Gift Guidelines

Thank you for “adopting” one or more of the kids for Christmas by sending them a gift! Please use the following guidelines to have the biggest and most positive impact:

  1. Plan to spend about $40 per child. This will help insure that there is equality between gifts, and no child gets way more or less than his/her peers.
  2. Buy fun and creative gifts that the kids can play with – no underwear, socks, toothbrushes, etc. Remember how you hated those gifts as a kid…
  3. Remember that these kids speak only Spanish – so no games in English or with lengthy instructions in English, books in English, etc.
  4. Please no toy guns or weapons.
  5. No recycled or used gifts.
  6. Make sure you buy age and gender appropriate gifts.
  7. Keep size in mind! We have to box all the gifts up and haul them to the orphanages. Your gift should fit into a reusable shopping bags that is around 12″x12″x8″. If you can deliver your gift in one of those bags that would be great as it makes packing easy, and the kids love the bags.
  8. Please DO NOT wrap your gifts. Due to inappropriate (and just straight up terrible) gifts we now have to check every single one before they go out to the kids.
  9. Try to buy a few gifts with your $40 budget. It is really fun for the kids to have a few presents to unwrap.
  10. Toys with lights or sounds are popular.
  11. It is great if you can add a Christmas card with a note to your kid in Spanish, and a family photo. They love to see who is sending them the gift!
  12. Adding some candy, cookies, or other little touches is always a bonus!
  13. Gifts must be delivered by Thanksgiving.

Gift Suggestions:

  • The younger boys love cars and trucks (especially remote control), planes and helicopters, action figures, anything that lights up, etc.
  • Teenager boys love anything remote control, baseball caps, hoodies, backpacks, watches, pocket knives, etc.
  • The younger girls love baby and fashion dolls, stuffed animals, backpacks, easy crafts, hair accessories, etc.
  • Teenage girls love jewelry, make up, perfume, hats, hair accessories, etc.

These are just suggestions – get creative!