[RoxyJosMom]

When we owned a bar, one of the things we did every year was to find 4 or 5 families and provide their xmas for them. Patrons of our bar (it was also a restaurant and hotel) would bring in toys that we would fix up and clean, clothing and anything that would make a good gift. Mostly it was toys. We also took monetary donations for bigger items. Then I would call local churches, domestic relations and CASA to get the names of any families that they felt would have no xmas without our help. They would contact the families first to see if they would like our help and have the the families contact us. (You have to be careful of some people just looking for a free handout). We would get a list of what the kids wanted and anything special that we couldn't come up with we would go to the stores and see if they would donate the gift. If we still couldn't find it, we used the money to buy it. They my dh and I would go to the grocery store and buy everything needed for a nice, but not extravagant, xmas dinner. Usually a small ham, taters, veggies, rolls and dessert. Then the best part. We had a race car and our driver was a ham with a genuine Santa belly, so he would dress up as Santa and we would deliver the toys to the families. Somebody went along to tape the kids. It was one of the most rewarding feelings I have ever felt.
Maybe if you contact some of those places, you can get some ideas. Ours were very protective and wouldn't give out the names, but they did get in touch with the people, abd you can go from there. I commend you for what you are doing. With all the financial problems so many people are experiencing this year, you are putting others needs ahead of you own families. What you are doing will be give some families a xmas they will always remember. God Bless.