Children are near and dear to the heart of Spreading Joy Corporation (SJC). We know that they are the future and as such need encouragement as well as hope that their current conditions do not have to be their future. Many may need just a little boost, while others live in horrific conditions.
Realizing this, the preparations begin. The phone calls, emails, tweets and word of mouth conversations begin. Will you collect toys for SJC? Will you donate items towards our Christmas Joy Project? We had a desire to give 2 or 3 toys to well over 1,000 children. Aiming at the moon, so that no matter what happens, we’d land among the stars.
Eight organizations in Charlotte and surrounding areas were instrumental in making a difference for many children this year. They, along with several individuals and corporations from all across the United States that made direct donations, were amazing Spreading JOY heros this year!
Toys were delivered to my home! Then, there was the picking up of the toys, stuffing them in my car – filling up my son’s room because the 5X5 storage unit was full. The week before the event we took them to the drop off location so that many volunteers could wrap them, sort them and prepare the toys for distribution.
It’s the Friday before the big event. I’m preparing to pick up toys from several locations, loading up my car and to my delight, IT’S SNOWING!! Snow! I’m loving it! Already no greater joy than giving away hundreds of toys, plus I get to run in and out of the snow to do it! Simply amazing. The snow doesn’t last long, but my heart is still completely filled with great joy! I drop off toys, pick up more toys and repeat this scene several times this day. Until finally, I’m heading to the last place, not far from my home so I decide to pick up the toys and head to my house, knowing I’ll wrap and bring them down on Saturday morning for the Christmas party. Then it starts, again. More snow, mixed with sleet and rain. I get to the Author Squad Book store in Huntersville and the ground is covered. The roads are beautiful, yards are covered and I’m enjoying a grand winter wonderland scene. I make it home safe and sound. Bring the toys in, start wrapping them. My snow has now turned in to ice. I sit and silently wonder if I’ll be able to make it to the event.
The ice has covered everything and is fantastic to behold. My heart is a little nervous about driving in the icy conditions, but I realize that if I can get to main highway, we’ll be ok. Megan is snapping picture much of the way as the scenery is gorgeous. We arrive safely and the children start piling in. They are excited. They laugh, give hugs and just enjoy the day. The wonderful thing about the whole day was that none of the children knew that Spreading Joy had anything to do with their presents. I was just another person that cared enough to spend some time with them, caring about them and making Christmas special. Giving when you can’t be thanked – that is the greatest feeling of all. You are giving without expecting anything in return and your heart just wants to burst with the love and joy that comes from that!
All Total, SJC was able to collect and distribute 987 toys to boys and girls for Christmas Joy 2009. I was able to randomly distribute some toys to homes by driving to neighborhoods and giving away toys personally. The recipients were not only very grateful but also a little shocked that a stranger, in a Santa hat, pulled in their driveway, gave them toys – bid them Merry Christmas and left. Only did I tell one young gentleman who I was and where I was from.
Amy’s house, a local Battered Women’s Shelter received several hundred of the toys as well.
While we did not achieve our goal of 2 or 3 toys per child, we are still very happy with the fact that we were able to make a difference, simply by using what we had. We shot for the moon and landed a little bit short, but safely in the stars. Amazing opportunity either way.
The 8 organizations that officially collected toys are as follows:
Author Squad - Huntersville NC – Wonderful Book store where you can make your own story come to life! Create personalized gifts by bringing in your stores, arework and photos and you can make original , colorful books and calendars!
Patterson Pope – Their generous employees are hosting a toy drive for Christmas Joy! – Space made Simple. “We keep things simple. We tell the truth. We keep our word. We do the right thing – because it’ssimpler that way. People like us, trust us and buy from us because we are free from guile. We work hard. We have fun. We go home to our families. We keep things simple.” They have great solutions for all of your Business Stuff!
Quiznos – at Whitehall (off of Arrowwood Dr. in Charlotte NC) – There is a drop off box at their location! These super sub making maniacs can knock out a line in no time at all! No matter how busy they are, they are always super kind and give great service! Thank you guys for how you are ALWAYS spreading jo
FreemanWhite – Their wonderful employees are hosting a toy drive – Consulting, Architecture, Engineering and Interiors “FreemanWhite is a value-driven consulting and design firm focused on Healthcare and Senior Living. Our approach brings together diverse people to create outstanding business, operational and facility design solutions.”
Iron Mountain – Their gracious employees will be collecting toys for Christmas Joy! Their main Charlotte facility is located 2213-A Distribution Center Drive. Charlotte NC 28269. “Iron Mountain’s Document Management Solutions help you create and manage a fully integrated program—with complete visibility and access to all your business records, in whatever form they’re in and wherever they reside. Your business process will accelerate. Sound decision making will increase. Compliance will be more attainable.”
Family Memories – Amazing Scrapbook Store! 8506-B S. Tryon St. Charlotte NC – Starting a new Raffle for November and December. For EACH unwrapped gift you bring in you will receive 10 tickets to be entered into the Raffle or you can donate $1.00 per ticket. Scrapbooking RULES!
MSP Pump & Trench – The big hearted employees that don’t back down from a challenge will be collecting toys for Christmas Joy at their facility at 3314 Service Street, Charlotte, NC 28206 and the corporate office at 2231-A Executive Street, Charlotte, NC. MSP Pump & Trench is your premier partner for shoring and pump systems. From large to small scale projects, our team of experienced experts provides unparalleled support for your pump and shoring needs. At MSP, we don’t back down from a challenge – we dig in!
Clark Nexsen - is a premier architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, and landscape architecture firm with over 89 years of experience. With offices in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia, and Washington, DC, Clark Nexsen employs a staff of over 490 dedicated architecture and engineering professionals.
I’d also like to thank the following individuals who invested many hours in Christmas Joy.
Melanie Hoyt – for the countless hours and literally hundreds of emails, asking, typing and getting so many wonderful things donated!
Jessica Dixon – for the hours that she spent on the phone calling, asking places if they would consider partnering with SJC to collect toys!
Angie Blevins – for the hours spent emailing people asking if they would partner with SJC to collect toys!
To the countless people who tweeted, emailed, asked, begged etc –thank you seems so insignificant compared to the joy that I received in giving away these toys to so many wonderful boys and girls. There is no way I can ever put into words how much joy my heart was filled with during this time of giving. More joy than a kid in a candy store, more joy than the joy and laughter experienced at theme parks, more joy than running through a fresh blanket of snow, plowing over friends and family. My heart screams – “There’s NO joy like Spreading Joy!” and hope that you can feel it all the way to your soul.
