Donate toys for the holidays?

tedscar · Motorer

Donate toys for the holidays?

Venno · Motorer

Sounds like a good idea, and it doesn't seem too late at all to act on it....I'd recommend getting in touch with Towne, They could DEF help you out

Mitch · Motorer

Great idea, here is an add on idea. Lets make it our goal to completely fill a MINI with toys, but still drivable. then we can all go to a drop off point and unload it.

Venno · Motorer

I like the Idea Mitch...It should def be a clubman, and even if it isn't drivable, I don't think its a bad thing... Im sure the kids won't complain...

Mitch · Motorer

Well if it isn't drivable, it sure would be difficult to get it there.

Dumpnrun · Motorer

I think its a cool idea.and very positive .If no one has offered there Clubman yet I would be glad too. But we could aways fill two or three Clubmens or even a convertible and stack it high. ho ho ho

seeya CJ

PepperMINI · Motorer

I'm in. Does anyone have any contacts at the news channels? I know that they like to profile people making donations to the pirate toy drive. If not, I can see what I can do.

Mitch · Motorer

I say we go for as many filled MINI's as possible, mine would be fine to fill also.

VeganBrian · Motorer

see if towne would be in on this. i would try my best to get some gifts even when my money is really tight. :) anything for the little ones of the world.

tedscar · Motorer

This is great! I'm glad to see there's support for the idea and some great input for how to pull it off.

I know these are tough times but this seems like a great cause. Does anyone have connections already established with Towne for something like this? I like the idea of contacting the news channels when the time is right, but I certainly don't have those connections.

Gotta go for now, but will be watching the thread and thinking of ways to try to make this happen. Unfortunately I am really busy this month so won't have a lot of time to devote to it, but I guess every little bit counts!

Dumpnrun · Motorer

Kim
If you can tell me were we will donating too I could put up a flyer in my wifes hair salon and see if some customers will bring in some toys. See ya CJ biggrin

-- Edited by Dumpnrun at 16:33, 2008-11-13

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

Looks like the Pirate Toy drive is the week of Dec 1st through Dec 6th at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester & also dropoffs at Wegmans. Saturday (12/6) would be a logical day for a drop off of toys by Minis. I have to work that day, but could try to get some toy donations from my coworkers here to contribute.

http://www.piratetoyfund.org/

-- Edited by yellowmininy at 19:15, 2008-11-13

Bagpiper · Motorist

I'm IN.... just say when and where....

Bagpiper · Motorist

"I kinda fantasized about the possibility of a dozen+ MINIs pulling up loaded with "_____.......Yellowmini........ wink

!!!!!!!

tedscar · Motorer

I sent Dan Ives (Sales Manager at Towne MINI) a note to see whether they'd want to collaborate on this. Will keep you posted on what I hear back from him.

In the meantime, it looks like there's enough support to at least get one MINI loaded (w/ many escorts). Whatdya think--can we fill one (or ideally multiple) MINI(s) in time for a 12/6 delivery to the Strong Museum in Rochester??

Dumpnrun · Motorer

Got a question about the toys? Do they need to be wrapped, do they need to be new or used or does it really matter ? I will put it on the flyer and the date they must be in. See ya CJ

PepperMINI · Motorer

CJ,

I believe that the presents need to be unwrapped and new (not used).

I told my sister about it, and she's going to try to spread the word at the school that she works at. She told me that she showed pictures of our trip to Letchworth state park to her students, and now when she's teaching the kids about Letchworth and Mary Jemison, the kids shout out, "that's the place where the MINI's were!!!"

Dumpnrun · Motorer

Thank you Holly.

laurendesigns · Member

Miss MINI is in for sure...just need a date ahead of time so I can schedule it into my chaotic holiday planning!!

Let me know Kim smile

Mitch · Motorer

I'm in for a drive and or to fill mine up. My wife and I usually donate at least a toy or two to someplace so this will be the place this year.

tedscar · Motorer

PepperMINI wrote:
I told my sister about it...and now when she's teaching the kids about Letchworth and Mary Jemison, the kids shout out, "that's the place where the MINI's were!!!"

Future MINI owners, eh?

Funny story Holly biggrin

. At least the kids have their priorities straight!

