I need some opinions, please

I need some opinions, please (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid

Message

OsideGirl -> I need some opinions, please (12/6/2015 8:15:20 PM)
There's a children's toy drive that I've become involved with. I decided to champion two particular this year and the second is because it was dropped because the previous organizer had some ethics questions arise. Because this is a last minute event and because these are Native American children from an extremely poor tribe, I've been cheer leading my friends to attend the event and give a couple of toys. I stumbled across a Star Wars activity kit - color your posters, stickers, stamps etc and bought that. Great for the 6-10 demographic, but the older kids tend to end up without presents because everyone buys the cute things. I found some reasonably priced MP3 players that come in various colors and thought I would get small gift cards from Amazon to buy music. But, I'm wondering if I'm out in left field with that idea. I'm assuming that they have computer access, even if it's just at the local library. Am I wrong? I don't have kids of my own, so I'm kind of at a loss for this age group.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 1:33:23 AM)
I don't know about the MP3 players, most people don't use them anymore as the phones usually have that ability, can't say I've seen anybody with an MP3 player in the past few months. Have you considered gift cards for shops? If it is a charity thing you might be able to persuade the shops to get on board (especially if they think it will be good PR for them and you and your friends might buy there), the added advantage would be the kids would have the presents for xmas but could use the gift cards to buy after xmas and take advantage of the reductions and possibly get much more. Just trying to be practical, not sure if it would work

PeonForHer -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 2:35:26 AM)
Torches - flashlights - you can't go wrong with them.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 4:55:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer Torches - flashlights - you can't go wrong with them. You don't think girls will want them? I doubt even boys want them, it's the thing adults think kids want, plus in CA there are the Dollar Tree and 99 Cent Stores everywhere with tons of torches for $1 Not much of a present https://www.dollartree.com/Aluminum-LED-Flashlights-3-frac12-/p330038/index.pro

PeonForHer -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 5:19:45 AM)
Hey, you can get good torches, you know. I always loved them as a kid, anyway. Jesus, you can get really negative at times, Lady C.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 5:33:32 AM)
Seriously, if somebody would have given me a torch as an Xmas present, I would have been tempted to clobber the person with it (and that's only because I was too young to think about inserting it) We're talking about kids who don't have much, what would they want with a torch, good or not? I think it's one of those things adults think are great for kids, plus most of those kids are Native American kids, it's a bit weird to give them torches, a bit like glass beads. Think about it this way, the young kids get something kids want, the older ones get an effing torch? That's a real let down, even for the boys.

Cell -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 5:37:50 AM)
Well, if I was a poor indian boy living in a tribe, I bet I'd apprechiate a good bush craft type knife... there may be a possible public liability issue with handing out a bunch of knives to young guys... but I bet you that gift would go down well with the boys. I would recomend a number 8 opinel, the weight balance isn't great, but the construction and quality is such that if taken care of, they last lifetimes. And they are cheap as sin so you can make a ton of guys pretty happy. That is if they are still living somewhat traditionally... I wouldn't give out a heap of knives in suburbia.

PeonForHer -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 5:38:03 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze Seriously, if somebody would have given me a torch as an Xmas present, I would have been tempted to clobber the person with it (and that's only because I was too young to think about inserting it) That's probably because you were as weird as a child as you are now, Lady C. My nephews and nieces loved the torches various adults (including me) got them. OK, OK: OsideGirl: get them all catsuits and high-heeled strappy sandals. Get the sandals in camo patterning with compasses in the heels for the boys, though.

Nthrall -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 5:53:33 AM)
Wind-up torches are cheap and useful. I use an mp3 player, but it's an audiophile device. Low spec memory devices are neither interesting or useful. I suggest mouth organs.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 6:04:03 AM)
I'll ask the neighbour's kids later, but it's just seriously such a strange thing to give a torch, about as absurd as high heeled sandals for kids, they want something to play with. The only time somebody has use for a torch is when the electricity fails and you need to go to the fuse box to check, or you read under the covers and I got the impression that reading isn't something a lot of kids still do. Unless you use an LED torch, they'll also need batteries, which can be pricey, especially if they are poor. 10 upwards is a difficult age especially if you don't know their interests, so I would be thinking gift cards and letting them pick themselves, or stuff that's fun to do, maybe footballs, how about baseball gloves and all the gear? Something girls and boys can play together and if the parents don't have money, they possibly won't spend much on sports gear. Maybe sort of a communal present, instead of a lot of little presents? Skateboards? Again depends where they live and if they have the chance to play outside much or if trying to do that would endanger them as there is heavy traffic.

