Hi there and welcome to the SIXTEENTH ANNUAL James Garfield Miracle! (HOW??)
“What’s the James Garfield Miracle?” you might be asking.
You have to be new right here. HELLO AND WELCOME.
16 years in the past I walked into an property sale and fell in love with an historic taxidermied boars head that appeared so rattling completely happy 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 in my new workplace, in truth and he’s older however nonetheless magnificent….as are all of us.)
However Victor wasn’t fully 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 present presents to the children of people that have been struggling that 12 months as a result of I’ve been there prior to now myself. And I purchased items for the primary 30 one thing individuals after which I ran out of cash however then instantly everybody within the feedback have been like, “I WANT TO HELP A STRANGER IN NEED! LET ME BUY A GIFT FOR SOMEONE” and that’s how this instantly turned 16 years of a wierd group challenge of strangers serving to strangers anonymously and it’s fairly rattling superb.
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 a number of years in the past we determined to only give out teddy bears. Why? As a result of everybody loves teddy bears (hell, I 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 12 months I’m sending out 150+ teddy bears to children proper right here.
That’s it. Simply candy, snuggly teddy bears. Nicely, 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 a number of different stuffed animals you possibly can select from in case you have an eye-devouring child or your youngster 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 all the things they want, however I’d wish to think about that even individuals who could also be disillusioned that we’re simply doing stuffed animals will at the very least be completely happy imagining all the children discovering sudden fluffy new stuffed animals of their arms this vacation. It makes me smile, at the very least.
So, if you’re struggling this 12 months and also you need assistance getting your youngster 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 or give one anonymously.
Listed here are the hyperlinks for the plushes you possibly can decide from. Select the one which greatest works to your child:
microwavable weighted cow plushie
Squishmallow kodiak bear with bucket hat
Presently these are throughout $15-$25 every however Amazon may 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 instantly skyrocket in worth from $20 to $180. (Wtf, Amazon?) If I haven’t purchased you a stuffed animal it’s most likely as a result of they bought out, jacked up the value, otherwise you forgot so as to add your tackle so simply come again and check out once more. I chosen solely stuffed animals which can be prime eligible and have at the very least 20 or extra in inventory but when they begin to run out I’ll swap to one thing else that meets the standards.
(Additionally, I take advantage of numerous the earnings I make on advertisements and stuff to purchase toys for youths, and all the royalties from the 2026 Bloggess Calendar go to this as properly, in order that implies that should you’ve even clicked on a hyperlink this 12 months or purchased an advert or a guide, then you’re the cause why I’m going to have the ability to purchase toys for at the very least 150 children this 12 months. I’m so grateful. Thanks!)
The wishlists needs to be posted within the feedback so (as at all times) if you wish to purchase a gift for a stranger you completely can. Or you possibly can donate to Undertaking Night time Night time, an superb group that gives a tote bag, guide, stuffed animal and safety blanket to displaced children all year long. They’re FANTASTIC they usually have extra requests than they will fill so I can’t suggest them sufficient. The truth is, tomorrow I’ll be donating $1,000 to them in your identify. WHOOP!
SO…in order for you in on this it’s important to learn all of the instructions and keep on with the principles or in any other case you can be set on hearth and pushed out a shifting aircraft. Or perhaps I’ll simply delete your remark and take a look at you with that disillusioned look your mother provides you when she is aware of you’re attempting however are nonetheless fucking up. A type of. Listed here are the principles:
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 sometimes greater than I can deal with. (If there’s nothing on their checklist whenever you click on it it means their toy was already bought- yay!) Purchase their current and be certain whenever you try that you choose their delivery tackle as an alternative of defaulting to yours. (It received’t provide you with their full tackle but it surely’ll inform you the city you’re delivery it to so you possibly can evaluate it to their remark to be sure to have the proper particular person.) For those who attempt to fill a wishlist but it surely doesn’t provide you with a delivery tackle to decide on meaning the particular person didn’t assign a delivery tackle to their checklist 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 could get a bit backlogged once I’m within the automotive, eat 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 keep on with the principles, please. (That is a technique we make it possible for 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 it is a nice solution to do it.
