Tag Archives: Collective Bias

Disney Champions For Kids | Part 2

29 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in Fun

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, , ,

Last week, I spoke about my involvement with the Disney Champion for Kids campaign where I was to select a child deserving of a Christmas stocking filled with Disney themed items.  We started out with the intention to purchase items for two children at a local elementary school which has a large population of families who are in need.  A local realtor friend approached us and asked if we would help him provide for a family whose sole support for 7 children was from the mother, a single parent.  We decided as a family that all 7 children needed our help, and therefore, created a stocking for two of the children close in age to my oldest (7 and 4 years old), then purchased essential items like toothbrushes, shampoo, hats, gloves and blankets for the rest of the family, along with some fun Disney themed toys and trinkets for under the tree.

We found out the ages, sizes and needs of the kids.  I knew what was important to provide a family who needed everything, especially with small children.  I found myself having a hard time determining where to stop as I wanted to provide them with everything.  But, we set a budget and I had to be realistic.  I also remembered that other families were helping out, so that made it easier to be satisfied with our purchases.  I brought my two older kids and my mother-in-law to help shop for the family.
We are huge Disney fans at our house, so it we were very excited to discover stocking stuffers for the Disney Champion for Kids project at Wal-Mart.  From Disney brand clothing items like sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear, hats, gloves and scarves to all kind of toys, movies, games and books, we have it all!  The better question would be what doesn’t our family love and use that’s a Disney product.  My twins were gifted the Rockin’ Mickey for Christmas and they love it! My kids also use the Listerine Phineas and Ferb mouthwash, the Oral B toothpaste and toothbrushes (Princesses and Cars of course!), and my daughter’s room is adorned with the Disney Princesses and Fairies collections on just about anything you can imagine.
The Wal-Mart closest to me is especially crowded, and things are constantly being moved around, so I don’t feel confident walking into the store as I know it’s going to take me awhile to get my bearings.  I also find the parking lot intimidating because it’s not easy to park, you seriously have to be there before the doors open to get a spot anywhere near the store.  It is also uncomfortable walking through the parking lot, especially when alone or with my kids because there are often many solicitors asking for money, and they are not afraid to approach you while getting into your car.  It is one of the reasons I do not shop there at times because I don’t want to be approached with my children.  I would like to see more efforts on Wal-Mart’s part to make the parking lot a little more user friendly in this way, where their customers feel secure walking from their car to the store.
Customer Service though is great.  Any time I’ve ever needed anything, I’ve always been greeted by kind, knowledgeable team members who make sure I find what I am looking for, help me right away, or go the extra mile to make my experience a good one.  Prices on items are easily found, and I really like the variety and uniqueness Wal-Mart has to offer shoppers.  Every time I come home with a cool gadget from there, my friends ask me where I got it.  If I’m looking for something a little off the wall or something I know would exist but not easy to find, I always check Wal-Mart.  I never have a problem with Customer Service or the checkout lines at my store’s location.  The checkers are knowledgeable, friendly and have a sense of urgency.  Especially around the holidays, I found they were quick to help out, locate items right away and answer any questions I had.
With four kids of my own, whenever I get the chance to grocery shop I take it!  I picked up some Horizon Organic Whole Milk, along with the Let’s Rock Elmo toy that was on sale right before Christmas, for my twins.  My older kids picked out the Gyro Bowls to give to the babies for Christmas presents.  We also bought additional non-Disney items for the family like Equate soap, lotion and mouthwash.  We bought extra toothbrushes, tooth paste and dental floss for the kids, along with Suave brand shampoo.  In addition, we purchased a Christmas themed flannel blanket, a pair of gloves and a hat, two bags of socks and some underwear for each child.
We were not able to deliver the stockings in person, but our friend picked up all the items, including the stockings, and brought them to the family.  My son was very concerned about the baby having everything he needed, so we also gave the mother a gift card for Wal-Mart to use on necessary baby items.  Along with the items we purchased, we also went through our drawers and donated any clothes, blankets, hats, gloves and toys we were no longer using.  Our friend reported the family was very grateful and the children were ecstatic to have some Christmas items.  Especially the little girls who received the Tiana and Belle dolls from us.  My two children wanted to write them cards, and made one for each child.  I think the experience was win/win for everyone involved. My kids still talk about the family and the baby.  Our friend has made it his mission to continue to give to the family throughout the year, and we plan to provide him with items that would be useful for them.  Working on this together really opened my kids’ eyes, who never want for anything, and helped them realize  there are many families in our own city, struggling to provide their kids with food, clothing and shelter.  Showing my children the photo of the family made it even more real for them.

