So... Toys for Tots?

[Optimus Prime]

I'm not bringing this up to inflate any egos, including my own, so behave.

Basically, at least locally TfT has been having a mediocre time with donations at best... in both funds and actual toys they've not been getting a favorable response.

When I was little, TfT didn't do much at that time, but there was a fireman's charity thing which bought presents for all the really poor families. Regardless to say, mine fell into that catagory. At least we had moved out of the car at that point and been able to afford a hotel-room-turned-apartment, but still we were DAMNED poor.

That charity made that winter a little more bearable. I STILL haven't forgotten what the firemen personally delivered... a medium sized (granted it seemed huge to me =D) white tiger plush with a cub and one of those Doodle Bears. Granted I was a type to favor dinosaurs more, but even I found it awesome.

So yeah, TfT isn't doing great in some areas. Granted it's early in the season, but with the amount of sorting and organizing involved it's not too early.

I'm going through some of my excess collectable stuffed animals I horded a few years back and am picking out the best of the best that I can part with, a couple TF's and that sort of thing.

The commercial aspect of the associated holiday is BLATANTLY obvious to most of us, but isn't quite so much to the little childrens. It can still have some fragment of magic to it.

So, anyone else have any plans?

[Robert]

I actually am pretty minimal in things I own... basically only have what I need, especially since I'm on "poor college boy" budget. No real "toys" or anything. But your life actually sounds like a pretty facinating story, and I would be glad to help them out later when I (hopefully) am living comfortably.

[王泥喜]

Umm..... I'm gonna hate to ask this, but will the Toys for Tots accept Starting Line-ups my grandpa was stupid enough to collect over the years (And by collect, I mean the same sense a nerd collects Action Figures - not even taking them out of the box.)

[Optimus Prime]

kiddocabbusses said:

Starting Line-ups

What are they ;? Let's put it this way, they were desperate enough to accept a donation of talking Jesuses/Jesi who quote random bible phrases, including one that inferred the unbelievers would go to hell. Best indications say yes.

Meh, I've blocked out most of my childhood-era memory. 'Interesting' is one word for it. But hell, it could've been a LOT worse, and things're more stable now.

Y'can only do these sort of things if you can still afford to live doing them. Thus, starving college students are exempt from any sort of guilt =P dun' worry about it. These things I have are just taking up space anyhow. I have this loathing of the Salvation Army though. It's better that what I'm donating actually doesn't cost the recipient anything and might make some kid happy.

I'm not a total bitch, and while some kids drive me up the wall with their irritating behavior (such annoying spawn are called 'diffrens' by me, and I threaten to shoot them), there ARE good kids. Plus some are just hellions because their parents suck.

[Jolly Joes]

Hmm, an interesting side of your past. Nice to see you were so happy with your new toys.

bluetail said:

Basically, at least locally TfT has been having a mediocre time with donations at best... in both funds and actual toys they've not been getting a favorable response.

Has the been going on for a few years or just this year? Either way, it's quite depressing.

I'm going through some of my excess collectable stuffed animals I horded a few years back and am picking out the best of the best that I can part with, a couple TF's and that sort of thing.

I thought TfT only accepted new toys.

68hc11 said:

I actually am pretty minimal in things I own... basically only have what I need, especially since I'm on "poor college boy" budget. No real "toys" or anything. But your life actually sounds like a pretty facinating story, and I would be glad to help them out later when I (hopefully) am living comfortably.

Even if the toy is really a kiddie sketch pad/coloring book bundled with a pack of crayons, kid-friendly scissors, glue glitter, construction paper would be great. Kids really did stuff like that.

[Optimus Prime]

Well, in the case of stuffed animals, though, I think 'new' is a relative concept. They've been used as display solely and have no evidence of wear whatsoever. As for figures and stuff, yes, unopened is the rule. Basically, anything that looks new and is in nice shape, at least to myse understanding, but then again I've not gotten to participate in this sort of things previously.

I don't have the money to pick up a boatload of literally new action figures, but I do have a few unopened recent things I'm tossing in too. But hey, how the heck would one even package an elephant about a cubic foot in mass =P? He ain't never been boxed. I personally like him, but I have no space -_-; if you can't see where the hell it is, there's no point in keeping it.

Crayons rock =D.

[Robert]

jollyjoes said:

Even if the toy is really a kiddie sketch pad/coloring book bundled with a pack of crayons, kid-friendly scissors, glue glitter, construction paper would be great. Kids really did stuff like that.

I gotcha. But I really don't have much on me. My possessions are basically a bed to sleep in, a computer to do my assignments on, a printer to print them, a TV to watch, a dresser to put clothes in... and to put the TV on, and my 20 year old car to get me places. Occasionally I have food to eat, but right now I don't even have that. ;D So I really live bare minimum, no frills, no fun.

[Ultra Magnus]

well, I recently went out to buy myself a second Classic's Bumblebee for modding purposes, but after seeing the next to empty bin, I felt the need to drop the guy in, you know? Let someone else who would most likely not be able to get it get the little guy

[ila]

Okay I'm not sure if TfT uses the same billboards all over the place... but one of em is really scaring me, its like this closeup of a little girl's face except her eyes are fucking huge, like some sort of sick worth1000 contest where all the contestants take pictures of their kids and enlarge the eyes on them because it looks "cute" or something... or maybe its a picture of a doll, but meh. I'll try to take a picture sometime but its along the highway and last I checked its pretty hard to take a picture while driving.

[Optimus Prime]

ila said:

I'll try to take a picture sometime but its along the highway and last I checked its pretty hard to take a picture while driving.

Don't kill yourself .

I actually haven't seen any billboards at all. I do know that last week we got $27 donated if I overheard correctly. It is a certainty that the bins are usually quite empty though. Narry a thing goes in =\ but today... mwaaa haaa haaaaaa~!

[Robert]

ila said:

I'll try to take a picture sometime but its along the highway and last I checked its pretty hard to take a picture while driving.

Actually, when I take pictures of on-the-road stuff, I just take out my camera, point it in the general direction, and attempt a few shots. If one makes it, then yay. Safer than actually looking at viewfinders / screens.

Of course, if your highway has a shoulder, you could always pull over and fake a momentary emergency. Also, figure out if certain times of the day reduce congestion on said highway, e.g. early morning, mid-day, Sundays, etc., that might enable you to drive a little slower if but for a moment.