Pay it forward
December 22, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Christmas, Walmart, giveaway, my musings, pay it forward, the holidays
I just received the following email from Jessica, the winner of the $50 Walmart giveaway I hosted last month…
After winning a $50 Walmart gift card on your site I felt the need to “pay it forward” so that’s exactly what I did. I decided to help out a needy family in our area by doing the 12 days of Christmas for them (it’s still a work in progress, obviously!) I blogged about it here and here and got my readers to donate their time, money, and items to the family. It’s been a great success and I wanted to let you know that I appreciate winning on your site and this family really does too. So please take a look at the great service that you’ve unknowingly had a hand in. And feel free to check back again for updates!
Times are tough and will continue to be so long after Christmas, but I think most of us forget that we are not the only ones effected by this horrible economy… You will always find someone worse off than you. I applaud Jessica for treating a family less fortunate than her own to a very merry Christmas!
As you are finishing up last minute preparations for the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, please remember those in real need… Those who have no roof over their head, no warm fire to toast their toes, and no hot food to fill their bellies. There are many families this year who will go without a tree decorated with bright lights, or presents filling their living room.
Have you been blessed this year? I encourage you to pay it forward.
To help one of you accomplish this mission, I would like to offer another $100 gift card, courtesy of Walmart. This time the winner must pay it forward. Find a family in your community who may need this more than you, or enter for a fellow blogger or friend who may be going through a more difficult time than you.
Giveaway Rules:
- Visit the Walmart Holiday Gift Guide and choose three items you would purchase for a family in need. List them in the comments, along with who you may be blessing with this gift after the new year.
- You may enter every day through December 31st, but you must leave a different scenario for each entry.
- Please include your name and email address in every entry. Your entry will not be accepted if you do not leave me an email address.
- The winner will be randomly selected of the eligible entries and notified on January 1st.
P.S. You can enter to win a $100 Walmart gift card for yourself by entering Katja’s giveaway, but HURRY! You must enter by midnight on Christmas Eve.
Christine, aka YoungMommy, is married to her best friend, Ray, and together they have six very active children - five boys and one pretty princess. She's a busy mama, spending most of her days homeschooling her crew.
I'm not really sure I understand this but here goes… I would give the flannel sleep pants, ladies fuzzy (crazy?) socks and a cheese bread assortment to a needy family here in Flagstaff.
I am needy, myself but at least I have some food stores & a roof over my head (for now). I'm down to my last $24 and have been unable to find work…the job I came here for fell through and no one is hiring locally.
My name is Tammy and I am an independent artist.
My email is missiontomorocco@gmail.com
I would certainly pay this forward to my sister. She is pregnant and due in February. Her husband is out of work and her job is not paying well enough to support them. She may be losing her house is something doesn’t change soon. She needs this money more than I do to buy food for herself and baby stuff.
I would choose the children’s pj’s for her new baby, the 8GB memory card so she can take lots of pictures, and the women’s pj’s because I’m sure she could use some comfy clothes that fit.
andproulx@charter.net
I’d buy pajamas for the youngest, a pretty sweater for the momma and an outfit for the teenager. There’s a family in my community where the momma got in trouble with the law and lost her job. Her kids are suffering for it and her too.
pskidw1@hotmail.com
Okay, this takes a lot of thought. I would buy my friends mom, she has scholios (sp wrong) and can no longer work and bills are piling up. On the walmart holiday gift guide I would most likely give her some printer ink, so she can print coupons to save on groceries. Some PJ’s for her, and some perfume.
shannonsnow@cox.net
The family in need I would use this for is my brother actually. He is really struggling right now. This year he was divorced (finally from a wife who left him a few years ago), he was off work due to surgery on his ankle that he hurt and work, now his work keep laying him off a few days a week. He hasn’t left because jobs are hard to find and he at least has some benefits even though the pay isn’t great even when he gets to work. He needs practical items rather than gifty type things, but I would some Men’s Flannel Shirts, and Men’s Thermal Henley Shirts for him. The third item would be the Dog toy stocking because his dog is a huge part of his life and she is very important to him.
Thanks for the giveaway – this would be a very nice thing to be able to do for my big brother. My email is in my profile.
I would pay it forward to my sister who is pregnant with her first child. The father is not being supportive and she has health conditions she also has to pay for. I would use the money to buy her a watch (for when it came time to time her contractions), a robe (to use while she’s pregnant, at the hospital, and at home), and the Sex and the City DVD (she loved the tv show). I would then give the gift card with the remaining balance for her to buy whatever she needed for the baby to be.
themommyfiles@gmail.com
What a Wonderful idea for a givewaway, this is the season to think of others before ourselves, which we always do each and every time we have the opportunity we are helping people out .
