Monday, July 26, 2010

Christmas in July

As of July 25th, there are only 5 months until Christmas! Unless you are super organized, you probably have yet to begin thinking of the holidays, especially during all of these 90+ degrees summer days. While we realize that Christmas is months away, we've already begun thinking about it.

As many of you may be familiar, each year we do a Christmas collection for the children at the Maetang Tribal Children's Home in Thailand. Four years ago we sent them the first of many packages filled with Christmas gifts. At that time we made the commitment, that, if we started this, we had to do it every year. Christmas presents could not stop coming. They are worthy of a Christmas filled with joy, and they need to know that every year.

Over the past several years we have done this project in a variety of ways. The first three years we sent many large boxes packed with toys to Thailand. When I say "large" I mean "large" as in I could have mailed myself to Thailand comfortably. They were packed with clothes and personal care items. Toothbrushes and crayons. School supplies and fire trucks. Light up robots and baby dolls. They were filled with joy. Federal Express took those boxes to Thailand for us for free. The first two years, those 11 boxes stuffed with toys somehow made it past the watchful eye of the Thai government and were not hit with taxes coming into the country. The third year we were not so lucky, but Be the Change paid the taxes and the boxes were released. Last year, we tried to make this easier on all sides of the world and we did a monetary collection and sent the money to Thailand. Shopping was then done in country.

This year, we are going back to the way we did it the first three years and we are again asking for small gifts for the children in Thailand.

Let's be honest, it's WAY more fun to shop for those sweet little children than it is to just send them money. However, if you would like to participate in this endeavor, and sending a monetary donation is easier for you, please feel free to do so, and we will use this funding to offset the cost of shipping and taxes.

We are asking that this year items stay small. We want to send fewer boxes if possible, but filled with more, smaller items. The children's home where these items are going cares for children from pre-school through grade 12. Some suggested items are: school supplies, small matchbox cars, crayons, toothbrushes, small toys, and clothing (any size is helpful) flip flops (any size),tooth brushes, toothpaste, personal care items such as deodorant, soap, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner (2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner is great because it is in one bottle and cuts down on weight). The little girls love hair clips, combs and brushes, headbands and anything they can use to dress themselves up. Nail polish is not a suggested item, as it does not travel well in a glass bottle.

If you would like to participate in our efforts to bring the love and spirit of Christmas to the children in Thailand, please feel free to contact us at info@bethechangefoundation.org and we can arrange a pick up/drop off with you.

Even though it is only July, we thank you, the children in Thailand thank you, for thinking of them and sharing the joy of the holiday season with them.

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