The Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and Our 9th Annual Family Food and Toy Drive

We tried another new variation this year for our 9th annual family food and toy drive! We did the entire food and toy drive virtually, which is perfect for those who want to help but can’t get out as often, those who are overwhelmed by their December schedule, and children who get overwhelmed in a store’s toy department.

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The Kindness Elves and Pete the Cat Are a Fun Way to Encourage Participation in a Food and Toy Drive

We started participating in food and toy drives when my now-10-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, was 2 years old. The Kindness Elves met Pete the Cat and had a note that said “Let’s go to the food and toy drive with Pete the Cat and give it our all!”

“Give it our all” refers to a special message from Pete the Cat Saves Christmas. I love the message and song that runs through the book. While the book isn’t that understandable for babies and young toddlers, the song from it is still perfect (and toddlers do love the book):

“Give it your all, give it your all.

At Christmas we give,

so give it your all.”

You can listen to and learn the tune for the song at Harper Collins sing-along version of the book.

We continued to use Kindness Elves and Pete the Cat in our food and toy drive in 2016.

Our Pete the Cat Saves Christmas Doll joined us again in 2017 with the Kindness Elves (now a family with a baby). In addition to focusing on Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, we read books about hunger and poverty to give Zoey a deeper understanding about why we do the food and toy drive each year. (Note: The Pete the Cat Saves Christmas Doll is no longer available, but you could probably use a Pete the Cat plush doll with a cat or dog Santa hat if you want a Christmas version of Pete the Cat.)
In 2018, we were joined by a new baby and toddler in our family!

In 2019, we were joined by the Kindness Elves, Pete the Cat, and the entire families of both my now-adult kids for our 5th annual food and toy drive.

With the Covid pandemic, our 6th annual family food and toy drive went online and curbside in 2020.

In 2021, we had another online and curbside family food and toy drive.In 2022, we had an online family food and toy drive, but we delivered the food and toys to a donation center.

Our 9th Annual Family Food and Toy Drive in 2023 

Because of scheduling difficulties, our 9th annual family food and toy drive was a completely virtual one with the Kindness Elves and Pete the Cat, my granddaughters Zoey (10 years old) and Sophia (6 years old), my grandson Caleb (5¾ years old), and me.

As usual, the Kindness Elves and Pete the Cat were ready for our family food and toy drive.

Making Donations Virtually Through Instacart’s Community Carts and the Marine Toys for Tots Toy Box

We tried a totally virtual food and toy drive this year and found it’s a great option in so many ways!

I was excited that Instacart has a Community Carts feature now. There are food banks around the country that you can choose for your donation, and Instacart will deliver your donation to that food bank. We live in San Diego, so we chose Feeding San Diego. Our choice said this:

“Feeding San Diego

Donate items to help families get the food they need, and they’ll be delivered directly to this food bank.”

A good selection of items were given that were items most needed at that food bank. I was impressed that they were from Aldi because they were much less expensive than other grocery stores. A donation went a long way through Aldi! And there were many natural items as well as regular name-brand foods. Even though I probably wouldn’t shop at Aldi for fresh produce, Aldi seemed like a good choice for the products needed for the food bank.

Zoey, Sophia, and Caleb each chose some foods from the Community Carts page. I chose a few extra foods and placed the order. As usual, the Instacart receipt came through my email, although this receipt as listed as a donation. Our order was supposed to be delivered within 5 days, and the order was fulfilled and delivered to Feeding San Diego in two days. One item was out of stock, and I was notified through Instacart to make an alternate selection. I was even sent a photo of the delivery to Feeding San Diego. Such a great experience, and I loved knowing which items were most needed by Feeding San Diego!

Then Zoey, Sophia, and Caleb each chose a toy virtually from Toys for Tots Box (the Marine Toys for Tots virtual toy box).

The site (made by Tremor, a partner of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation) says:

“Simply select the child’s age and toys you would like to give and your donation will be distributed across the country to children who need them the most. As always, we’ll take care of the delivery (it’s our favorite part).”

The toys available when we placed our order ranged from $10 to $70 except one option for $155. I was impressed with the toys my grandkids picked … all very nice toys for children who wouldn’t be able to get Christmas presents like them otherwise. Placing the order was very simple. After I placed the order, my receipt came through my email. The receipt could be used as acknowledgement of a “Gift-in-Kind’ Donation if you choose.

My Favorite Parts of Our Virtual Family Food and Toy Drive

• I love the fact that it’s emotionally easier for young children to donate toys online. I’ve always been amazed at how well my grandkids have handled choosing a toy at a store for another child when they didn’t get one, but making the choices online eliminated any stress for them. (Note: When the choosing is done in a store, with toddlers and young preschoolers, I usually like to take the major role in choosing the toy. I focus on a toy the child loves but already has at home. That way, the giving experience is a joyful one. Otherwise, toddlers will generally want the donated toy themselves and might be sad about the experience.)
• Often, we have difficulty doing our food and toy drive early enough in the Christmas season to participate in local Christmas drives. I checked today, and both the Instacart Community Carts and Toys for Tots Toy Box are still available! I also love that the Toys for Tots Box will have Marines distribute the donations “across the country to children who need them the most.” I’m thankful that families who request toys for their children can still get them even if their requests are made late in the season.
• And they’re so simple to use. The holiday season is so busy, and it’s nice to know we can enjoy making a difference regardless of how busy we are.

I think the virtual drives might become our annual  tradition!

The Ultimate Guide to Kindness Elves

I’ve collected Kindness Elf activities and ideas since they first came out in 2013. You can find all of my Kindness Elf posts in my Ultimate Guide to Kindness Elves.

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