Successful Shopping Sprees

The kids started coming in around 1:30, edging up to the three tables we’d set up by the Target entrance to find their last name and be checked in. When we handed them the cards, they either took them shyly and smiled or grinned hugely and raced off to begin their purchasing.

It was a very successful endeavor. All together, we gave away $3000 in Target gift cards to about 60 Taylor students who had been affected by the floods of 2008.

We received several thank-you cards; one read simply “Thank you for taking us to store. Love Ron.” We took photos with most of the kids. The Gazette, CBS, and KCRG all showed up to cover the story and follow the kids around, and they left satisfied. So did the kids. We caught them as they left the store with their purchases- one girl bought a wet-to-straight hair straightener, another boy an enormous nurf gun, and more toys, books, and games.

And, for a few families, the day was even better: we ended up with a couple extra gift cards, so they were raffled off. Upon being given the extra card, one father said “All right, how about we take this stuff, go home, eat dinner, and come back?” His two girls grinned.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to the Wheeler family, everyone who came to support us, Target, the Gazette, CBS, KCRG, and the community. Check out our photos and see! You really made a difference.

Shopping Sprees Announced!

With the holiday season of 2009 here, the Taylor 3 Wish Club is using all of its surplus funds after the wish grantings to take 50 of the wish kids on a shopping spree at the Blairsferry Road Target. The children will arrive with their parents/guardians at 2pm on January 3rd, be checked in by the Taylor 3 Wish Club and given a $50 gift card to use throughout the store.

We are very, very excited about this opportunity to finish the club and give some of the kids a holiday gift. Money left over after the shopping sprees will go to Taylor Elementary.

We’re so glad to have had the opportunity to grant so many wishes, all this year and last year. Happy holidays from the Taylor 3 Wish Club!

Updates

We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us thus far– it’s been a great experience. Keep it up! The other day we drove out to a trailer park to give the cutest little girl packages from her sponsor. She had the biggest smile. We also visited a family of two little girls and a boy who ran straight out of their baths to greet us, squealing at the Wii in our hands. Upon thanking the boy for a compliment, he grinned and said “No, thank YOU.”

Children and Mother Reunited

Last week, the Taylor 3 Wish Club achieved its biggest wish-granting yet; the reuniting of four children - Mishan, Devante, Jaylnn, and Taylor - with their mother, who lives in Wisconsin with their step siblings, who they had not been able to see recently because of financial difficulties. Working with social services and the childrens’ sponsor, Internet Marketing Group, the club was able to arrange for transportation and a two day stay for the mother at the Marriott hotel in Cedar Rapids, where she was joined by her children and the 3 wish club for a visit. The kids showed us their new Christmas presents from their mom and were excited to swim in the hotel’s pool. It was a great and rewarding experience, and awesome to see the kids’ happiness at seeing their mother and know that we made it happen.

Wish Delivery Escapades!

This past Thursday, the 18th, Spencer, Bailey, Kestrel, Katie and I all went to deliver wishes! We had a great time and made so many children smile. Although it took about 4 and a half hours to navigate around Cedar Rapids and Marion, it was a fun first-time experience for the Wish Club.

I just want to let everyone reading this know that there is still time to donate before the holidays! We are planning on going out on Christmas Eve and Christmas day to deliver wishes just in time for the holidays. But, that doesn’t mean that it will be over after Christmas. We will continue to deliver well into the New Year!

Thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far!

-Hannah Wheeler, president

A New Way to Help- Sponsor a Child!

The Taylor 3 Wish Club is now giving generous individuals the opportunity to sponsor a Taylor child. Whether in the holiday spirit as their own personal ‘Santa’ or simply as a generous patron, individuals can now sign up to grant one to all of a child’s wishes. Simply click ’sponsor a child’ in the navbar to fill out the form and we will contact you in order to pair you up with a child. The sponsor will also be given the opportunity to be present at the wish granting, and a donor listing on our website. We’re excited to have begun this wonderful way to get involved in our project!

First wishes granted!

The Taylor 3 Wish Club is ecstatic to announce that as of yesterday, the first wishes have officially been granted to a family of three siblings- Maddie, Alicia, and Lance. The gifts were presented to the children today at their residence in Fairfax, Iowa, as a surprise. We were able to hang out with them for a while and chat with their parents and the media who graciously covered the event, and the kids were extremely nice and upbeat. It was awesome to see them ripping the gift boxes open or showing us their collections. There’s still a long way to go, but it was a really heartening event and a great start- thanks so much to everyone who’s made it happen so far.

See pictures

New Donation Options Available

For those who wish to donate, an online payment option through PayPal is now available as well as the traditional donor form. It’s quick, easy, and greatly appreciated by the children of Taylor Elementary School, their families, and our community. All contributions are also tax deductible. See ‘Support the Kids’ for more information.

T-shirts Available

Taylor 3 Wish Club t-shirts are now available. They are purple and will feature a genie and Taylor kids’ names. If you signed up for a shirt, get your money to an officer ASAP; if you haven’t signed up yet and would like to, let an officer know.

Bake Sale Big Success

Thanks so much to everyone that helped out with the bake sale- Thursday and Friday alone we made over $200.