Howdy and welcome to the FIFTEENTH ANNUAL James Garfield Miracle! (HOW??)
“What’s the James Garfield Miracle?” it’s possible you’ll be asking.
You have to be new right here. HELLO AND WELCOME.
15 years in the past I walked into an property sale and fell in love with an historic taxidermied boars head that appeared so rattling pleased to see me.
I didn’t purchase him and spent every week in gentle mourning. Then the following week A MIRACLE HAPPENED and James Garfield got here into my life eternally. (He’s taking a look at me proper now, actually and he’s nonetheless magnificent.)
However Victor wasn’t utterly thrilled that we’d spent $90 on a literal Christmas miracle of mangey fur and lacking enamel so I made a decision that I’d make vacation playing cards of James Garfield to make up for it and if I bought a pair dozen it’d be like James Garfield was making us cash.
However then everybody went loopy and James Garfield made extra that week than I did in my precise job and so I made a decision that I’d take all the cash James Garfield made and use it to offer presents to the youngsters of people that had been struggling that yr as a result of I’ve been there up to now myself. And I purchased presents for the primary 30 one thing individuals after which I ran out of cash however then immediately everybody within the feedback had been like, “I WANT TO HELP A STRANGER IN NEED! LET ME BUY A GIFT FOR SOMEONE” and that’s how this immediately grew to become 15 years of an odd group challenge of strangers serving to strangers anonymously and it’s fairly rattling wonderful.
Over time we’ve had many alternative iterations of the James Garfield Miracle and the one actual draw back is that occassionally a scammer would slip in and ask for stuff for themselves, so just a few years in the past we determined to simply give out teddy bears. Why? As a result of everybody loves teddy bears (hell, I really like teddy bears) and if somebody goes to go to the difficulty to make a whole wishlist account for a teddy bear they undoubtedly want one.
So this yr I’m sending out 100+ teddy bears to children proper right here.
That’s it. Simply candy, snuggly teddy bears. Properly, not simply teddy bears as a result of the teddy bears have eyes that infants can swallow (cease swallowing eyes, bizarre infants) so I’m additionally including just a few different stuffed animals you may select from when you have an eye-devouring child or your little one hates bears or Amazon sells out of teddy bears.
However that’s it. Easy. Simple. Not good as a result of in an ideal world everybody would get every thing they want, however I’d wish to think about that even individuals who could also be dissatisfied that we’re simply doing stuffed animals will at the very least be pleased imagining all the youngsters discovering surprising fluffy new stuffed animals of their arms this vacation. It makes me smile, at the very least.
So, if you’re struggling this yr and also you need assistance getting your little one a gift for Christmas/Hanukkah/winter solstice/whateveryoucelebrate then I’m able to Santa Claus it up and drop one pretty plushie at your step. And I’ll stroll you thru tips on how to get one anonymously.
Listed here are the hyperlinks for the plushes you may decide from. Hailey picked them out as a result of they’re nonetheless kid-adjacent and is aware of what children like. Select the one which greatest works to your child:
Gund pandacorn (or llamacorn, caticorn, corgicorn)
Presently these are throughout $10-$20 every however Amazon will be wonky about altering up the costs when issues begin to run low so if I see that taking place I’ll come again right here so as to add different decisions to select from to exchange any that promote out or immediately skyrocket in value from $20 to $180. (Wtf, Amazon?) If I haven’t purchased you a stuffy it’s most likely as a result of they bought out, jacked up the value, otherwise you forgot so as to add your deal with so simply come again and check out once more.
(Additionally, I take advantage of quite a lot of the earnings I make on advertisements and stuff to purchase toys for teenagers, and the entire royalties from the 2025 Bloggess Calendar go to this as nicely, in order that implies that in case you’ve even clicked on a hyperlink this yr or purchased an advert or a guide, then you’re the purpose why I’m going to have the ability to purchase toys for at the very least 100 children this yr. I’m so grateful. Thanks!)
The wishlists must be posted within the feedback so (as all the time) if you wish to purchase a gift for a stranger you completely can. Or you may donate to Undertaking Night time Night time, an wonderful group that gives a tote bag, guide, stuffed animal and safety blanket to displaced children all year long. They’re FANTASTIC and so they have extra requests than they’ll fill so I can’t suggest them sufficient. In reality, this afternoon I donated $1000 to them in your identify. WHOOP!
SO…in order for you in on this it’s important to learn all of the instructions and follow the foundations or in any other case you can be set on hearth and pushed out a transferring aircraft. Or perhaps I’ll simply delete your remark and have a look at you with that dissatisfied look your mother provides you when she is aware of you’re making an attempt however are nonetheless fucking up. A type of. Listed here are the foundations:
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE:
Okay, how do I do that?
You might be my particular angel. Simply look within the feedback and discover somebody who has an unfilled Wishlist. I’m going to fill least 150 stuffed animal needs however there are all the time greater than I can deal with. (If there’s nothing on their listing whenever you click on it it means their toy was already bought- yay!) Purchase their current and be sure that whenever you try that you choose their delivery deal with as a substitute of defaulting to yours. (It gained’t offer you their full deal with but it surely’ll inform you the city you’re delivery it to so you may evaluate it to their remark to be sure you have the appropriate particular person.) For those who attempt to fill a wishlist but it surely doesn’t offer you a delivery deal with to decide on meaning the particular person didn’t assign a delivery deal with to their listing so simply delete their current out of your cart and go on to the following wishlist. If it says “these are duplicates. Another person could have already purchased this” whenever you attempt to take a look at then another person has already purchased that stuff so delete it and check out one other one. I’ll replace the feedback as I can to notice which of them have been stuffed however it may well get a bit backlogged after I’m within the automobile or sleeping. 🙂 Please don’t fill any wishlists that don’t say the town the particular person lives within the feedback, or any wishlists the place the particular person doesn’t follow the foundations, please. (That is a technique we be sure that persons are who they are saying they’re whereas nonetheless giving them anonymity.)