But we do have a family who has had the worst luck this holiday, one thing after another has went wrong financially. They have 2 children, ages 3 and 10 months old.
They are in need of pajamas for the little ones, food (Wal-Mart Supercenter area in most stores here), and coats for the kids. So mostly for the children but they are the true meaning of Christmas.
We have been helping them out with what we can, but we can only do soo much with 3 children of our own!
p.s. If we were to win I’d make a video and take pictures of the whole event to prove we did pay-it-forward!
kristinia at lovingheartmommy dot com
I have been involved with Christ Child Society as a volunteer for a couple of years. I would buy as many mittens as I could for the children. Love that you are inspiring others to pay it forward.
Happy holidays to you and yours.
I would pay it forward to my father. He has been working and due to the economy my father’s boss has not paid him for a couple months. My parents could really use this for groceries.
=) melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com
What a sweeet thing of her to do!
God bless her and her family!
We have a family at church whose house just burned down and they lost everything. They need clothing which was in the holiday guide, but they also need basic things like towels, sheets, dishes, pots and pans. I would definitely use this gift card to help them!
Jill
davidandjilljacobs@hotmail.com
I think that you are the sweet one, Christine! You give stuff away all the time, you’re really great.
And thank you so much for this sweet post, it’s really kind of you.
I made a new post about this giveaway!
Thank you so much! And Merry Christmas!
Really everything in the gift guide is amazing and would be so wanted but I know of a family that could use the $100 gift card to buy food for their family. I would give the gift card to them because it would alow them to provide for their family.
I have paid it forward this year already. Someone donated some money to me because I am a young disabled Single Mom. I took some of the money and bought Christmas gifts for a friend of mine’s Children because she was having financial problems and did not know how she was going to afford gifts from Santa. As much as I needed that money it was so wonderful to play Santa and give to another mother in need. We have to stick together, help oneanother and pay it forward!
Great post and great giveaway! Thank you and Happy Holidays!
thats a great idea! if i won i would do the same! i would get warm fleece sleep pants at only $8, the tutle necks that are only $5 and the robe for 18
I would donate to a women’s shelter. I would call ahead and ask what kind of donations they need.
I know not every shelter excepts physcial donations of items. If that is the case I would use the $100 gift card for my groceries and donate 100 dollars to the women’s shelter.
If I can donate items I would donate kids jammies, warm scarves, and warm vests for the winter season. I will call first though to see if there is any specific need they are lacking in.
my email is thismilitarymama@yahoo.com
Wow what timing. Earlier today a young girl knocked at my back porch door & asked what I was planning to do with the mattress I had sitting there. I had called the local donation center to come pick it up & they told me they were a week behind. She explained that they had moved in down the street and their children had no beds to sleep on. I gave it to her and asked if there was anything else they could use. She said they had some furniture in storage & they were looking for someone with a truck to help move it.
I invited her in and called my brother with a truck. He came right over to help with the mattress.
We helped her in and it was an empty barron space with two little ones – no sign of Christmas anywhere. It broke my heart.
We have struggled this past year & have had to cut the fat – but these people had no fat to cut.
I wish I could provide a small Christmas for the family but I can't. I will try & do something.
I looked at the Wal-Mart gift guide & if I were going to buy for them, it would be new footie jammies for the kids & I would step out of the gift guide and buy bedding for the mattress I just gave them.
I know there are many people that can use this to pay it forward. I would just really love to do something nice for this young family & felt sick that I wouldn't be able to do much.
I feel blessed that our children will have a nice Christmas & that their Christmas wishes will come true. How nice it would be to do this for someone else.
How nice & thoughtful of you to offer this chance.
At our church we have a “social justice” ministry where we provide assistance to MANY different organizations which help the needy in our community. However, I believe I would donate the gift card to an organization called HOPE HOUSE which provides housing, daycare, and physical items (ex. diapers, wipes, pajamas, blankets, etc. ) to children from infant to preschool age (and their familes) that are infected or affected by HIV. If it were not appropriate to just donate the gift card itself , I would donate warm pajamas for the children to sleep in.
THANKS SO MUCH for your generosity!
jpcouponeer@gmail.com
I have a friend who would really need this. In the month of October her husband was hospitalized for the umpteenth time since they met back in 2001. He spent 17 hours in the emergency room waiting on a bed to be admitted where he spent a few days only to be told they didn’t know what was wrong and sent him home. In November she found out she was pregnant and she lost her job that brought in much of the income.
