Family Fun

Toys for Tots 2023 Christmas Fun Center

Experience the magic of Christmas at the Toys for Tots 2023 Fun Center!🧑‍🎄🎄

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Toys For Tots | Toys for Tots | Shield Insurance Agency Blog

NOTE: TOY DISTRIBUTION DATES FOR KENT COUNTY: DECEMBER 16, 2023

Fun activities for kids “from 1 to 92” and beyond!

Our Marines and volunteers are determined to spread some fun and joy throughout the holiday season.

These fun activities are designed to bring you joy and much-deserved cheer!

Please help yourself to any of these fun Christmas holiday activities. And feel free to share them with friends and family!

LETTERS TO SANTAFUN COLORING PAGESMAZES AND MORE
Naughty or Nice 🙂
I’ve Been Very Good
Dear Santa
Fill in the Blanks Letter





Christmas Fireplace
Santa Reading His Mail
Down the Chimney
A LOT of Presents
Festive Snow Globe
Up on a Housetop
Snowman Ornament
A Train Full of Toys
Skiing Santa Claus
Speedy Snowman Delivery		Help Santa Find His Bag
Popular Puppy Dog Maze
Christmas Word Search
Snowman Maze
Connect the Dots Stocking
Fill the Stocking Maze
Crazy Sledding Maze
Tree Decorating Maze
Popular Tricky Word Search

FOR MORE FUN be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

And if you’re able to donate to our ‘Tis the season Toy Drive, please do so. Thank you!

GIVE TO OUR TOY DRIVE NOW >>

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program

Toys for Tots MISSION:


The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Toys for Tots GOAL:

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

ACTIVITIES:

The principal Toys for Tots activity which takes place each year is the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located.  In communities without a Reserve Unit, the campaign can be conducted by a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women, generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign.  Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.

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7 Fun things to do after Thanksgiving

7 Fun things to do after Thanksgiving

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San Diego Family Magazine | Thanksgiving | More Blogs from Shield

After Thanksgiving dinner, make memories with friends and family by enjoying long-time traditions or creating new ones. Here are some ideas:

1. Host a post-Thanksgiving game night. 

Ask guests to bring their favorite board game. Be sure to have games on hand that are appropriate for all the kids who will be at your house, including teenagers and preschoolers. After dinner is cleaned up, pull out the games and help everyone find one to play. You can also play a group game, such as Balderdash, Pictionary or Catch Phrase. Katie Roger’s family always played games together after dinner and says, “Some of my favorite memories growing up are from these times.” Need more ideas? Find a list of fun family board games here.

2. Head outdoors. Divide your guests into teams and have fun playing a friendly game of touch football. Be sure to clearly communicate the rules. Or, play Hide and Seek, Kick-the-Can or Capture the Flag with a big group.

If you’re feeling adventurous, head to a nearby canyon, beach or wilderness area and explore local hiking trails together. Find a list of San Diego’s favorite hiking trails here. Take a family walk or bike ride in your neighborhood. Remember to have guests bring walking shoes or bicycles when you invite them to dinner.

3. Create a family scrapbook. Ask each family member to bring a few favorite family photos to Thanksgiving dinner. Provide colored cardstock, patterned paper, glue sticks, stickers, pens and scissors. Have each person create a scrapbook page using the pictures and write their memories on the page. When everyone is finished, add the pages to an album. Be sure to include the date and artist on each scrapbook page. Next year, create more scrapbook pages and add to the album each year.

4. Write thankful letters. Have each guest think of one person for whom they are especially thankful this year. Hand out pens and paper and encourage your guests to write the person a letter telling them why they are special. Include preschoolers in this activity by having them dictate the letter to an adult or an older child. When everyone is done, provide envelopes and stamps and drop the letters into a mailbox.

5. Decorate for the holidays. Consider decorating for the holidays on Thanksgiving evening to include your guests in the festivities. Some families pick out a Christmas tree together on Thanksgiving to decorate later in the weekend.

Another idea is to make holiday decorations together after dinner. Some simple ideas include paper chains, salt dough ornaments and bead ornaments. When coming up with a project, be sure to include young children who might want to participate and provide alternate crafts if you have guests who celebrate Hanukkah or other holidays. Find a bunch of fun holiday crafts here.

6. Volunteer together. Consider heading to a soup kitchen, shelter or local 5K to help serve meals or pass out water. Find ideas on where to volunteer in San Diego in “Put Gratitude into Action.”

“I want my kids to see the blessing they have while at the same time serving others who are not as fortunate,” says Mary Ford.

Click here for the full story…

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Sparta Hay Bale Decorating Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Decorating a Hay Bale in Sparta Michigan

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Sparta Hay Bale Decorating Contest!

TO DECORATE:

Email chamber@spartami.org to register to decorate a bale! A location will be randomly selected for you, the hay bale decorating must be completed by Sept. 12

DISPLAY:

The decorated bales will be on display from Sept. 13-Sept. 26

TO VOTE:

Voting will be done TWO ways: 1, we will have a “like” contest on a Facebook post (that will be posted with a photo of each bale, this will be posted September 14!) AND voting will take place IN PERSON during Michigan Apple Fest in the Sparta Chamber Offices! The combination of both votes will be the placing of 1st, 2nd, 3rd places!

PRIZES:

The top 3 places will be awarded $100 in SPARTA BUCKS!

RULES: The hay bale must stay upright as you find it. Add decor, paint, pics, etc. into the hay bale, the items must be removed by Sept. 26 or the items will be thrown away. Photos of your bale will be taken on Monday, September 13 for voting.

We are getting so excited, we wanted to pull up some photos from last year for some inspiration!!

Click here for the details!

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