Today is Toy Day!

[sheila]

Today is the day we will be buying the toys with the money we raised with our Chairty Challenge.

Clark Howard will be broadcasting live from the WalMart where we are shopping, so if you listen in (http://clarkhoward.com/clarkhoward/radio_list.html), maybe you will be able to hear us thanking you. :biggrin:

(even if there isnt' a local station, some of them have web broadcasts (WSB in Atlanta (http://wsbradio.com/) does)

[Alyssa]

Have fun!! My old office did something similar and it's neat to be able to go and pick out toys for other kids. :nod: (We got to spend $12K on them, they opened TRU early for us! :eek: My 'shopping buddy' was the owner of our company, who decided at least 5 kids needed to have motorized jeeps! Lucky kids!!)

[Jayne]

Sounds like so much fun. Our church did this last weekend and they raised 3000$ buy filling mini M & M containers with quarters. They let the Jr. and Sr. High's go buy the toys for the kids and then they wrapped the gifts and are sending them out! It was a great thing for them to do as this will be for you!

Jayne

[redhairedgirl]

It says it will be happening from 4-6PM??? Is that right???

[sheila]

Yes. We are planning to be there at 5.

(Wendy has a deposition she can't get out of, and Stagg has some stuff to finish up too.... and then there is the lovely Atlanta trafic...)

[Shanna]

Do they know that y'all are coming or is it a surprise to the Clark Howard folks? I can't wait to listen :yippee:

[Theresa]

I'll be listening! I hope I hear it! :yippee:

[AmyLynn]

What fun it would be to go nuts in the toy department!!! And for a good cause too! I will try to listen but don't know if our crappy dialup will let me.

[Alysia]

Very cool! Have fun!

[Lette]

Have fun. :party:

I'll be stuck in traffic right about 5 PM! :crazy:

[~Deborah~]

:woo: Can I listen online?

[~Lisa~]

I am listening right now! :yippee:

[Jayne]

I am listening but it is just commercials..is that right?

Jayne

[LISA]

I am listening right now! :yippee:
So am I but I only caught half an hour of the telecast before they signed off :)

[~Deborah~]

I guess I missed it...so much for finding the online link to listen:sad:.

[sheila]

We went.... didn't get on the air (I don't think he let anyone on the air with him) but it was great. We talked with a few of the workers who were amazed at how much stuff we brought in, and they were so thankful that we had chosen to contribute to "their" charity.

They had LONG tables covered with kids' wish lists. I think each child had 3 things on their list. The only requirement was that any bicycle bought have a hemet bought with it. So many of the popular items were gone already, but we had a blast. I think we were able to buy gifts (at least one or two) for about40 kids. :jump:

I have some pictures....

[Wendy]

It was wonderful!! Really a lot of fun and it certainly makes you appreciate what you have. Next time remind me to wear comfortable shoes though.....my freaking feet are still hurting! :lol: The only other regret that I have is that I couldnt get Abby to be there. There was just no way that I could go get her and get back across town in time....I would have loved to have "taught" her what it was about.

Thank you to EVERYBODY that donated whether by just giving money or buying something in the auction....and of course to those of you who donated your items. It is so great to see our community come together for such a good cause. Hopefully next year we can raise even more!

[~Lisa~]

I cant wait to see pictures . . . .

[Shanna]

I listened to teh whole two hours - it sounded like it was so worthwhile - I could not BELIEVE how many kids they helped! :jawdrop: I'm so glad that you put this together for us!!

[SarahK]

Yay! I'm so glad it went well. I'm looking forward to the pictures.

[sheila]

I'm having some trouble with my card reader. Hopefully I can get it sorted out soon. Sorry for the picture delay!

[Lette]

tap ... tap ... tap :)

Can't wait to see 'em

[redhairedgirl]

tap ... tap ... tap :)

Can't wait to see 'emMe too! I listened to the whole telecast - oh, and the only people they talked to were from Choice Homes who donated a tractor trailor full of toys and then an extra $5K!
Oh, and some engineers that were evidently wearing shorts??? They were trying to get Clark to ride a child size bike.

[Kate]

[sheila]

Got the card reader working again!


I didn't mess with any of these, but I wanted to get them up before we left.

This is a link to the pictures on my site (http://www.staggandsheila.com/index.php?set_albumName=charity-shopping&id=picture_001&option=com_gallery&Itemid=41&include=view_photo.php)... sorry, but its almost midnight, and I am not done packing for tomorrow morning.


If I remember correctly, some of the highlights of what we got includes:
2 bikes, 11 helmets, 3 DVD players, 1 GameBoy & game, 8 portable CD players, a boom box, an easy bake oven, a remote control car, several learning toys, a few games, a few dolls and a whole bunch more. We had 3 shopping carts overflowing, and then we went back and filled up 2 more!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who participated!!

[Shanna]

:woo: What great pics! It looks like you guys did a GREAT job picking up stuff - I'm so glad that we did this :)