If you have already given, thank you very much! If not, there’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation to Cheerful Givers and to know that you showed the not-so-fortunate children that they, too, are special by allowing their parents to recognize their birthday with a toy-filled gift bag.

Your gift of $100 will bring birthday joy to 10 children. We appreciate whatever you can afford, and it will make a difference in a child’s life.

Thanks for your generosity and a very Happy New Year!

Turning 60 has been full of joy and abundant blessings!  My birthday
wishes were to collect and put together 60 birthday bags, collect 60 pounds of
food for the food shelves and 60 pair of shoes for the homeless. It was a
wonderful birthday, and many friends enjoyed being involved in my efforts to
provide a little joy to children.

This also reflected what I have tried to make my life about, rather than
receiving a bunch of stuff that I didn’t need and had no meaning. Thank you for
your willingness to represent the children.

I realize birthday bags will not save the world, but they will contribute to
making children feel special, cared for and loved. Someday, in the lives of
these children when they are grown and become adults, I believe they will pay
it forward because someone cared enough to reach out a loving hand.

Many thanks to everyone who continues to support our mission — and may you have a very Happy New Year!

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Early in September Jamie made another presentation to the congregation including pictures from the first event and then received donations from the congregation and local community. On Oct. 15th,  Jamie hosted a Reverse Birthday Party in the youth room at Linwood Covenant.  The event was open to all ages.  Six youth and ten adults participated.  They “ assembled 50 gift bags, played party games, ate birthday cake, and prayed over the gift bags.”  Their next event will be early in the spring.

T-shirts autographed by Minnesota Twins Michael Cuddyer are now available as a thank you to donors who make a $50 contribution during October. They would make a nice holiday gift for a Twins fan or treat yourself!  All shirts are XL. Donate $50 now to get yours. Limited supply.

Debra Savitt commented “It went really fast and the staff enjoyed it as well. I hope we can do this again.  I am talking it up to everyone I know as the best volunteer opportunity.”

By Kate Smith

The Robert Lewis House is one of the local women’s shelters that receive Cheerful Givers birthday bags for the children that stay there. This month, however, we are shifting the focus from birthdays to Thanksgiving and learning a little bit about how the Robert Lewis House residents celebrate during this special holiday.

The activities that take place on Thanksgiving all depend on how many people are at the shelter that day, according to Support Worker, Sexual Assault Advocate and Safe at Home Application Assistant, Kelli.  

“A lot of times the women go to their families’ houses,” she explained. “But the staff will try to make some type of dinner or help residents cook dinner if anyone is there.”

Kelli recalled a memorable experience cooking a Thanksgiving dinner together with one resident who did not have anyone to visit on Thanksgiving, as her abuser had isolated her from her family. “She was so thankful to have someone help her even though I didn’t know how to cook! She was laughing and teaching me what to do. It was great having that one-on-one interaction and knowing we were making her holiday a little better.”

In addition to the staff helping to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for residents, Kelli stated that sometimes various volunteer groups come in to cook a meal for the residents as well. If you are interested in volunteering this Thanksgiving at the Robert Lewis House in Eagan, visit their website at www.communityactioncouncil.org.

Several on-line merchants, who have been generous in-kind donors, are now willing to support us further as well as offer some discounts for you when you make purchases from their websites.

Check out these sites for fun gift ideas:

• DelSol (www.delsol.com) – Great color-changing apparel and accessories – COOL stuff! They’ll donate $3 to Cheerful Givers for every order received (coupon code: “GIVER”)
• A Glove Of Their Own (www.agloveoftheirown.com) -  A children’s book that is touching hearts across the nation. When ordering, choose Cheerful Givers on the drop-down menu, and $3.00 per book will be donated to Cheerful Givers
• Adams Animals (www.adamsanimals.com) – Adam and his mom sell the best pencil toppers, erasers and tiny toys on the planet! Adam will donate a percentage of the profits to Cheerful Givers until Dec. 10 (code: CGIVERS)
• Educational Toys Planet (www.edutoysplanet.com) –Their toys are designed to bring joy to children while enhancing their ability to think, analyze, and create. You get $5 off purchase (any promotional free shipping offer would apply), plus 10% of your order will be donated  to us (key code:  55123CHGV)
• Kangaroo Boo (http://www.kangarooboo.com/give/cheerfulgivers) – Unique, exceptional quality wooden toys, handmade and handcrafted toys and smart children’s products. We will receive 10% of each purchase
• LB Toys (www.lbtoys.com) – A wide selection of toys and games that will stimulate little minds and create hours of fun (no batteries required). 10% of every sale will be donated  (Charity code: CHEER)
• Paper Tiger Pro (www.papertigerpro.com) – Sports-themed activity books, coloring pages, posters and more. Special pricing applies AND $1 of each item purchased  will be donated; click on our logo on their home page for details
• Tattoos4Kids.com (www.tattoos4kids.com ) – A large selection of temporary tattoos, stickers and body art that kids love. You receive 10% off your order until December 22nd AND 10% of the purchase will be donated (coupon code: cheerful)

If you need assistance with any of these offers, please contact nancy@cheerfulgivers.org.