Delaware County Shopping Guide

Hi friends!  We've put together a list of fantastic local people & resources to help you find great options for holiday shopping right in your back yard.  There are so many great option, this list only scratches the surface!  Helping local businesses and people is always good for Delaware County!  I encourage you to look around close to home to find unique gifts that the people in your life would like to receive! 

Family Gifts: Great options for a one shot deal!

• The Media Theatre close to home and lots of fun!
• Arden Theatre Tickets My family loves going to the children's theater & my husband & I enjoy going without the kids!
• Tyler Arboretum Membership: Tons of family fun throughout the year and plenty of room for energetic kids to run, the Tyler Arboretum offers something for everyone in the family.
• Wilmington Blue Rocks :  A variety of game packages, the Blue Rocks will entertain your family all summer long.  Package tickets with t-shirts and hats to make a great winter holiday gift!
• Weld Photography Give the gift of a portrait session with Weld Photography. Purchase a Special Discounted Gift Certificate for a Mini Portrait Session using discount code: DELCOMOM.
  Give this gift for the holiday and schedule a portrait session for later in the year...or use it right away to schedule Holiday Portraits!

For the Kids:
Raise your hand if you need one more toy in your house.....(all you hear are crickets here!)  Giving the gift of an experience not only lasts longer, but often exposes children to things they may have never known!

• Please Touch Museum
• Philadelphia Zoo
• Guitar and lessons---what a cool gift idea and of course a local store!  Richard's Guitar Studio offers a ton of lessons and a variety of teachers to get your kid interested in guitar! Mention this list & you receive 1/2 off your first month of lessons!
• Upper Darby Performing Arts Center-get tickets to one show or buy an entire season!  

For Him or Her:

• Longwood Gardens
• 31 Gifts has some very feminine prints, it does have a few options for men that won't break the bank!  Right now, spend $35 before tax & shipping and get a Medium Utility Tote for only $5!!! 
• LuLu's at Booths Corner in Aston.  I had multiple emails about the store & they have such cool jewelry! &nbsp
• Finlandia-has tons of interesting options!  
• Iron Hill Brewery Beer Gift Package (if you're looking for me, I'd take this!)
• MJ's Massage Studio MJ is great at what he does & always has a special that makes the massage not only feel good but affordable!  

Miscellaneous items:

• Main Line Art Center---Give the gift of art!  They have gift certificates available if you want to make sure your giftee gets exactly what they're looking for!  (Craft Sale starts November 30th)
• I love these hand made crafts by Laura Plum Designs! Unique scrabble tile ornaments or Sea Glass jewelry.  Awesome!
• Earth and State in Media has a ton of great items in varying price ranges, so there is something on everyone's list! 
• Bevans----who doesn't like candy!  I get candy here every single year! 
• Chadds Ford Winery

For the person on your list who has everything, consider making a donation!  Donations to local charties such as Kisses for Kyle,  Cradles to Crayons, Delaware County SPCA and Philabundance also stay local and help people in need who might be our neighbors & friends!  

Favorite Local Nonprofit

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! In honor of all the winter holidays, I'm participating in the 12 days of Holidays Carnival. Starting today, I'm posting my favorite holiday traditions, budget friendly ideas, etc.  I'll also be linking up with some of my favorite bloggers!

Today's topic:  1. Favorite Local Nonprofit

This is a tough one for me.  There are so many great nonprofits that help so many people in our area.  So I'll list my top three~maybe cheating but I don't care!

#1.  Philabundance:  Did you know there are nearly 1 million people who face hunger every day in the Delaware Valley?  "Philabundance was created in 1984 with the simple belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry."  Philabundance is the areas largest food bank and can feed one person for as little as 30 cents.  Find more information and consider making a donation at http://www.philabundance.org/

#2.  Cradles to Crayons:  How can this not be my top 3?!  The mission of Cradles to Crayons (C2C) is to provide children living in low income and homeless situations from birth to preteen the basic essentials,free of charge, that they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn.  What I love the most about C2C is that it is so easy to help.  I can donate the clothes my children have never worn or worn very little & that makes a big difference in the life of another child!   C2C also accepts monetary donations.  To learn more check out http://cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia/about-us. 

#3.  Delaware County SPCA:  I have to be honest, I've know about the SPCA for a while but until we decided it was time to get a dog for our family, I had never been to the SPCA.  One trip was all it took, we found a great dog that our family loves and it made us realize how many other animals need the help of organizations like the SPCA. No donation it too big or too small.  Old towels and blankets, they use them for the animals, a few minutes a week to walk a dog, you can help too!  This year my 8 year old daughter wants to use some of her birthday money to buy treats for the dogs who are still at the SPCA.  I love that we have found an organization that she wants to help!  If you're interested in finding out more about the SPCA or considering adopting a pet of your own go to http://delcospca.org/. 

What are your favorite local nonprofit organizations?  Do any of yours match mine?

Stamp Out Hunger

On Saturday, May 14, the Delaware Valley’s letter carriers will again help Stamp Out Hunger! across America with your help in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger.


Now in its 19th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! Food drive is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Last year the Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected a record 77.1 million pounds of food donations, pushing the 18-year total to more than one billion pounds of food.

Supporting the drive this year are Campbell Soup Company, the U.S. Postal Service, National Association of Letter Carriers and Feeding America, Valpak, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, the AFL-CIO, United Way and Uncle Bob’s Self Storage.

To help Stamp Out Hunger! in the Delaware Valley this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 14. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Local letter carriers will be collecting donations from homes across the Delaware Valley and delivering them to Philabundance.

“As letter carriers, we see people on our routes six days a week that must rely on the generosity and assistance of others to help provide something as basic as a meal. We’re proud to have established a program that truly provides assistance in every community across the country,” said Rolando.

