203 1st Ave NE, Waverly, IA 50677
319-352-4223

The Holidays Are Upon Us

Each year, we like to do something special around the holidays that makes a tangible difference to someone’s life. For the last two years, we’ve sent boxes to our deployed service members and with the draw down of troops and the massive amount of items that our service members receive around Christmas, we’ve decided to concentrate our efforts closer to home. We’re still sending boxes overseas, just doing it on a smaller scale.

This year, we’ve decided to make a few families Christmas a bit more Christmasy by providing them with presents under an otherwise empty Christmas Tree. Each of the veteran families below have worked hard to get food on the table but simply haven’t been able to support the extras that so many of us can.

If you would like to donate towards one of the families listed below, simply drop off your new, unwrapped items at the office and we’ll make sure they get to where they need to go. If you’re worried about getting something that’s duplicated, check the homepage to our website and the items that have been already purchased will be indicated. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, you’re welcome to send or drop off your donation to the office or donate through our website. Simply enter in the comments which family you would like your donation to go towards.

Clarksville Family

This single female veteran has two sons and is also caring for her young niece. Their wishlist is below:

  • 11 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Yellow
    • Favorite Restaurant: Pizza Ranch
    • Hobbies: Drawing, reading science fiction, fantasy and book series’ and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He reads books at the one to five level.
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: YooHoo Chocolate Drink, A&W Cream Soda and root beer, apple juice, beef jerky, zebra cakes, red seedless grapes, fresh pineapple and Dole canned peaches
    • Favorite Products: Axe body wash, body spray and the Axe brown or blue shampoo
    • He’s saving up to enter Boy scouts and an Xbox360.
    • Favorite Leisure Activity: Soccer, playing in Nerf wars, playing Yu-Gi-Oh Card Games, camping, riding his bike, video games and painting and drawing.
    • Favorite Things: Outer Space, Star Wars, Angry Birds and the Dallas Cowboys
    • Needs
      • Thermal coat (Size 11-12)
      • Face mask
      • Thermal gloves (Size Small to Extra Small)
      • Sleepwear (Size 10-12) (1 pair purchased)
      • House shoes (Size 3.5)
    • Wants
      • Nerf weapons and accessories
      • XBox 360 with Minecraft
      • Echo movie
      • Smithsonian Planetarium

  • 4 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Green
    • Favorite Restaurant: Pizza Ranch
    • Hobbies: Drawing, cars, any sport, video games and acting
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Apple juice, root beer, light blue Gatorade, sweet tea, Honey peanut butter & jelly, beef jerky and Little Debbie Cakes
    • He’s saving up to join the Cub Scouts and to play baseball and soccer
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: Riding his bike, drawing, crafts, playing with bouncing balls, soccer and throwing the baseball around
    • Favorite Things: Spider Man, Thomas The Tank Engine, knights, castles and cars
    • Needs:
      • Coat (-15 degree rated) (Size 6-7)
      • Sleepwear (Size 6-7) (1 pair purchased)
      • House shoes (Size 13)
      • Jeans with pull tabs (Size 6-7)
      • Long-sleeve tops (Size 6-7) (1 shirt purchased)
    • Wants:
      • Planes 2 Rescue DVD
      • Rudolph interactive story Buddy
      • Castle tent
      • Castle play set with figures
      • Thomas the Train set

  • 3 y/o niece
    • Favorite Colors: Purple & pink
    • Favorite Restaurant: Olive Garden
    • Hobbies: Dancing, singing, drawing, puzzles and playing dress up
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: YooHoo strawberry drink, root beer, red and dark blue Gatorade, Sprite, hot chocolate with marshmallows, salad, canned peaches, fresh pineapple, original beef jerky and salt & vinegar chips
    • Favorite Products: Molding clay (white, able to bake and paintable)
    • She is saving for dance lessons and a plane ticket for her mother to come and see her
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: Camping, dancing, art and writing letters to her mom
    • Favorite Things: Sophia The First, Elsa from Frozen, princesses, American Girls and the My Life toy line
    • Needs:
      • Coat (-15 degree rated)
      • Jeans with pull tabs (Size 6-7) (1 pair purchased)
      • House shoes (Size 13)
      • Mittens (Size small)
      • Closed toe, black or white dress shoes (Size 12.5)
    • Wants:
      • Her own bike
      • Wooden doll house with furniture and figures
      • Barbie doll with clothes
      • My Life outfits
      • My Life doll bed
      • Barbie Movie
      • Nutcracker Movie