I would buy her some Ladies Secret Treasures ($8 each) sleep clothes as she gets bigger from pregnancy she will need something comfy to sleep in. I would also buy the Faded Glory Cable Knit sweaters ($10) and a No Boundraies Long Sleeve Henley. A Timex Ladies Trend ($25) watch to prepare for childbirth. Cheese bread ($3.50) to feed her unborn child.
You get the idea I would take care of her because she took care of me when I was pregnant with my first child.
so if i won i’d spend it on a student and his family from my first grade classroom. i just bought him shoes due to the fact that he could barely walk in his old ones. he’s the only boy, there are 3 girls. dad left. so the boy has no hand me downs. they really have nothing. i’d take them shopping!!! so many needs!
Our family has been tremendously blessed this year, times have been tough here and there, but we have never gone without a meal and we have always had a wonderful place to call home. I know a few people who have lost their jobs or just been hit really hard with the economy. I am sure that there are many out there that deserve to have this GC. I would use this to buy for my friends who have a new son and the mommy has breast cancer. The husband works two jobs and she still has to work part time (with cancer and a new baby boy, how hard would that be? I couldn’t imagine) just to pay the bills. I would buy her some jewelry, him a memory stick for their camera and the baby some pj’s from the walmart giftguide.
Thanks, Sara
marriedroses@yahoo.com
I would use this giftcard to help my husband’s Aunt and Uncle and their family. They had a fire destroy their home about 3 weeks ago, and thanks to many generous donations have received many things they needed. But they still have many more needs, including the pajama items on the warm delights page. I would include the flannel pants, the scarf, and the shirt. Thanks so much
lizzydearslife@gmail.com
I would get two pairs of Dora jammies and the Kung Fu Panda movie for my friend Susie. She’s a single mom of twins and works two jobs and doesn’t have much support from the dad. The girls love Dora and still talk about my daughter’s Kung Fu Panda birthday party, so I know they’d love it. Obviously, those items don’t cover the total, so the rest would go to Susie, who definitely needs pampering, although I’m sure she would buy more stuff for the girls or groceries!
lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com
My family isn’t rich, and my sister will be giving birth in January so I would definitely want to bless her with a gift card to Walmart (her favorite store!). Her and her fiance can use all the help they can get, and I wish that I could win this to help them out with the soon-to-be new baby! I would want to purchase the Sanyo digital camera, so that they could take pictures of the little cutie when she comes, a sleep-top or flannel lounge pants for my super-preggo, uncomfortable sister, and a new $5 tee for the daddy-to-be… I know he’s sweating a lot waiting for the baby, so he’s gonna need a new tee!
-Ashley
KikiZoe86(at)yahoo(dot)com
Though Wal Mart has wonderful gift suggestions, honestly I would give the entire card to the family in need. I would offer a ride for them as they have no car.
I believe that if you are truly that needy; only YOU know what your family truly needs at that moment. I’d hate to buy them jammies when possibly someone else just gifted them with such and what they really needed was a blanket. I wouldn’t presume to know if they needed food, batteries, blankets or socks the most.
I’d just not want to call that shot wrong. A family that’s in need will KNOW what they need. I don’t. Maybe they would even decide to let the children pick out a toy, I have no idea.
While I know it’s not a necessity, I would purchase a digital camera for a family I know. They recently had their first grandbaby and I’m sure they would love to have pictures of her (their daughter is not close by) so I think that would be an appropriate gift.
gitrecca at gmail dot com
Hello! I would be doing this for my daughter and her family. They have 3 kids and my son in law is not working at this time, my daughter works 2 jobs to make ends meet. I would use the $100 to buy 2 pairs of pajamas for each of the 3 kids (they’re less than 9 bucks each!), an outfit for my daughter and one for my son in law. With whatever was left from the $100, I would buy them a family DVD or two to watch together.
diane
superhobo96@gmail.com
I have the perfect family in mind! A couple who were members of our church (now have moved to Illinois to be closer to family) have a son who is battling cancer. They also have a daughter that has proved to be such an awesome big sister! They are such amazing people with so much faith! The husband was recently laid off and has had a really hard time finding work, but you never hear a complaint. I would love to be able to help this family out if I won! Thanks for the chance!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com
Ooops! I forgot to put what I would buy! I had a probelem getting the guide to load correctly, but here goes:
I’d get pjs for the whole family, some new movies, and some munchy snacks so they could enjoy some fun “movie nights”!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com
I would pay this forward to my older brother. He works really hard but, like for so many others, it´s been a rough year. I would love to win this as a gift to his family. Thank you for the chance and for helping so many of us to see that the first step towards helping others is as simple as wanting to.