Please visit my Google+ page for a walk-through of my experience at Wal-Mart and creating my Disney Champion for Kids stockings for this project.

To learn more about how you can be a Champion for Kids in your community, visit their website, and check them out on FaceBook and Twitter @champions4kids #CBias #DisneyCFK.

 

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions, ideas, and photos are my own.

Disney Champion for Kids

21 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Fun

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

I think all of our hearts bleed a little more during the Holidays.  As much as giving back to our community is top of mind for me throughout the year, it is most definitely on the forefront once Thanksgiving and Christmas start rolling into town.

My father was a Ward of the State of Nevada from the age of 3-18.  He was ushered around the Foster Home circuit for his entire childhood.  Though he had a place to stay and food to eat, there were small comforts he wasn’t always afforded.  Like socks and a birthday party.  Little things that, as a child, can make or break your whole year.  I am grateful for those who took in my dad when he was a boy. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.  Because of this experience, both my mom and dad, have made huge efforts in our community to give back to those in need.  It was something that stuck with me, and something that my husband and I practice regularly.  This year, we decided it was time for our older kids to be involved.

Recently, I was introduced to an organization called Champions For Kids, and was given the opportunity to create a Disney themed stocking for a child in need.  I was honored to be chosen for this project, as I thought this would be a great introduction to my kids on the hows and why each year we give back and help those who are less fortunate than us.  We didn’t have to look to far to decide who to make the stockings for.  Las Vegas has been a major victim in the economic crash that happened a few years back.  It affected our city more than most in the United States, and we are still feeling that economic impact.  The Housing Crisis and the recession lead to many people being forced out of their homes, out of their jobs, and onto the streets.  Our homeless and jobless numbers continue to rise.  While it seems there is some very dim spark of light at the end of a very long tunnel, we can’t ignore the fact that there are children who go tired, hungry and cold not very far from where we live.

A friend of ours is a local realtor, and came across a family who was living on the sole income of the mother.  She provides for 7 kids ranging in ages 3 months to 14 years old.  With no furniture, blankets, and adequate clothing and hygene products, she still manages to get her children fed and off to school everyday.   Our friend asked for our help to provide them with comforts we take for granted. He sent a picture of the family, and I showed this to my kids (ages 5 and 7 years old).  I read them the story our friend wrote about the family.  We talked about how the baby was like our babies, but he didn’t have a crib to sleep in, or a blanket to keep him warm, or even just little toys to play with.  I could tell this really hit home for them.  They couldn’t imagine their baby brothers with no place to sleep or socks on their feet or milk in their bottles.  We talked about the other kids in the family that were close to their age and asked them what they thought the kids would want most.  Of course, I was asked to make one stocking, but there was no way I would be able to do that.  We chose the little girl and boy who were the same ages as my kids to make a Disney theme stocking.  Then, we decided as a family, to provide all the kids with blankets, hats, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and some fun Disney themed toys and games for them to have under the tree, along with gift cards to Wal-Mart to help buy items for the baby.

Mobilizing my mini-army to give back to their community this year through Disney's Champion for Kids.

As the Champion for Kids organization strives to mobilize millions to give back to their own communities, we felt like a small army ourselves, working together to give back to people who could be our neighbors.  Lending a hand to a mom who works hard to give her kids what she can.  Realizing that the help of others can leave an impact on a child’s life for ever.  Paying it forward.

To learn more about the Champions for Kids organization, and to become a participant in a SIMPLE Service Project, visit their website or follow them on Twitter and FaceBook. (#CBias #DisneyCFK)

 

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions, ideas, and photos are my own.