However what if I don’t dwell in America?
Test the feedback as a result of we frequently have Canadians and others outdoors the US who need assistance and I can’t fill these lists as a result of delivery kills me, so if you wish to undertake a household this can be a nice technique to do it.
You might be my particular angel. Listed here are the issues it’s important to know and in case you do them fallacious you’ll get deleted so learn fastidiously, okay?: You need to make a BRAND NEW wishlist right now, you may solely select one stuffed animal per little one to place in your wishlist, and it must be one of many ones above. I’ll stroll you thru it beneath. Then simply come to this put up and go away a remark telling us the town and State you’re in (this location has to match what you have got in your wishlist), what number of children you have got, and a hyperlink to your wishlist. Don’t make a number of want lists. Simply make one. One of the vital essential issues (individuals do that fallacious yearly so PLEASE do that half proper) is that you simply have to assign a delivery deal with for this particular model new wishlist. It doesn’t matter in case you’ve achieved it earlier than or assume it’s in your profile. You need to do it for this new wishlist particularly right now or it gained’t work. I’ll provide the particulars on organising the wishlist beneath.
What if I need to make want lists to shock different individuals who I believe need assistance?
Nope. As a result of then we find yourself sending a number of issues to the identical individuals. However you may completely encourage them to go surfing and make their very own. That is for anybody struggling to get a toy for his or her little one this vacation (and sure, that absolutely consists of teenagers and grownup youngsters with particular wants).
I’ve by no means achieved this earlier than. How do I make a wishlist?
It’s fairly fast and straightforward in case you comply with the components. I’ll stroll you thru step-by-step:
On Amazon, click on on “Accounts & Lists” (on the highest proper), select “lists” after which on “Create an inventory”.
Title it “James Garfield 2024” then click on “create”. This offers you a clean non-public wishlist with nothing on it.
On the appropriate you’ll see one thing that claims “…Extra“. Click on on that and select “Handle listing.” Change “non-public” to “PUBLIC” so we are able to see it. Within the “description” half simply put what number of children your listing is for. YOU MUST ADD YOUR ADDRESS FOR THIS SPECIFIC LIST so click on on the drop-down for the delivery deal with and alter it from “none” to your deal with. PLEASE DON’T SKIP THIS PART. Please be sure that the checkboxes “maintain bought gadgets in your listing” and “don’t spoil my surprises” are NOT checked. Now return and double-check each single factor on this paragraph. Is all of it good? Superior! Click on “Save adjustments”.
Now simply go decide one of many above stuffed lovies to your kiddo. When you have got the one you need click on on the “Add to listing” drop down arrow on the appropriate (it’s underneath the place the value is) after which choose your “James Garfield 2024” listing. Click on “view your listing” to ensure it’s added. If every thing is correct it is best to have your stuffed animal(s) on the wishlist web page and whenever you click on on the “…extra” button it ought to say that your wishlist is public and your deal with ought to present up within the “…extra” field and double examine that “don’t spoil my surprises” and “maintain bought gadgets in your listing” ARE NOT checked. (Individuals will see the town and state you might be in, however your final identify and the remainder of your deal with is hidden.)
When you’ve got one other child simply return to the listing and decide a gift for them and add it to the identical listing.
Copy the hyperlink to your wishlist. Now you go to the feedback beneath and go away a remark saying what number of children you have got, what metropolis and state you might be in, and a paste within the hyperlink to your wishlist. That’s it!
So for instance, I might say, “Hello. I dwell in San Antonio Texas, and I’ve one child who would love a kitty. Right here’s my listing: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/VH9X1VPXAPA8/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
Thanks!”
Now…to buy groceries. Blissful James Garfield Day!
PS. Please please please double examine earlier than you hit the submit button that you’ve got assigned a delivery deal with to your wishlist, that it’s “public” and that your remark has a hyperlink to your wishlist, the town and state you reside it and the variety of children you have got. Love!
PPS. That is considered one of my favourite issues to do annually but it surely isn’t good. Yearly some packing containers go lacking. Some get delivered after Christmas. Miscommunications occur. However I’d moderately attempt to do one thing small and fantastic even when it isn’t good. Thanks to each single one that asks for assist, to each single particular person to who helps and particularly to those that have achieved each. Yearly now we have individuals who’ve been helped earlier than who’re so pleased to assist this yr, or individuals who’ve helped earlier than however now need assistance themselves. I do know what it feels wish to be in each of these locations and I’m wishing love and light-weight to each single one that reads this.
PPPS. Once you select one thing to your wishlist be sure that it nonetheless says “delivers earlier than xmas” as a result of a number of the issues could promote out and never restock in time. 🙂 As of the time I’m penning this all of the stuffed animals arrive earlier than xmas but when they begin to promote out and need to restock it’d trigger your stuff to return in later.
Blissful holidays, y’all!
