5th Annual Stocking Drive
Hello, my name is Cassidy. I am 15 years old and I have been doing this annual drive for 4 years now, this being the fifth year. This is my absolute favorite time of year, and this is why.
2014 was our first year putting on this fundraiser, and we were able to stuff 55 stockings. The following year we more than tripled our previous amount by making around 180 stockings. Our third year, we stuffed 218 stockings, and the year after that, 188 stockings. This year we really hope to be able to stuff between 300-400 stockings, but we really need your help.
Basically, each year a group of kids and I raise money and collect donations for a few months leading up to Christmas. Then, we use what we have raised to get together and stuff the stockings with some educational things, some fun toys, and some new, everyday necessities. If you would rather donate by means of stocking stuffers rather than money, here is the list of stuffers we put in the stockings each year:
-softcover books
-small stuffed animals/toys (please keep in mind they need to fit into a stocking)
-new SINGLE PACKAGED toothbrushes
-new hair brushes
-hats, socks, mittens, scarves
-softcover activity/coloring books
-crayons
-pencils... and of course we always need stockings!
Once we have finished putting together the stockings, we donate the stockings to Citizens for Citizens "Operation Christmas" where they are given to parents who cannot afford to buy new presents for their children for Christmas morning.
Children are told that if they listen and obey, they will be on the nice list and get presents on Christmas morning, but if they do not, they will not receive anything. A sad reality is that many good, kind children cannot get presents because they cost so much money. Instead of these children wondering how they made it to the naughty list even when they tried their best all year, this fundraiser allows parents to put out presents on Christmas morning for their children.
Please remember that the more donations we receive, the more children will receive stockings on Christmas. It truly is the season of giving, so please help give back to our community this year.
Thank you,
Cassidy Witkus-Gagnon
2014 was our first year putting on this fundraiser, and we were able to stuff 55 stockings. The following year we more than tripled our previous amount by making around 180 stockings. Our third year, we stuffed 218 stockings, and the year after that, 188 stockings. This year we really hope to be able to stuff between 300-400 stockings, but we really need your help.
Basically, each year a group of kids and I raise money and collect donations for a few months leading up to Christmas. Then, we use what we have raised to get together and stuff the stockings with some educational things, some fun toys, and some new, everyday necessities. If you would rather donate by means of stocking stuffers rather than money, here is the list of stuffers we put in the stockings each year:
-softcover books
-small stuffed animals/toys (please keep in mind they need to fit into a stocking)
-new SINGLE PACKAGED toothbrushes
-new hair brushes
-hats, socks, mittens, scarves
-softcover activity/coloring books
-crayons
-pencils... and of course we always need stockings!
Once we have finished putting together the stockings, we donate the stockings to Citizens for Citizens "Operation Christmas" where they are given to parents who cannot afford to buy new presents for their children for Christmas morning.
Children are told that if they listen and obey, they will be on the nice list and get presents on Christmas morning, but if they do not, they will not receive anything. A sad reality is that many good, kind children cannot get presents because they cost so much money. Instead of these children wondering how they made it to the naughty list even when they tried their best all year, this fundraiser allows parents to put out presents on Christmas morning for their children.
Please remember that the more donations we receive, the more children will receive stockings on Christmas. It truly is the season of giving, so please help give back to our community this year.
Thank you,
Cassidy Witkus-Gagnon
Organizer
MJ W
Organizer
Taunton, MA