Thank you, thank you, thank you

Hard to believe that it’s already a week since the 2018 edition of the Christmas in the City Party.

And what a party it was! Once again, thanks to our volunteers and donors, we put some smiles on a lot of little faces. And speaking of putting some smiles of even more little faces, let’s not forget last Monday’s follow-on toy distribution event.

We couldn’t do what we do without the time, talent, and treasure of our wonderful supporters.

To everyone who volunteered: thank you, thank you, thank you!

Whether you painted Christmas trees; called shelters to get them signed up; registered folks for Monday Mania; collected, dropped off, picked up, sorted or delivered toys to the convention center; set things up for the party and/or Monday Mania; staffed our Winter Wonderland fundraiser: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Whether you worked the party as a greeter, an elf, a toy wrapper, a toy room organizer, a toy-runner, a shelter captain, a shelter helper, a security or transportation volunteer, a t-shirt hander-outer, a volunteer checker-inner, a feeder of the hungry, a VIP shepherd, a baby-cuddler, an entertainer, a cos-player, a regular old player-with-kids, a dental health checkup-er, a comfort dog owner, a musician, a taker of pictures, a poster of stuff online, or a jack of all trades who just pitched in and did what needed getting done: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Whether you helped out at Monday Mania to keep the shelves stocked, staffed the tables, rolled wrapping paper, shopped with our guests, or pushed the broom around when Monday Mania wound down: thank you, thank you.

We thank all of our volunteers, with a special shout out and mega CITC thanks to do those who work year round to make sure that the party and Monday Mania go off without a hitch: thank you, thank you, thank you. (We’re not going to name names, but you know who your are!)

To everyone who took a wishlist name or donated toys: thank you, thank you, thank you!

To the organizations that took wishlist names – from a handful or names to 500+ – making it possible for each child coming from a shelter to receive a personal gift that they actually wanted: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To the individuals who took wishlist names, putting smiles of the faces of kids who too often don’t have much to smile about: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To the companies, bars, and restaurants that ran toy drives: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To all those who brought toys in, or ordered through Amazon, so that we had enough toys to give out at Monday Mania: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To the companies that served as drop-off locations for wishlist gifts and toys: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To those who made financial donations: thank, you, thank you, thank you!

To all the folks who wrote us a check or donated online: thank you, thank you, thank you.

To all those who ran a fundraiser (and, in some cases, ran as a fundraiser): thank you, thank you, thank you.

To the companies that wrote checks or provided us with grants, thank you, thank you, thank you.

To those companies that donated goods and services – every bit as good as $$$ – thank you, thank you, thank you.

To the members of the media who reported on and/or talked up Christmas in the City: thank you, thank you, thank you!

Your interest in Christmas in the City is invaluable. Whenever we’re in the news, we can count on an uptick in interest, translating into financial and toy donations.

We wish all the supporters – volunteers and donors – who make up the extended Christmas in the City family the Happiest of Holidays, and a Wonderful 2019.