We can’t wait to share some of the amazing stories from this year, but for now….just the facts.

Thank you all so much!

Thanks so much to Nate Hill and the rest of the team at Kansas First News for letting us stop by and share about A Meal and a Toy. We didn’t have time to go into the great need behind why we are doing this project so you can find more info here or by watching this video

There is a giving link at the top right of this page. $10 can make a big difference! Thanks for your support

I remember very plainly meeting in downtown Topeka with a group of creative professionals from around Topeka to brainstorm for the second year of A Meal and a Toy in November of 2010.  While gathered around a Table in the middle of the Blue Planet Cafe, a small laptop began playing the video below…

when it was over the table burst into applause at what they had just seen, quite a statement from some of the brightest creative minds in our city.  Further praise was given when they found out the piece had been produced with zero budget  with no previous stop-motion experience.  The video was created by Wiljan and Jenelle VanNorel. (click to connect with them on Facebook)  Their desire was not to create a fancy video, but to do whatever they could to help the students from Lundgren Elementary school feel loved and supported during the Christmas season.  They succeeded, but at the same time made beautiful art that inspired people to be a part of the Christmas story, and care for some amazing kids!

Several Members of the creative professionals were so inspired by the video they decided to pay the significant entry fee and  entered it into the Annual Addy awards. The ADDY Awards are the world’s largest, and arguably, toughest advertising competition representing creative excellence and recognizing all forms of advertising, from media of all types, creative of all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world. (from the Addy Awards website)  The video received a Gold award in the public service category.  We are extremely proud of Wiljan and Jenelle and are so thankful for those who took the time and effort to nominate the video, ultimately helping spread the word about this great project.

Inspired by the creative excellence of Last years video, this years team put together a short piece hoping to inspire and encourage people to get caught up in these kids Christmas story again this year. (now 440 kids from two schools instead of just 200).  This piece was a collaboration between Lead Editor Josiah Engstrom and Matt Goodwin.

We hope you enjoy the videos, but more importantly we hope you will take a moment to help some students know that their community believes in them and is behind them.  We are working again this year to provide every student at State Street Elementary school a meal and a toy for Christmas. A little can gift can make a big difference!  (Giving link is in the top right by the way )

Click here for more detailed information about the project

This is a brief look at the need in the Oakland community, and how a small gift can make a huge difference. In its third year, A Meal and a Toy was originally created by Oakland Nazarene Church, but has very much become a community initiative (with various church, business, and organizational supporters) that seeks to let some great children know that they are loved, supported, and destined for great things! Special thanks to Josiah Engstrom and Matt Goodwin for their work on this video piece.

Please take a moment to watch and then help spread the word! And remember, a little gift can make a big difference!

Did you miss out on all the pandamonium last week? Still want to feel the rush of an amazing deal? Then we have something for you right now. Today and today only your donation will be matched dollar for dollar as you help these great students. $10 sponsors one student, so why not sponsor two or three? 100% of your money goes to funding this project. If you have questions or would like to get your office or organization involved, please contact us at amealandatoy@gmail.com
440 kids are counting on us, let’s show them we care!

For the last two years, we have had the privilege of partnering with the Oakland community to provide the students of Lundgren Elementary School a meal and a toy for the holiday season. This is a neighborhood with caring people and families, that struggles with 500 students below the national poverty level. Last year due to budget cuts the school district closed Lundgren, and moved the kids into State Street — the elementary school on the other side of Oakland.

This year we are partnering with State Street Elementary with the same mission of providing a meal and a toy for each student — but what used to be a school of 200 students is now part of a school with 440 students!

That means the need has more than doubled, and because of a few setbacks along the way — we are also starting a month later than last year! A gift of $10 will provide a meal and a toy to one student. This year we are also offering businesses an opportunity to adopt an entire class!

We say all of this to remind you that your partnership is more important than ever. Please give what you can, and pass the word. Tell your friends, get your family involved, update your Facebook status, and tweet it to the world — a Meal and a Toy is under way, and we need you to join us in giving the gift of hope this holiday season!

PS – Please click on the Facebook and Twitter icons in the top right corner of the page. “Like”-ing our Facebook page and following us on Twitter will help us spread the word!