If I had to stick to the gift catolog I would buy clothes for him and his kids and maybe a perfume for his wife, but I´m pretty sure they would prefer the GC for groceries.
laikilu@yahoo.com
My SIL’s hubby lost his job this past month, and still hasn’t found work. They have 3 children and could truly use the gift card for food, and other clothing items. I believe that this need would outweigh any other needs or wants for the present time. Thanks so much!
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
Great idea! My husband works for the city we live in and they have a giving tree with local families who need some extra help. We gave one family a Walmart gift card already but I am such a great shopper (with coupons, sales, etc.) I am sure I could get some really great (and useful things) for one of the other needy families in my community. From the gift guide I would go with:
-warm PJs for everyone
-snuggly sweaters and thermals for our cold winters
-a bottle of the Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice to celebrate all the good things to come in 2009!
Thanks!
linjenals at yahoo dot com
my current job involves a lot of charity work so i know MANY families that could benefit from this. if i won, i’d love to give them some warm sleepwear, soft knit wrap for the mother, and a gift tower assortment for the whole family to enjoy. i would be so thrilled to do this!
fertawert AT yahoo DOT com
I would purchase a popcorn maker, a knife set and the Presto DualDaddy Electric Deep Fryer . I would send them to my mother-in-law in Africa. I know she would be able to cook doughnuts and popcorn and be able to sell them at the market and this will help her support the family
I would love to Pay It Forward to a family in need in my area. She lost her husband just a couple of months ago to a tragic accident and has 4 children. I would get them a couple of Wii games for the kids and some pajamas and perfume for her.
Such a great idea. Thanks & Merry Christmas.
aedwards@mstarmetro.net
My aunt, who just lost her mother, is on a limited income, and is keeping her house cold so she can afford the heating costs. I would love to get her some warm pjs, some warm sweaters, and some food.
–Wehaf
urchiken at gmail dot com
I would pay it forward to my sister. She has 7 Kids. They both are recently out of work. I would spend it on Personal hygiene and diapers. They youngest are 2yr old twins. This would be a god send.a.lichtenbarger@yahoo.com
Funny you want people to “Pay it Forward” I actually love that because I do it every year to friends or people I know need it. I’d love to help a friend at my church who recently lost one of her babies and buy them things for their other.
I’d by her other two children a few extra toys for Christmas, some star wars for her son and barbies for her daughter. I’d buy her and her husband some comfy pjs and a movie to snuggle up to. And her newborn son some clothes even though he’s a preemie.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
I would use this giftcard to buy a needy family at our church a new camera. They have 2 children, and never are able to take pics of their kids at events because they told me they can’t afford a camera. So the camera would be perfect for them!
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
I just recently helped a dear friend donate some toys and books to the Toy Library at the Huntington Hotel. It’s a subsidized hotel around the corner in downtown L.A. This is a fairly bleak place and has 22 families and sometimes children in these areas are forgotten. Well at the Huntington – not anymore!!!
Here’s an article about it: http://ladowntownnews.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/09-08-08-news05.txt
It was really nice to do something for our favorite people – kids! Paying it forward creates such magic in their lives! It would be so special to donate this gift card to the Huntington!
And, the 3 gifts I’d love to give them from Walmart are all magical toys with wheels.
1) Radio Flyer 10″ Classic Red Bike With Training Wheels
2) Radio Flyer Classic Red 10″ Tricycle with Push Handle and
3) Roller Derby Boys’ City Lites Skates, Sizes 1-5
Hoping you know that both you and Jessica are angels! : )))
Thanks so much for this fabulous PAY IT FORWARD give~away! : )))
Leah.
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
1) one of the laptops
2) a printer
3) a cellphone
i would buy toe/knee socks for my daughter, a printer for me, and some Lee jeans for my husband. thanks
I would pay it forward by picking an angel tree child. I would buy some clothes, a new blanket, and some type of want and not a need.
We have a pregnancy center in our town that helps out families in need. I’d purchase some fun new items for their program. Most items there are used and some are even on their last legs. It’s rare that they get brand new items.
I just took a look at the gift page. No toys on there. I’d get some footy pjs and then from walmart I’d buy some duplo blocks and other fun toys. The printer might come in handy for the center itself.
I would give this to a family at our church. The mom is finishing her degree and they just had their third baby. Dad is studying for the ministry. I would purchase clothes for the kids.