MightyMo · Motorer

I might be a little late on this one. The toy donation center is in my firehouse district on East main street. I'll tell you this the place gets filled to the gills! we have to look the other way a bit. Ch 8 is a few blocks away on Humbolt. I might be able to arrange for our Fire truck to show up too. We have Engine 12 at Wisconson and E. Main for the toy storage or there is Quint and Midi 3 on the hill at highland and South Ave. that could meet at strong. Don't forget there is also the Ron. McDonald house a few blocks away from Strong. All toys are unrapped at the toy center. I wounder if we could in addition to the toys we give make a delivery for the center. Anyone got a day in mind yet? Oh and don't forget the orphinage on Lake Ave.

-s

tedscar · Motorer

Wow, Scott, that's a lot to chew on!

I must say from the outset that as gung-ho as I am on the idea, my time is really limited over the next couple weeks. I want very much to help and I love the way this is shaping up but I'm not going to have a lot of time to devote to it (thus I was concerned about starting a little late in my original post).

All my 'weasel boxes' aside, I think all your ideas sound great! My only concern / question would be spreading ourselves too thin depending on how much we try to do. Your offer of support in many ways from the fire department sounds fantastic! I like the idea of the MINIs mixing it up with the fire truck(s). This is starting to sound really fun!

PepperMINI · Motorer

Well, I went toy shopping yesterday, and bought four die-cast MINI Coopers and a stuffed Snoopy doll, and will talk to my coworkers about donating as well. It looks like newschannel 10 is part of the toy drive, so once we decide on a day, I can call and see if they're interested in profiling us.

MightyMo · Motorer

I wounder if ch 10 would help out with the toys or if they could give us guidence. Anyone here have a contact? Time is getting short. Is there anyone willing to take the lead here? I do know that having Fire and/or police on hand at the delivery location is a real media catcher. It would grap the medias attention for any lack the MINI's do not get noticed. Then the public would see us. Not that a group of MINIs would not turn heads. If I ask the upper staff at RFD they might even allow one of our trucks to lead in route. Now that would be cool. See we are told everyday to help out in the community. The way I see it this is one of those ways. Heck we do parades and marches all summer. The fire marshal at Strong may give us a place to pull up. I can make the calls with the departments but we need someone at the lead on this. Anyone? Has someone already done this? I can buy some toys but I can't afford to fill my car.

-Scott

tedscar · Motorer

OK, I will call both Towne and the Pirate Toy Fund tomorrow. I'll see if Towne would want to participate as a "corporate sponsor" (or some such thing). I'll ask the folks at the Pirate Toy Fund where and how we could make this special, ideally for some kids. The publicity is nice and that would be great, but maybe there's some way we could structure it so the / some kids get to see all the action. I'll assume about a dozen MINIs (maybe two loaded with toys, more if we can?) and possibly a fire engine lead. I'll just see what they say. I want to be realistic; if we exceed my expectations, all the better.

I suggest we plan a gathering at a local pizza joint or the like afterward.

PepperMINI · Motorer

Kim and Scott,

I think we're on the right track here. You guys have great ideas! And to the extent that all of us can ask our friends and families/coworkers to donate toys, we will be able to achieve the goal of filling up a MINI!

MightyMo · Motorer

Kim- Is the toy fund the same place I think it is on E. Main street? If so they may be able to give us the direction we need with a place destination and some of the toys. They take donations of toys and money to purchase them all year. If you ever get a chance to go back into the warehouse it will BLOW your mind.

-Scott
I will also make a PRE request (feel the powers out) for a Fire Truck escort tonight. Kids love funny looking cars and fire trucks...lol smile

Pepper- Maybe you can make that Convert MINI look like a slaigh...nevermind me just my type "A" coming out..

-- Edited by MightyMo at 11:43, 2008-11-17

tedscar · Motorer

Sorry folks, I didn't get a chance to make my calls today. We got about two feet of heavy wet snow overnight and I spent most of the day dealing with that. It's great living 350 ft. off the road, but it takes a while to dig out from these big snows (and do a couple of my neighbors too).

I promise I'll make the calls tomorrow.

Scott, I don't know for sure where the toy fund place is. Cathleen has a link to their site in her post about 1/3 of the way down this page.

I do like the sleigh idea! I know where we can get some snow...

tedscar · Motorer

No info yet, but some progress on my part.

I have a call in to Dan Ives at Towne; hope to hear back from him soon.

I spoke with the Director at the Pirate Toy Fund. He was pleased to hear of the possibility of our delivery (possibly complete with fire truck). He will call me tomorrow after he's met with his staff to discuss the project.

Stay tuned....