TOUR AMERICA, 2019: PHOENIX, ARIZONA – THE GRAND CANYON STATE

Places We Have Called Home In 2019

Dec 16, 2019

Temperature 59 Degrees

Week Three, Day One, Overflowing With Toys

OK, its Monday and that means only one thing – Off to work we go!  And a chilly Monday it is, only 48 degrees.  No shorts or T-shirt this morning.

A simple breakfast this morning.  An everything bagel, a glass of orange juice and a couple of cups of coffee.  Time, for some reason, got away from us and before we knew it, it was time to leave for devotions.

We’ve begun counting down the days.  This is our last regular week of work.  Then on December 27th we pull up the jacks and roll out of here.  Getting anxious.

Its Week Three, Day One.  One big project was finished.  We nearly drowned in the sea of toys that came in.  We have one more major project to complete before the end of the week.

The storage shelves on the third floor are finished.

The local radio stations held their annual Christmas Toy Drive this past weekend.

One by one their vans came rolling in.

Each filled front to back with all kinds of toys.

Each found a spot to back in by the front door.

It was all hands on deck – staff and NOMADS – working to empty them.

One by one they were emptied and soon we had a mountain of toys.

There were bikes enough for everyone.

Here is the toy room once everything was sorted and put in its place.

Lego’s anyone?

Remote controlled toys.

We have Hot Wheels as well.

 

Footballs, basketballs, Nerf balls, it’s all here.

 

Dolls for girls of all ages.

Barbie Dolls for little girls.

Board games for all ages.

The potpourri box – which by the way was empty by 2 pm.  The individuals in the pictures above are the case workers who are shopping for their clients.

Toys in hand they move to the wrapping room.

Presents wrapped and ready to give to needy families.

But not all donated toys can be given to families at the shelter.

No bikes are given out at Christmas.

Nor scooters or skateboards.  Reason?  They can’t have kids racing around the apartment complex running over or into others.  Instead, they save these toys and give them to kids when the family leaves the apartment complex for a home of their own.

Toys like these – bats, toy guns, dart boards, Army figures with weapons and others like this – are not given out either.  They call these trauma triggers and so they are set off to the side and usually given to other agencies who can give them to their clients.

That was our day in the toy room today.

One more major project to complete before the week is out.

We’ve been asked to repaint the dining room.

Which color will it be?  Time will tell, we don’t even know yet.  When they hand the paint to us then we’ll know and let you know.

Week Three, Day One is in the books.  Once again we were able to accomplish all that was assigned to us.  We go home dragging but feeling good about what we’re doing for others.

Our day on The Road of Retirement has come to a close.  Time to get some warm PJ’s on since the temperature is dropping like a rock.  It’s only 9 pm and we’re already down in the high 40’s.  Climbing under the covers is going to feel oh so good tonight.

Thanks again for being a part of our day.  We always enjoy your company and your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!