Gift ideas, items help nonprofits

The gifts are as varied as the organizations and the people they serve.

Ronald McDonald House

If you wish to give the gift of music, Ronald McDonald House is selling a unique collection of angel songs performed by local musicians, entitled “Soaring.” Proceeds from the $38 CD benefit the Ronald McDonald House, which offers support programs and a place for families to stay while their child is in the hospital far from home. “Every person who selects the CD as a gift is underwriting a night’s stay for a family in the House,” said Bonnie Keller, executive director.

The CD, put together entirely by volunteers and underwritten by Heather Ince and Gretchen Cilburn with Merrill Lynch, features local artists who contributed music with the angel theme.

Titles include “Teen Angel” by Robin Luke, “Angel of Harlem” by M-Dock Band, and Lori Anne Locke’s original, “I Know There Are Angels Watching Me.”

“We knew the project was good but we just love the music,” said Keller.

In addition to the Share a Night program that will be funded with CD proceeds, Keller said she hopes the fundraiser will draw more attention to a second Ronald McDonald House to be built in Springfield.

“It will be built at the same time as a new patient tower is built at St. John’s,” she said. “It will be inside the hospital on the fifth floor with the pediatric unit, burn unit and baby nursery. The location inside the hospital will enable the family to rest or get something to eat in a place that feels like home, yet is just down the hall from their hospitalized child.”

Ronald McDonald House hopes to surpass the $60,000 raised in last year’s Adopt a Room campaign. To purchase “Soaring,” go online to www.ronaldmcdonald

house.org, call 417-886-0225 or visit Ronald McDonald House, 949 E. Primrose.

Library gifts

The Springfield Greene-County Library is offering holiday gifts for the nostalgic that will raise money for the library’s children’s programs, such as the Wee Read and summer programs. The Between Friends gift shops, located in the concourse of the Library Center and Library Station, are offering a variety of choices to fulfill gift wishes of all ages.

Many gifts have a local connection. The most popular choice is the 2005 Weekly Planner, which sells for $15.

“It has old pictures of Springfield from original old postcards, with two postcards you can actually use,” said Between Friends manager Shelly Kaminski. “There’s photos of the square in 1860 and of a policeman with one of the cobras that escaped from the pet shop and other interesting events of the past.”

Jeanne Duffey, the library’s community relations director, said her department works together to design the planners, now in their third edition. “We locate local history resources and use postcards and photos from our own archives for the planner,” Duffey said. “People like them. Springfieldians can look at them and say, ‘I remember that.’”

Another hometown gift choice is the first in a series of AmeriScape ornaments, which features a detailed replica of the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library. The handcrafted resin ornaments, which sell for $20, are about 1.5 inches in diameter and are packaged in a decorated gold box. In addition, a VillageScape miniature commemorating the century-old Midtown Carnegie Branch Library sells for $22. These handcrafted resin miniatures are approximately 5.5 inches at the base and 2.25 inches tall. A parchment label on the back of the miniature gives a history of the original library.

Other choices include the Library latte mug, which sells for $6.50 each. For $12, shoppers can purchase a hat with the library’s name and logo. The library teddy bear, wearing a Springfield Greene-County Library sweatshirt, sells for $14. Library T-shirts are $20, and book bags that announce “Books Are My Bag,” are $5.50.

“One of my favorites is the Edgar Allan Poe-pourri,” said Kaminski. “We design and package it ourselves from Ozarks-made, sweet-smelling potpourri.” It sells for $5.

Between Friends will offer a Holiday Store for Kids Dec. 3–13, where volunteers will help kids choose gifts for family and friends. The gift shop is open from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. Shoppers also can order online at http://thelibrary.Springfield.

mo.org. Last year’s special programs raised $100,000 for the Library, Duffey said.

Zoo sales

Animal lovers can help the Dickerson Park Zoo this season by purchasing gift memberships or choosing from a variety of gifts in the Safari Trading Co. gift shop, which is open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.

Melinda Mancuso, director of public relations at the zoo, suggests Friends of the Zoo gift memberships for the entire family. For $45, the membership offers free admission to the zoo for one year, the zoo newsletter, admission to the Halloween Spooktacular, two two-day admission passes for friends, invites to members only events, discounts on special programs and children’s birthday parties as well as free admission to over 100 zoos and aquariums across the United States. The $45 cost covers a family with one or two adults and children under 18 or grandparents for one or two adults and their grandchildren. A Plus-One membership, also $45, is good for an adult plus one individual.

“We also offer the Adopt an Animal Packages, which is a great way to honor a person who loves animals,” said Mancuso. “If you have a boss that’s hard to buy for it’s a great out-of-the-ordinary idea. For $30, $50 or $100, you can adopt an animal. The animal is taken care of for one year in your name, with a name recognition plaque, an adoption certificate and photo of your animal, two one-day passes to the zoo and subscription to the zoo newsletter.” The $50 and $100 adoptions include additional benefits.

“The other option is to shop our sale in the Safari Trading Company gift shop,” Mancuso said. “Profits from all sales of merchandise in the shop benefit projects and programs at the zoo.” A special sale will be held Nov. 26-Dec. 24, during which the public will receive a 10 percent discount on regular-priced items and members will receive 20 percent off. “There’s a variety of merchandise in the store, including T-shirts, home décor items, realistic plush toys, games, books and jewelry,” she added. The gift shop netted $60,000 in 2003, and all money raised this year will be used for zoo programming, Mancuso said. Visitors are welcome to come to the gift shop without paying zoo admission to do their holiday shopping.

Variety

Branderosa Ranch, which provides equine therapy for disabled children and adults in Nixa, is offering lapel pins that feature sign language for “I love you.” Cathy Boyer, owner of the ranch, said the pins are gold with red, white and blue ribbons. The pins sell for $3.99 and will be available at local convenience stores or online at www.branderosa.org. Funds are being raised to build an indoor arena where children and adults can benefit from year-round therapy. The money also will help pay for lessons, which are $22 each, for those who cannot afford them.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters is offering “Kum & Go Gift Certificates” for $10, which include more than $25 in coupons redeemable at any Kum & Go. According to Laurie Soulsby, special events and recruiting director, the coupon book is in its first year as a holiday fundraiser for the organization. “We’d like to sell at least 100 of them,” she said. “They offer coupons on gas, drinks, treats, hot dogs, chips, coffee and other basic things you purchase at a convenience store.” Funds from the coupon books will help Big Brothers/Big Sisters maintain its community-based programs, and site-based programs, such as the after-school mentoring program.

To obtain a coupon book, call the Big Brothers, Big Sisters office at 417-889-9136, or mail a $10 check with your request to 1675 E. Seminole, Ste. J, Springfield, MO 65804, or stop by the office.

Well-wishers can purchase unique Christmas cards from CASA, which are designed by children from local art classes. More than 800 designs were submitted and 11 were chosen to create the cards, according to CASA administrative assistant Debbie Berger. “We’ve offered the Christmas cards for many years and it’s been a successful project for us,” she said. The designs were drawn in art classes across the community. The cards sell for $1.20 each. Orders from 100 cards to 800 cards are $1 per card; 800 cards or more are 75 cents per card. The cards can be ordered online at www.casaswmo.org or call the office at 417-864-7413. Proceeds will be used to train CASA volunteers and for mileage expenses. Last year, the fund-raiser netted $11,000 for the organization.