  • 27 y/o female veteran
    • Favorite Color: Purple
    • Favorite Restaurant: Red Lobster
    • Favorite Stores: Scheels, Rue21, Michaels, Wal-Mart, Sears, New Life Christian Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and Amazon
    • Hobbies: Singing, painting, writing youth novels
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Red, blue and light blue Gatorade and Powerade, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, blue Red Bull, lactose free yogurt, doughnuts, honey crisp and red delicious apples and oranges
    • Favorite Products: Clinique mild facial wash and Clinique clarifying lotion II
    • She’s saving up to purchase a car of their own that is safe and reliable and a vacation with her children
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: Listening to music, reading fantasy, science fiction and fiction and spending time with her children
    • Favorite Things: Japanese Anime and religious movies such as When the Game Stands Tall, Courageous, Fireproof and Facing the Giants and contemporary Christian music such as Casting Crowns and Mercy Me
    • Needs:
      • Jeans (Size 7)
      • Winter sweaters or long-sleeve blouses (Size medium) (1 sweater purchased)
      • Her own apartment or home rather than living with family
      • A gym membership
    • Wants:
      • Repair of her iPhone IV or a new phone
      • A working laptop

Denver Family

This single female veteran has a two year old son. Their wishlist is below:

  • 2 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Blue
    • Favorite Restaurant: Chapalas and Applebees
    • Hobbies: Reading, coloring and being outside
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Fruit Snacks, crackers, fruit cups and apple juice
    • He’s saving up for a bicycle
    • Favorite Leisure Activity: Going to the park and being outside
    • Favorite Things: Matchbox cars, semi trucks and coloring
    • Size: T4
    • Shoe Size: 9
    • Needs:
      • Warm Socks
      • Foot Stool
      • Gloves (Size Small)
      • Long-sleeved Shirts (Size 4T)
      • Sweatshirts (Size 4T)
      • In-home slippers (Size 9)
      • Dark colored jeans (Size 4T)
      • Diapers (Size 6)
      • A good potty training book/DVD
    • Wants:
      • Sesame Street or any educational books and DVD’s
      • Cars DVD
      • Cars Coloring Books
      • Oliver Tractors
      • V-Tech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Police Station Playset
      • Crayola Magnetic Double Easel
      • Frozen Blue-ray DVD
      • Double Bike Hauler
      • Toy Tunnel

    • 32 y/o female veteran

      • Favorite Color: Gray
      • Favorite Restaurant: Sakura, Carlos O’Kelly’s, Pablo’s and Olive Garden
      • Hobbies: Kayaking, running, movies and reading
      • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Humus, V8
      • She’s saving up for a new acoustic guitar
      • Favorite Leisure Activity: Reading and playing guitar
      • Favorite Things: Action movies, iTunes and going out to eat
      • Needs:
        • Oil change for their car
        • Laptop keyboard keys repaired
      • Wants:
        • “W” Membership
        • Personal Training/Health Coaching Sessions at the “W”.
        • One Hour Massage at Hair Loft in Denver
        • Haircut from Hair Loft in Denver
        • The Bible – Epic Miniseries
        • iPad for her son – Educational Games, etc.
        • White or Gray Flannel Sheets (King Size)
        • New Tires
        • Winter Boots
        • Bluetooth Wireless in-car FM Transmitter Bluetooth Car Kit
        • The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
        • Gift certificate to the mall
        • Abstract wall decor

Sumner Family

This family is a single mother and her two disabled children of a veteran father. Their wishlist is below:

