2011 Wish List

Stuffed Socks (All Sizes)

(See below for details)

Stuffed Animals (beanie baby size)

Hats and Gloves

Tied Baby Quilts (36X45 inch or bigger)

Fleece Blankets (1 1/3 yard by width of fleece)

4 ply Knitting Yarn

How to stuff your socks:

Use a new pair of white crew or tube socks

First sock contains:

Toothbrush

Soap

Shampoo

Toothpaste

Comb

Second sock contains:

Crayons

Small coloring book or notebook

Pencils

Pencil Sharpener

Pen

Small Toy (Example: rubber ball)

Small candy treat

Tie both socks together with ribbon securely and add a small stuffed animal (about Beanie baby size but doesn’t have to be a Beanie). The children treasure them and take them everywhere. These are just some ideas. We have found lots of things at dollar stores so check them out. Oriental Trading catalog is also a good resource. Toothbrushes are the only required item because they really need them. Please use things that look new if they are used. The children see what the others get especially in the boarding schools.

Day 5 Cont.

Here's a few of our favorite pictures from the week. By the end of the week we had given blankets and hygiene kits to over five thousand children! We also visited and took items to hundreds of elderly Hopi living on the Mesas. We had such a wonderful week and are so appreciative of all who helped and served!

Day 5

Here's a little peak at behind the scenes with Circle of Love. It takes a lot of hard working volunteers to deliver all of our donations. Items are all sorted and packaged before leaving Utah so it involves a lot of heavy loading and moving boxes. Our volunteers split into several groups and visit as many schools as they can. A typical day typically involves a lot of driving and setting up at many locations each day.

Thank you volunteers!

Day 4

One of the important goals of the Circle of Love volunteers is to not only to help keep the children warm but to teach them important skills such as knitting and crocheting so they can continue to make hats and ear warmers for their families. These teenage girls were provided with hats or stylish headbands and offered knitting looms if they wanted to learn how to create hats and headbands for family members. We always welcome donations of knitting looms, yarn, and crochet hooks if you have them!

A volunteer this year made adorable taggie blankets as toys for the little babies and toddlers. They were a big hit!

Day 3

A large majority of the children live in the school dorms during the week. There families are too far and remote for them to commute to school every day. Since the children have very little in their rooms one of their favorite activities that we provide is making their very own Christmas trees! A couple of wire coat hangers and tinsel strands and voila! A perfect dorm size tree for their rooms.

Day 2

Here we are visiting some of the younger Head Start children. They were so excited to meet Santa Clause! A very big thank you to those of you who donated knit hats. We are always excited to receive them and we save them for the younger kids. They are always very grateful to have a hat to help keep them warm in the winter.

Day 1 Cont.

While the children wait in line to receive their blankets and hygiene items many of our fabulous volunteers entertain the kids with Christmas music. We have some very talented volunteers!

And of course Christmas would not be complete without a visit from Santa! We are so grateful Santa is able to travel with us each year!

Christmas in Arizona Day 1

When the Circle of Love volunteers arrive at a school typically they set up a donation line where children can get in line for a new pair of socks. Inside they find a new toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, small bar of soap, pencils, paper, stuffed animal and a small toy. This year we were able to give each of the children a fleece blanket as well. Most years only the younger preschool children typically receive a blanket but this year we were able to give them to everyone due to the many volunteers through the Disney Give a Day program.

For most of these children this is all that they receive for Christmas. And for many it is all their entire family receives. When you give these children a blanket you are helping to keep the whole family warm. It seems strange that in the United States we have children who live this way. In fact many of these children do not have electricity or running water in their hogan's (home). These families live in such remote areas that few organizations are able to reach them. When Circle of Love first started going eleven years ago to these reservations Toys for Tots use to send retired marines to hand out toys alongside us. Due to the economy and remote locations now all the children receive are the items brought by Circle of Love and other organizations willing to drive the long distances on dirt roads.