Meet the founders of B&G Sponsored Events

Dear Vendors:

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT... STOP THE PRESSES!!!!

2022 Grampa Bill & Gramma Gail for Everyone Annual Free Community Toy Give Away

Annual Report 

This was our third year holding a Free Community Toy Give Away. First Christian Church of Tacoma once again donated us space to hold our event. Our event ran December 14th through December 21, 2022 (8 days for those who may be counting.) We outgrew the chapel we used last year and were allowed to use the gym for the actual toy/clothing give away and Stone Parlor for the gift wrapping and phone calling to schedule families to come get toys for their children. The year before this one, we held the event out of our home.

We gained a new name for our nonprofit this year. We are now known as "Grampa Bill & Gramma Gail for Everyone". We are still trying to obtain our 501C3 status. Hopefully this can be accomplished early 2023. Last year we were "B & G Sponsored Events Annual Toy Give Away” and were not an official nonprofit. We are official now. 

We realize that our event has grown so much, so fast, that we really NEED volunteers, and the perfect number of volunteers would be 22 all day long. Due to illness and injuries, several of our regulars were unable to help this year very much. Our list of volunteers got misplaced between the church and home after the event. Bill and I would like to thank Debbie McMillan, Holly Zerfass, Lacy, Cat Croft, Brandi Schisler, Marjorie, Frankie Sweet, Nick Sweet, Diane, Don Rowe, Clayton Rowe, Sharika, Angela Davis, Bob Johnson, the wonderful people from BECU, and the other young couple. I am so sorry I can't remember your names. Please, if you get a chance to read this, drop me a line so I can get your name added to this report. A great big hug and thank you to everyone who gave up your time to help make Christmas a little brighter for the children.

"Grampa Bill & Gramma Gail for Everyone" found themselves with the same trouble a lot of places have dealt with in the recent past.... we found ourselves short staffed. Most mornings Holly, Debbie, Bill and Gail opened the event, restocking tables, getting paperwork ready, etc. In the afternoon, several more volunteers came to loan a much needed helping hand. We really can't thank you all nearly enough!!

If you are a volunteer who signed up for next year, would you please e-mail me your name, and phone number as the volunteer list has gotten lost. bokworm234@aol.com 

We want to thank....

..... our new friends from the Children's Trading Post. Sage & Sabrina are the ones we had the privilege of working with directly for their donations of baby and children's clothes, toys, shoes, Stroller's, Highchair, car seats and more.

..... Jennifer and Debbie McMillan for their donations of lots of brand-new toys and all they’re behind the scenes help.

..... The donation of toys from the GA Group

..... The Financial donation of our friend Jim from GA

..... The financial donation from my dermatologist, Tory Foss..... 

The donation of toys from Martha Redford and her neighbor.... The donation of over 1,000 Teddy Bears from Bartell's Pharmacy....  The donation of hand crocheted scarfs and teddy bears from Mary Arrington... Don Rowe and his grandson, Clayton Funder sol, for the many hours they put in loading up the truck and moving the toys from the 

storage units to the church, cleaning up & taking the empty bins and left over items back to the storage units.

,,,,, The time put in by Brandi, Marjorie, Cat, Nik and Lacy working on the phones making and confirming appointments.

..... To our good friend Mark Fry, for being our "go to guy" helping wherever needed, bring out the shopping carts in the morning, 

helping carry things to people’s cars, rounding up carts left out in the parking lot and more.

Talking about donations, we are collecting books, toys, games, cash, etc. for this year’s give away. If you have any new or gently used items that need a new home or know of someone looking for a place to donate said items, please keep us in mind and give me a call or an e-mail so we can arrange to pick them up. bokworm234@aol.com or 253-831-7894. If I don't respond to you within 24 hours, please send again. E-mail is the BEST way to contact me. Please feel free to give our phone number out. 

I am excited to report that we have gotten a lot of donations already for this year’s toy give-away. We have a small Schwinn bicycle, a pink car shaped stroller, more clothes from the Trading post, a lot of like new toy cars, a gently used tricycle to name a very few things that have been checked in so far. 

We feel the event was very successful. Almost everyone seemed very pleased with the gifts they received for their children. Each child received a stuffed animal and two gifts. Parents also each received one free bag of clothing if they desired. Free meaning, they did not have to spend one of their "chips".

KEEP READING WE ARE ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM LINE:

Let me take a moment to tell you how we run the program before I give you the statistics for the eight days. The first thing that happens is we pre-register people. We scheduled them in 20-minute blocks. The person would come into the gym to check in. They would check their application and verify the information was correct and sign the disclaimer paperwork If they were a walk-in, they would fill out the walk in application and fill out their disclaimer paperwork. They would then receive an envelope with two tokens per child to "spend" however they liked. Each token equaled one gift. They then were given the opportunity to pick one free plush toy for each child. In their packet were ten free raffle tickets. They would put their name on the back of the raffle ticket and their phone number. There were several tables of raffle items. A zip lock bag was attached to each item that was to be raffled off. They could put one raffle ticket in each item they would like to have, or they could put all their tickets in one item. A copy of the rules for the raffle was in their packet. We drew the names at closing time the last day. Due to an ice storm, we extended the pickup time for the winners.

