Holiday Wish List Items

Nov 22, 2013

There are several ways you can help this holiday season. Check out the opportunities below and let us know if you would like to help!

1. We are always in need of gift cards for the families. Gift cards are very useful as they allow the service members and their families to purchase exact items they need or enjoy a meal away from the hsopital. These are popular stores although any big name chain or resturaunt can be used: Walmart, Target, Applebees, Starbucks, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Walgreen/CVS, or general Visa/MC. We recommend denominations of $10-25. These can be mailed to Operation Ward 57, PO Box 80055, Seattle, WA 98108.

2. Many have also asked us how they can help the outpatient families this Christmas too. Here is what you can do – Get with people in your office, or your church, or your child’s classroom, and put together care packages. Not the care packages you would typically send to a Soldier or a Marine – but care packages that will help their caregiver provide them with a little bit of “regular” this holiday season in their new apartment.
Some of the ideas the caregivers have suggested are:
– A Christmas Breakfast package: a griddle, a mixing bowl and whisk, pancake mix, a nice spatula and some maple syrup.
-A Holiday Baking package: a nice cookie sheet, electric hand mixers (in high demand), spatula, and a bowl to mix in, cookie cutters and decorations, and a jar of the dry ingredients with instructions for baking. (Muffin pans or pie pans would also be appreciated as would any holiday type spices!)
– A Christmas Decoration package: 2-4′ artificial Christmas trees with decorations and lights and a tree skirt, greenery and lights and command hooks to hang around a window, wreaths and a wreath hanger.
– A Christmas Crafting package: Gingerbread house kits have been requested many times, as have craft supplies for families to make holiday crafts and decorations with their kids.
– A Pampering Package: a loofah, holiday scented body gel, a couple of fluffy towels and some oils and lotions and/or the items needed to do a holiday manicure.
– A Healthy Eating Package: (Paleo or Gluten Free) Coconut and almond flour, coconut oil, a pie pan and the recipe and ingredients to make a paleo pie crust or other favorite paleo or healthy recipe. An immersion blender and a to go cup for smoothies, plus some flax seed and protein powder will make a great gift for a wife who gets only a few minutes to get to the gym in between her husband’s appointments.
– A Wine or Beer Package: Wine or beer glasses, a corkscrew or bottle opener, and a bottle or two of wine or some holiday beers – plus maybe a gift card to a local restaurant for a night out of the barracks.
-A Christmas Dinner Package: a roasting pan, herbs and spices, meat thermometer, turkey lacers and a carving knife.
-A Coffee or Tea Package: a coffee maker with filters, holiday coffee, a variety of sweeteners in a holder that can sit on the counter, and a couple of nice mugs – or a teapot with a variety of teas and some honey and sugar.
-A Crock Pot Package: a crock pot, heat proof spoon, sharp knife to cut veggies, meat scissors, and the spices needed to prepare a favorite recipe. And of course the favorite recipe!
– How about an Elf On The Shelf Package? A couple of elves with directions and supplies for a couple weeks worth of elf mischief!!
-A Christmas Eve Package: popcorn and a popcorn bowl, hot cocoa and marshmallows and mugs, and some family Christmas movies.
-A Cleaning Care Package: Vacuum or dust buster, clorox wipes, a broom, dustpan and mop, microfiber cloths and some Swiffer dusters and a toilet bowl brush or two. Maybe toss in some windex and toilet bowl cleaner, and package it up in a laundry basket, and I guarantee you it will be the most welcome cleaning supply Christmas present that anyone has ever received!!
– Linens Package – twin or full sheets, and towels, bath mats and washcloths!

Things to keep in mind:
1. If you have a tradition that you love around the holidays, someone here probably has the same tradition. Are you a knitter? Put together a package of knitting supplies. Do you make candy? Put some molds, candy melts and dipping tools in a basket with some nuts and fillings. Do you have a great soup or stew recipe? How about a nice soup pot, the spices and the recipe! Can’t think of anything? How about a mix of kitchen items? A garlic press, vegetable peeler, paring knife and oven mitts. A George Foreman grill, or a toaster or toaster oven or a gift card to a local grocery store (Giant, Whole Foods, Peapod, Safeway) would be awesome. Usually, no one wants cleaning supplies for Christmas, but in this case, a dust buster or a $50 vacuum cleaner would probably make someone the happiest any vacuum has ever made anyone!
2. As always, remember that just because they are wounded, does not mean they are desperate. One quality item is better than 5 cheap items – especially in this case when the families are missing the nice items they have at home, and are “making due” with the few cheap things they have purchased here. We are not saying you have to purchase the very best – we are just asking you to keep in mind that they have already sacrificed so much, and that a little bit of convenience and a little bit of “nice” can provide A LOT of comfort during the most trying and stressful time of their lives.
3. Also remember that they will most likely need EVERYTHING involved in whatever package you give. You don’t have to give every part of it – any part is appreciated! – but if you give lights to hang, know that they can’t be hung without command hooks. And that a pie will require a pie pan, a pastry cutter, and some non-stick spray, and that pretty much any recipe will require a mixing bowl and some type of utensil that they probably don’t have.
4. You can mail the packages to our Operation Ward 57 volunteer. Please email us at info@operationward57.org for the address. Please Use “Caregiver Packages” in the Subject Line.

There is no deadline for these items as we can hand out all year round to new families but if you do have holiday related items please have postmarked by 12/5. Thank you.

Categories

Archives