It's not too late for you and your office to participate in Operation Christmas Stocking, the nationwide mega-effort to provide Christmas stockings or gift bags to deployed troops. However, time is getting short, since they have to be received in the Salt Lake City warehouse BEFORE NOVEMBER 1.
Just purchase some stockings or holiday gift bags at your local dollar store and ask other agents, lenders, closing attorneys, and even past clients to drop off goodies for filling them. Items don't need to be expensive. We found it efficient to have only about 3 or 4 people actually stuffing the bags, or dividing into teams might be a good option if enough people are participating in the stuffing effort.
Here are some ideas for filling the bags:
Hard candy, socks, games, toileties (toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, sunscreen, hand cream, etc), yo-yo, playing cards, harmonica, inflatable beach ball, hand sanitizer, pen, paperback books, puzzles, bug spray, chapstick, etc.
Shipping is free, as long as the budget holds out. Here are the shipping instructions.
For more information, visit Operation Christmas Stocking - and get started today. If you're anywhere near Crofton, Maryland, I could use your help. Call me at 410-721-1500 for more information.
PHOTO: Melissa Slye stuffing holiday gift bags for the troops in October 2008.
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DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
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Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114 (410) 721-1500
Margaret,
It is difficult to realize that November 1st is so close so we need to get moving on this.
Margaret,
Thanks for sharing this worthwhile effort to support my fellow military brothers & sisters. I will re-blog and help spread the word.
Have a great day
Leander
Margaret, thanks for sharing the post. Having had a couple of acquaintances come back recently, it's a worthwhile cause.
Margaret,
Thanks for sharing this information with us. My daughter just sent halloween treat bags to her husband and his squadron in Afganistan. The smallest things we do for our troops let them know they are close to our hearts.
Thanks for this, Margaret -- I'll do my duty!!
We announced this at my office meeting today, and I shared some gift items I picked up at the Dollar Tree with everybody. I'll let you know how many we can put together by Monday.
What a good idea I bet the service men and women will enjoy you packages.
Hi Margaret, Thank you for this and being a REALTOR and giving your community such a wonderful role model that reflects so well on our industry. You make me very proud to be associated with you!!!!!
Hi Margaret--you know you're a girl after my own heart! Thanks for the timely reminder and I LOVE the stocking photo too!
'Can't wait to see what my office will do... previous office really got into this with me.
Hi Margaret! Our L&F office does Toys for Tots with the Marines and we have been very successful with
that....my old L&F office specialized in bikes and we were able to send off quite a few over the years.
Anyway, this sounds like a wonderful, wonderful effort and I can see the timeline has to be what it is.
Thanks for the Heads Up. (I'm registered for REBar Camp too, so hope to meet you).
Elizabeth - Our offices Toys for Tots, as well. This is a project I took on a couple years ago and brought to L&F with me from my previous office. I mentioned it at a sales meeting on Wednesday, and by Monday we had enough donations from the agents in our office to fill 150 gift bags. Pretty impressive! I'd love to hear more about the bikes.
Please introduce yourself to me at Raleigh, so we don't miss each other.