Cell -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 6:05:23 AM)
Btw, I'm with Peon... Torches are ok. =P But get them a decent one or it will probably go straight in the bin. Atleast get a waterproof+shockproof one.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 6:25:24 AM)
Somebody enlighten me, how can a torch be fun? Switch on, switch off... Sounds riveting as in "Can I toss it into the bin from here or do I need to get nearer?"

LadyPact -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 7:03:42 AM)
My input on this thread probably isn't going to be helpful much. I did want to take a second to say thank you, Oside, for being willing to do this. It's going to make a difference. I'm lousy at the gift suggestion thing. My son hasn't been that age in over ten years. He was always video games, pokemon, and other hand held electronic devices. Depending on how many you've got, that might be a bit too much for the budget. If you find something that is a hand held electronic game that isn't too much, it might be an idea, but you know what finances you are working with. MP3 players (along with phones) are still used by some in the age range in my neighborhood, so I don't think that idea is off track. Even with the 'ethical' question of the previous organizer, would it be possible to ask that person for input? I know you don't want to be associated with somebody who has scummy ethics, but if they care at all about the charity drive they were supposed to be working for, maybe they will still have ideas and info. OK. I have to ask. For those on the thread from the UK and other places around the world. Are you guys saying "torches" as in what we tend to call flashlights? Torches here tend to be the butane type used to cut plumbing pipes or used to smoke crack. https://jet.com/product/detail/ef9231367ecc43af8c32fe0fc76c9afe?jcmp=pla:ggl:hardware_a3:tools_lighters_matches_a3_other:na:na:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&k_clickid=a8acd1a2-af56-488e-abd5-2f588cedb4ee&gclid=COOZyIeDyskCFQsjHwodj2sPkA In that age range, they'd be using them to burn/melt action figures. I know boys in that age range like to burn, blow up, and hack things apart but I'm thinking it might not be a good idea to get them destructive toys for Christmas. Edited to add the link to the torch.

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 7:10:05 AM)
Flash lights I think... Uhhhh what you said about one of the uses of the torches makes sense now, I'm so naive, a friend had helpers that were totally unreliable and sometimes just plainly "out of it" and "not there" both had those torches around and while I wondered about one of them in the car, I thought the other ones on tables and such are just for DIY stuff and thought maybe they're making jewellery... I do feel a bit naive now... I'm just so not into the whole drug scene...

DesFIP -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 7:15:59 AM)
Flashlights in American. Used for night tag. But you can use the ones from the dollar store so not much of a gift. Can you call up the local middle school and ask them if they know what's hot? They could grab the kids walking into the office and ask for suggestions. I bought my daughter make up assortments as a preteen. They allowed her to have ten sample colors and figure out which one she wanted. My son really just wanted gamestop cards.

LadyPact -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 7:18:03 AM)
They can be used for making jewelry and such. I have one that has some use for melting wax. Let's just say they are not used for such clean cut activities.

LadyXandreia -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 7:30:43 AM)
Can you ask a couple of their parents what would be appropriate?

LadyConstanze -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 8:04:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DesFIP Flashlights in American. Used for night tag. But you can use the ones from the dollar store so not much of a gift. That was my thinking, if they'd want them, surely they would have gotten them from the dollar store themselves

OsideGirl -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 8:51:48 AM)
Just to clarify, I'm not the new organizer of the event, but I've been asked to help make sure that it gets promoted and attended. They've told me that they have 45 kids evenly shared in the age groups, so 15 kids between 13-17. The tribe is in a rural area in East San Diego County - a side road off of a side road. (It's 12 miles to the next town) I've been told that there's an Inter-Tribal Sports league and the boys are very much into basketball. So, I'll pick up a couple of balls. For the girls, I wouldn't do make up, but one of my friends suggested that scented bath sets would probably be good.

DesFIP -> RE: I need some opinions, please (12/7/2015 9:08:04 AM)
More than anything else, they'll need new basketball shoes. They can outgrow shoes in two months during puberty. If there's someway to get donations of outgrown basketball shoes, they'll be barely worn, and really helpful. Or see if the local shoe stores could donate some pairs.

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.046875