Donations can be made by visiting www.Facebook.com/StampOutHunger.
The need for food assistance across America has never been greater. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in a food insecure home surpassed 50 million in 2009 (the most recent year that such data is available). Perhaps most alarming is that approximately one-third of those at risk of hunger are children (17.2 million).

For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger food drive in the Delaware Valley, ask a letter carrier, contact a local post office, or visit www.philabundance.org,  www.helpstampouthunger.com, www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, or www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

SHARE THE HARVEST 2011

Philadelphia, Pa. -- March 10, 2011 – Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, is gearing up for the annual Share the Harvest program. As planting season approaches, Philabundance is asking gardeners to sow an extra row dedicated to donating to help their neighbors in need.

Share the Harvest 2011 is a program that encourages home gardeners to grow extra vegetables or collect
any surplus vegetables from their harvest and donate to Philabundance to fight hunger in the Delaware Valley. From July 9th through Sept. 24th, 2011, Philabundance will accept produce donations on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 11 locations throughout the Delaware Valley (see list of drop-off sites below).

92.5 XTU, Philadelphia’s country music station, is partnering with Philabundance for the 5th year in a row and has committed to a summer-long effort to encourage people to share their garden with their neighbors in need.
Rising food and gas prices have compounded to drive up the cost of produce and decrease the amount donated to Philabundance by suppliers. Produce donations in 2010 were down by 7 percent compared to 2009 donations. As a result, Philabundance must substitute with more dry goods, of which donations are also down, adding to the challenge of meeting the increased demand for food aid in the region.
According to a report released in late 2010, by the USDA, the tough economy saw more than 50 million Americans struggle to get enough food to eat in 2009, while Garden Writers Association said there are 84 million gardening households in the U.S.
Philabundance hopes that the grow-your-own movement will inspire gardeners to help fight hunger and increase the access for those in need of fresh produce, as it is the first thing cut from the grocery list when money is tight. Last year, gardeners donated 7,600 pounds of produce through the Share the Harvest program.

Share the Harvest drop-off sites include the locations below, and more locations may be added. For more information, visit www.philabundance.org.


Delaware County Drop Off Locations: Rose Tree Park, 1971 N. Providence Rd., Media
                                                           Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media

Philabundance-Spread the Love Update!

I know my readers and friends really stepped up to the plate... I'm sure some of you did it on your own or because you saw it on someone Facebook wall, but 287 of my friends are also fans!  So totally awesome!

On Thursday, February 24th ShopRite delivered 4,800 jars of peanut butter and jelly to Philabundance as part of the Spread the Love food drive. For the second year in a row, ShopRite pledged to donate a jar of peanut butter or jelly for every new Facebook fan Philabundance acquired from January 31st through February 14th. The 15-day Spread the Love campaign gained nearly 4,800 new fans for Philabundance, a more than 50% increase from last year’s food drive.

The second annual Spread the Love food drive offered neighbors in the Delaware Valley easy ways to give back to the community, all in the name of love and just in time for Valentine’s Day. Ways to ”spread the love” included becoming a fan of Philabundance on Facebook, attending the Spread the Love event to donate jars of peanut butter and jelly or signing up for Philabundance’s e-Newsletter, FreshNews. Those who signed up for FreshNews and also attended the event with a PB&J donation were entered in a contest to win a $500 travel voucher from US Airways.

Become a fan of Philabundance!

With the help of Mix 106.1 and ShopRite, neighbors in the Delaware Valley can easily Spread the Love and provide a jar of peanut butter or jelly to those in need by simply becoming a fan of Philabundance on Facebook!
Everyone should sign up at Pound for Pound Challenge to participate.

ShopRite will donate a jar of peanut butter or jelly to Philabundance for every new fan that “Likes” Philabundance on Facebook January 31st through February 14th. Online donations can be made via Mix 106.1’s website, www.mixphiladelphia.com or www.philabundance.org and all proceeds will go to purchase peanut butter and jelly for people in need. And, participants can donate plastic jars of peanut butter or jelly at the Spread the Love event on February 12th from 10 am- 2 pm at the Farmer’s Market at Suburban Square, Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore, PA.

Help Philabundance-Its FREE & SOOO EASY!!!

With the help of Mix 106.1 and ShopRite, neighbors in the Delaware Valley can easily Spread the Love and provide a jar of peanut butter or jelly to those in need by simply becoming a fan of Philabundance on Facebook!
Everyone should sign up at Pound for Pound Challenge to participate.

ShopRite will donate a jar of peanut butter or jelly to Philabundance for every new fan that “Likes” Philabundance on Facebook January 31st through February 14th. Online donations can be made via Mix 106.1’s website, www.mixphiladelphia.com or www.philabundance.org and all proceeds will go to purchase peanut butter and jelly for people in need. And, participants can donate plastic jars of peanut butter or jelly at the Spread the Love event on February 12th from 10 am- 2 pm at the Farmer’s Market at Suburban Square, Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore, PA.

Help Philabunance for FREE & EASY

Did you know that Philabundance is participating in the third annual Pound for Pound Challenge? The Challenge works in conjunction with NBC’s The Biggest Loser and offers people an opportunity to pledge their weight loss goals online to help feed those in need... I LOVE the Biggest Loser and watch it every week. It takes less than 5 minutes to register on the site and there is even an option to maintain your weight..which is the equivalent of 5 pounds for the challenge. This is a chance to not only help yourself but to help families in the Philadelphia area eat this winter. Its a win-win!

Everyone should sign up at Pound for Pound Challenge to register!

In fact at Delaware County Moms, we're going to have a once a week check in...I want you to tell me if you worked out for the week. You don't even need to leave you're name, be anonymous and walk! This will start next week, so start now!!!