgrounds, I know a couple of those asked to drop on Friday due to shipping issues. The rest I will be calling in the morning/early afternoon. Emergency Santas be on the ready!! ( I hope I will not need to contact you, but you never know ).
Now, PARENTS, this ELF has been at this almost 9 years now. I have back ups upon backups built in. STOP STRESSING! It WILL happen! Let me work my magic!
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
Is the pantry open tomorrow Sat. 12/21?
Do you have to sign up to when you do the emergency gift.
I can be an emergency Santa if needed. I'll be at the fairgrounds tomorrow.
A few reminders today.
SANTAS Please CALL or text your parents if you not, just to let them know you have it under control and they will get their gifts.
Also, for those Santas dropping at the Fairgrounds ( ELF HQ) unless you have contacted me and arranged a different day, TODAY is final drop off! Please get you gifts to us TODAY ( unless we have talked about late shipping problems )!! There may be a little wait, as so many have not dropped yet, please be patient, we are here 11-9
PARENTS Be PATIENT, they are coming, we are calling as fast as they hit the door. Yes, we leave messages, Yes if we can't we email and or text!
RUDENESS will NOT be tolerated! This year has been rough on us all, and we know you are stressed. If you are rude to us or the Santa, you will not be allowed to sign up next year. I can't even believe I need to write this, but It's been a special kind of year.
So what do we still need?? Toys and teen items for extra toy day ( there will be a few hundred kids needing toys on Sat )
Cookies ( homemade, store bought any ) and snacks for the cookies bar!
Volunteers!! To come help! It's basically been 2-4 of us, with occassional person stopping in.
I have a small list of emergency Santas to cover last minute "issues", if you want to join that list, please let me know. While we hope we won't need you....you never know.
Patience, Love, Prayers.....it's going to be a couple of hard long days.
Money to get whatever we end up needing or covering any last minute problems that we can't find another way to solve. IF there is money left over, it will go to help pay for food for the pantry.
Financial donations can be made via, www.pantry279.org
PayPal Pantry279@yahoo.com
Venmo @pantry279
Or just brought to us at the fairgrounds! 11-9 today and 11-6 Friday.
I know this was long, lots to be said, any parent comments about did I miss a call, or whats up with my match, will NOT be answered, we have no time, it is being handled. Also, please do not ask people to santa for your children on thi8s page, they are already doing so much for these children we help and you can come to extra toy day on Sat. 10-4
As usual, please SHARE! Thank you!!!
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
I tried calling and texted/emailed but can I possibly be added to the list of Santa’s to drop off tomorrow? One of the kids’ gifts hasn’t arrived yet and won’t until around later tonight, according to Amazon! If so, do I drop off at the fairgrounds tomorrow or the pantry location?
Sabastain Hignite can we make cookies for this?
I have commented, messaged via messenger and emailed but haven’t heard back from anyone Pantry 279. I’m a Santa and I need to drop my gifts off tomorrow (and one has been delayed because of all these shipping delays). I just want to make sure someone knows and confirms receipt of my message so the word can be passed on to the family. I don’t want them to worry
After spending just shy of $2800 at 5 below and completely filling the van, we went to eat, as none of us had had food since 9am. After that the exhaustion hit hard, and honestly so did the need for a shower, lol. We have a tony bit more cash to spend, but will hold off until Friday for 3 reasons: 1. We are waiting to see what other toys and teen gifts get donated Thurs and Friday at the fairgrounds, 2. We are hoping a little bit money cash comes in for shopping to make the trip worth while, and 3. We are DEAD, seriously, I miss being 21.
I would like to thank Smithville Communications, Warrant Technologies, and all of you whom have donated cash for these huge toy shopping trips, I really does make a huge difference to the children who didn't make any list. And before people start saying the parents should have been paying more attention, many of our parents work, and by the time they got off work, our list had closed. Also, many parents think/hope they can work it out and NOT have to sign up for helping, but then Christmas comes super quick and so do unexpected expenses and they need to ask for help. They are parents like you and me, that just don't want disappointed kids Christmas morning. YOU all provide the magic, I just sprinkle it. Thank you again, and back at it tomorrow. One tired ELF Out!!
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
Honestly, what you all do is amazing.
Please remember that Friday all toys are buy one. Get one free at Big lots
What are the times we can donate?
Photos from Pantry 279's post
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
Do insurance cards work
What time again for pick up I got the call tonight that was ready ???
This is love is action. Working hard to bring a bit of joy to children and their parents. We all need extra help right now. So anyone doing this is making sacrifices. I believe these acts done for the "least of these" are done for HIM. THE REAL REASON OF THE SEASON.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
You guys and all the elves donated are amazing
Thank you for everything you do for our kids. 🎄
31 CommentsComment on Facebook
It looks like we elves will be shopping for extra toys Wed night ( 12/18 ) At this time, we don't have a bunch of money to spend, as a lot of whats been donated has had to go out to amazon gifts to families who signed up. We have some, but not a ton. We WILL of course Facebook live the whole thing! We plan on heading out to shop around 7 or 7:30p,. just depends on we can get out of the fairgrounds and pantry and get everyone in 1 place. If you would like to help sponsor this and raise our total of money we have to spend on these teen items and toys, Please donate on www.pantry279.org Paypal Pantry279@yahoo.com or Venmo @pantry279. OR just bring donations by the pantry OR the fairgrounds tomorrow!
Tune in Wed night to watch the shopping trip!
Please share as always, we love to include everyone in the fun!
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
If we get a call to pickup, is it fine to come the next day? I got a call right before work 😅😬
I will bring some out to the Fairgrounds probably tomorrow Thursday. What hours are you there, on Thursday and Friday?
When is toy pick up for families who have been selected?
We partner with The Salvation Army Bloomington, Indiana from time to time. It is my full belief that if agencies work together more people can be helped more efficiently. That being said, they reached out and are in real need of volunteers tomorrow, Wed 12/18 for their Angel Tree distribution. They need help from after 1pm until 6pm, in 2 hour shifts. If you can help out, please contact them either by phone or thru their website
centralusa.salvationarmy.org
The Bloomington Salvation Army serves Monroe County by providing community-based programming and social services plus worship opportunities.2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Can you use your Social Security card numbers for the kids?
That's funny, we have volunteered there several years, and until last year when the new person took over. We informed them to contact us each year as we would help again! We have heard nothing..we actually thought we had missed it! 🙁 hopefully they get shifts covered..