After the client was done shopping and doing the raffle, they had the option of having their items gift wrapped, free of charge. I heard a lot of laughter and talking from that area as new friends were made, and old ones reunited after a year.

Gramma Gail had a blast giving the little children who came with their parents rides on her knee on her electric wheelchair (we do not encourage the bringing of little ones unless you can't find a sitter or they are really too little to understand what is happening). Gramma Gail also has special items for "her special children who are on the spectrum" These gifts are given out in honor of her daughter Jennifer who is on the spectrum. 

Grampa Bill and Gramma Gail spent seven days in the hospital, getting out the day after Thanksgiving, both on oxygen therapy. Both were suffering from influenza A. The flu caused complications to Grampa's COPD. Gramma Gail had problems with her blood pressure going too low, her A fib got out of whack and her liver dried up. The doctor asked them if they could reschedule the giveaway, we told her that would be impossible, the show had to go on. And go on it did. It was a real challenge but one we look forward to every year. We already have our next Toy Give Away dates blocked out on the church's calendar. Look for our announcement on Face book at 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087837750946

THE BOTTOM LINE

In 2020 We held the very first toy gives away from our home. 

In 2021 We gave toys out to one thousand one hundred eighty-eight (1,188) children. We served three hundred and sixty-four (364) families. We set a goal to give to over 2,000 children in 2022.

We are very excited to announce: 

We gave toys out to TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT (2,198) children. We served FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINE (579) families.

NUMBER OF PRE-REGISTERED FAMILIES 465 

NUMBER OF WALK-IN FAMILIES  114

TOTAL FAMILIES 579

TOTAL CHILDREN SERVED 2,198Our goal for this year is well over 2,198. Gramma Gail wants the goal to be 3,000 :-) 

For those of you that have read this far, we thank you. I have been told I write too much so I do try to cut it down, without much success I admit but hey, you know what they say: Try, Try, again! never give up.

We want to wish you all a great new year. We hope to see you next year either as a client or a volunteer, or to give a donation or just to walk in and say hello!

With Much Love, We Work for You! Grampa Bill & Gramma Gail for Everyone

PLEASE READ EACH STATEMENT AND INITIAL THE LINE ON THE LEFT:

_____ Masks are currently still requested for vendors per church mandate

_____ I agree to follow the Code of Conduct. See website for code of conduct in its entirety.

_____ I agree not to hold B &G Sponsored Events and First Christian Church of Tacoma responsible for any loss, injury, or damage that may occur.

_____ B &G Sponsored Events reserves the right to restrict or remove exhibits, without refund that may be falsely entered or deemed unsuitable or objectionable.

_____ No children at the event. Well behaved young adults (13-17) permitted.

_____ There is NO SMOKING on campus. I understand I will need to go to the sidewalk if I must smoke or vape.

_____ I understand that table fees are non-refundable. If I cannot attend, I need to transfer or forfeit my space.

____ If I arrive after 9:30 a.m. my spot will be forfeited, and table fees are non-refundable.

_____ I understand that there is a $30 transfer fee if I give or sell my space. Transfer will not be confirmed until an application and transfer fee has been received by B & G Sponsored Events. Transfer must be completed five business days prior to event.

_____ B & G Sponsored Events offers a raffle at all their events. All proceeds from raffle are split

between Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and B & G Sponsored Events Annual Toy Giveaway for low-income families. Donations are not required but are appreciated.

____ Payment: Our preferred method of payment is PayPal Friends and Family. All PayPal

payments should be made to Bokworm234@aol.com Please include business name, your name, and the date of the show. If you choose to pay via “Goods and Services” please add an

additional $5.00 per space to cover PayPal fees. Checks are also accepted. There is a $40 fee for any bounced checks and you lose the benefit of using checks in the future. Your space is not confirmed until both the application and fees are received no matter which way you return your information. Cash also accepted.

____ If an act of God or some other incident should happen forcing B & G Sponsored Events to be unable to hold the event the following protocol will be followed:

1. If the problem affects only the current venue every effort will be made to find a new venue or reschedule the event at the same venue.

*This Terms and Agreement is in effect thru Dec 31,2022. A new one will be signed at the beginning of next year or until a change or addition must be made

2. If rescheduling is successful vendors shall be notified of the new date and be given the option of attending on the rescheduled date or a refund.

3. Once a vendor has decided to reschedule, they may not reschedule a reschedule.

If they find themselves unable to attend the rescheduled date their fee is forfeited.

4. If options one or two fail, then a refund of 75% per occurrence can be issued.

*I have fully read and  the above statements and will abide by all rules and regulations set forth.

__ I understand that by signing this document that I agree to the terms and agreements. I have waved all rights and claims against B & G Sponsored Events and First Christian Church of Tacoma as well as any of their employees or volunteers... 

Print Name: __________________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________________ Date:________

Company Name: _______________________________________

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Our new website is located at: http://bngsponsoredevents.com