My church community group has adopted a refugee family from Africa. Together we purchased groceries, new clothes and toys as Christmas gifts. The mom is pregnant with baby #5 and doesn’t have any baby equipment. If I won, I’d have a baby shower for the mom (her name is translated “Happiness”).
Just realized that I didn’t list any items from the gift guide for my refugee family. I’d get sleeper pajamas for the baby along with other baby necessities. Also, from the gift guide, it would be awesome to give the family a camera (the few pictures that they have of their kids are treasured) and another splurge item would be a pretty necklace for the mom (I like the 3-D heart necklace). I bet the mom would also love a new cozy robe.
I’ve really been thinking about this and all though I don’t know many people in my area yet I do have friends and loved ones around the country that could benefit from this contest.
What a great suprise to open your door to a big box filled with gifts that could really bless them.
For one family I know I would get pjs for all! Also my friend works from home so I could send her a new printer and some ink cartriges too.
All in all it would truly depend on what they need.
Not particularly from the gift guide.
digital frame
extra memory chips
My friend Lois is really into family has has LOTS of pictures. It would really be a kick to digitize some of her photos and load them to the chips.
She lives on SS disability benefits and things are pretty tight for her.
I know my grandparents live on a fixed income. My Grandpa has Alzheimers, and is 79, Grandma is 74 and having to go to work part time (she is an LPN) at an assisted living center. They barely have enough money to pay their utilities, and their insurance premiums. A lot of times they skimp on meals, and get by on next to nothing foodwise. This gift card could last them a long time on grocery items. Thanks so much,
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
There is a single mom that is not very well off in our church who has three young kids. I’d like to help her out. Not really sure their exact needs but here’s what I’d start with:
(2) pairs Boys Sleep Pants
(1) No Boundaries Fleece lined Hoodie
(1) Women’s Faded Glory Sweater
Thanks for the opportunity to pay it forward.
pvilletoygirl at gmail dot com
I have several friends/family that have had to go back to work after having their precious little baby because they need the second income. I would love to be able to pay it forward and be able to bless all of them but I know that is a big mission and so this comment is going to be for my friend Amy. From the gift guide I would love to get her the womens sweater, some of the comfy cozy fuzzy socks and the pj’s for her daughter (and more than likely some much needed diapers) I am sure they have other needs as well but that is a good start. Well, tomorrow I will enter again for another one of my working mamas who wish so much that they could be at home full time with their baby.
Thank you for entering me Christine!
Sara
marriedroses@yahoo.com
I know a young couple (18 and 20) who are married and expecting their first baby in February. I know that he works full time, and she is trying to complete her GED before the baby is born. They only have one vehicle and rent a small place. I would help them out by purchasing one of the digital cameras to take pictures of their new little one when he is born. Thanks
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
We have some friends that had quadruplets a few years ago, and lost one this year. Now it looks as if the father may lose his job this next year due to the poor economy. They could use a little cheering up for the holidays. Here’s a few things that stood out for them:
(3) Gerber Blanket Sleepers
(1) Starbucks Gift Set – need all the energy you can get with triplets!
(1) MagLite Flashlight 2-pack
pvilletoygirl at gmail dot com
Thanks, Janelle
I know my single 26 year old sister could use some help this year. She is a missionary, and doesn’t receive a large amount of money as her salary. She could use the pajama pants, the jacket, and the sweatshirts. Thanks so much,
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
I an elderly couple at church who can’t afford to buy warm winter clothes. I would get them warm pajama pants, snacks, and fleece sweatshirts. Thanks so much
lizzydearslife at gmail dot com
My brother is a single dad who is working full time and trying to raise my nephew on his own. He just bought his first house a few months ago..it is a fixer upper..in the worst way..but it is the first place they have ever been able to call their own. I am so proud of him. They need lots of stuff..and I would be so grateful to give them this card. I know they could use a space heater (or two!), lots of groceries, and my nephew always needs new clothes and shoes because he is growing like a weed..those Batman pajamas for $9 would be right up his alley!..and my brother could get a pair or two of mens lounge pants for $9, some Faded Glory flannel shirts for $7 and the Maglite LED flashlight for $20 is something he would love and really get alot of use from…plus some basic toiletries like toilet paper and deodorant..toothpaste and toothbrushes…things you never really think about when you can afford them. That is the great thing about Walmart..you can get it all there! But, really what I would do anyway is just give the card to them..he knows what they need most of all. I truly appreciate your considering my entry for this gift card! It makes my heart smile to picture the two of them walking around Walmart picking out things! Thanks so much!
sandalsndaisies(at)yahoo(dot)com