You might be my particular angel. Listed here are the issues it’s important to know and should you do them fallacious you’ll get deleted so learn rigorously, okay?: It’s a must to make a BRAND NEW wishlist at present, you possibly can solely select one stuffed animal per youngster to place in your wishlist, and it needs to be one of many ones above. I’ll stroll you thru it under. Then simply come to this publish 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 just have to assign a delivery tackle for this particular model new wishlist. It doesn’t matter should you’ve finished it earlier than or suppose it’s in your profile. It’s a must to do it for this new wishlist particularly at present or it received’t allow us to ship you something. I’ll provide the particulars on establishing the wishlist under.
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 possibly can completely encourage them to go surfing or assist them make their very own. That is for anybody struggling to get a toy for his or her youngster this vacation (and sure, that absolutely contains teenagers and grownup kids with particular wants).
I’ve by no means finished this earlier than. How do I make a wishlist?
It’s fairly fast and simple should you observe the formulation. I’ll stroll you thru step-by-step:
On Amazon, click on on “Accounts & Lists” (on the highest proper), select “Create an inventory” from the dropdown. (Typically it’s underneath “your lists” should you can’t discover it.)
Create a model new checklist and identify it “James Garfield 2025” then click on “create”. This offers you a clean personal wishlist with nothing on it.
On the proper you’ll see a button that claims “…“. Click on on that and select “Handle checklist.” Change “personal” to “PUBLIC” so we will see it. Within the “description” half simply put what number of children your checklist is for. YOU MUST ADD YOUR ADDRESS FOR THIS SPECIFIC LIST so click on on the drop-down for the delivery tackle and alter it from “none” to your tackle. PLEASE DON’T SKIP THIS PART. Please make it possible for all of the checkboxes on the backside are UNCHECKED. Which means make it possible for “maintain bought gadgets in your checklist” 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 searching for one of many above stuffed lovies to your kiddo. When you have got the one you need click on on the “Add to checklist” drop down arrow on the proper (it’s underneath the place the value is) after which choose your “James Garfield 2025” checklist. Click on “view your checklist” to ensure it’s added. If all the things is correct it’s best to have your stuffed animal(s) on the wishlist web page and whenever you click on on the “…” button once more it ought to say that your wishlist is public and your tackle ought to present up in the identical field and double examine that “don’t spoil my surprises” and “maintain bought gadgets in your checklist” ARE NOT checked. (Folks will see the town and state you’re in, however your final identify and the remainder of your tackle is hidden.)
When you’ve got one other child simply return to the checklist and decide a gift for them and add it to the identical checklist.
When you have got one stuffed animal for every child in your wishlist copy the hyperlink to your wishlist. Now you go to the feedback under and go away a remark saying what number of children you have got, what metropolis and state you’re in, and a paste within the hyperlink to your wishlist. That’s it!
So for instance, a remark from me would appear like this:
“Hello. I dwell in San Antonio Texas, and I’ve one child who would love an elephant. Right here’s my checklist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3CX4A420GS5MG
Thanks!”
Now…buy groceries. Comfortable James Garfield Day!
PS. Please please please double examine earlier than you hit the submit button that you’ve got assigned a delivery tackle 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 one in every 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 quite attempt to do one thing small and great even when it isn’t good. Thanks to each single one who asks for assist, to each single particular person to who helps and particularly to those that have finished each. Yearly we’ve individuals who’ve been helped earlier than who’re so completely happy to assist this 12 months, 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 lightweight to each single one who reads this.
PPPS. Once you select one thing to your wishlist be certain it nonetheless says “delivers earlier than xmas” as a result of among the issues could promote out and never restock in time. 🙂 As of the time I’m scripting 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. I’ll attempt to maintain including different choices if issues begin to run out.
Comfortable holidays, y’all!