  • 9 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Red
    • Favorite Restaurant: Texas Roadhouse
    • Hobbies: Drawing, designing and building things, playing logos, video games (Xbox and Nintendo DS) Collecting Pokemon cards, collecting things, painting and reading
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Any caffeinated beverage he can get his hands on (She doesn’t let them have them very often). She doesn’t stock most of his favorite foods since they are mostly junk foods but they are snack mixes, cranberry juice, any type of snack crackers, cookies, Lays potato chips, Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, ice cream, big ice cream cookie sandwiches, pop tarts, Lunchables, Kid Cuisines, Tombstone frozen pizza’s, Diet Sunkist, Barqs Root Beer and he LOVES cheese sticks.
    • He’s saving up for and iPod Touch or iPad Mini
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: He likes to do things as a family so playing catch and basketball, making things, board games of any kind and puzzles are his favorites.
    • Favorite Things: Lego’s, Lego figurines, video games, books, journals/diaries, Pokemon Cards, board games and Snap Circuits
    • Pant Size: 8 – 10 slim
    • Shirt Size: Small or medium depending on how they are sized
    • Needs:
      • Warm boots (Not snow boots such as Timberland type work boots) (Size 3-3.5)
      • Long-sleeve, solid color T-shirts (Blue, gray, black or white) (Size small or medium depending on how they are sized) (1 shirt purchased)
      • All flannel shirts (Size small or medium depending on how they are sized)
      • Jeans (Size 8-10 slim)
      • Dress shoes for church (Size 3-3.5)
      • Khaki or dress pants (Size 8-10 slim)
      • Nice button down shirts or dress sweaters (Small or medium size depending on how they are sized)
      • Pajama bottoms (Size 8-10 slim) (1 pair purchased)
      • T-shirts for bed (Small or medium sized depending on how they are sized)
      • Socks
      • Underwear (1 set purchased)
      • Winter scarf for playing outside
    • Wants:
      • Pokemon Omega Ruby DS Game
      • A Wii U
      • Anki Cars
      • Lego’s
      • Lego mini figures
      • A new bicycle (He rides his bicycle to school in the warmer weather)
      • A new or near-new mattress (Before too long, he could use a full-sized bed)
      • New bed sheets (He has a mini twin mattress currently)
      • A housekeeper so he has more time to spend with his mom (His words)

  • 7 y/o daughter
    • Favorite Color: Usually purple, sometimes pink
    • Favorite Restaurant: American Girl Store Cafe, McDonald’s
    • Hobbies: Drawing, anything creative that involves arts and crafts, writing short stories, lots of imaginative play, painting and reading
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Candy, Skittles, hot chocolate with marshmallows, movie theater butter popcorn and she wants a tea kettle so her mother can make hot chocolate and tea for her like grandma does instead of in the microwave.
    • Favorite Products: Microwave popcorn, puppy chow snack mix, Cran juice or Crangrape juice, Capri Sun veggie juices, Lays potato chips, cheese sticks, and she LOVES strawberries
    • She’s saving up for The American Girl Horse Stable and accessories, the American Girl Bitty Baby, anything American Girl related and an iPad Mini
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: In the summer she likes to swim, play with sidewalk chalk and riding her back. Right now, it’s video games she can understand, drawing, coloring, using her imagination and she sings all the time.
    • Favorite Things: Horses, her American Girl Isabelle doll her aunt got her for her birthday, board games and Frozen
    • Pant Size: 7
    • Shirt Size: Small or Size 7-8
    • Shoe Size: 13-1
    • Needs:
      • Long-sleeve, solid colored T-shirts (Size small or size 7-8) (1 shirt purchased)
      • A new, sturdy pair of glasses (She is blind in her left eye)
      • Socks
      • Underwear (1 set purchased)
      • Short-sleeve T-shirts (Size small or size 7-8)
      • Winter pajamas (1 set purchased)
      • Winter scarfs for playing outside
    • Wants:
      • Cowgirl boots
      • A Wii U
      • Frozen mini figure play set (Toy figurines) (Elsa Snow Glo, Singing Olaf)
      • Crayola Crayon maker
      • A new bicycle (She also rides her to school in the warmer weather)
      • Cool art and drawing supplies and a way to organize them so that she can take them to her grandparents
      • American Girl Bitty Baby

  • 33 y/o mother
    • Favorite Color: Red
    • Favorite Restaurant: Coffee places like Caribou and Starbucks, Bruegger’s, Panera. Taco John and Casey’s
    • Favorite Shop: Sephora, Von Maur, Victoria’s Secret, The Buckle, Costco, Zappos.com, Nordstroms.com
    • Hobbies: Reading, Hothouse Yoga and lifting weights. Going for long walks or bike rides alone while listening to music, doing girl stuff at home like her nails or making do-it-yourself hair and masks. She wants to learn to quilt or knit someday.
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Saunders or any sea salt caramels, Twizzler bites and sea salt peanut butter
    • Favorite Products: Sephora makeup, shampoo and hair coordinator, Venus razor blades, witch hazel cleansing pads, and Noxzema face wipes
    • She’s saving up for a car muffler and get the internet turned back on
    • Stuff she misses: Biolage shampoo and conditioning mask, NARS blush stick, electric toothbrush and a “fake make-up primer.”
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: “I have no idea”
    • Favorite Things: My kids, my parents and my dog Boomer. Kindle Paperwhite
    • Donates her Time and Money: She coaches her daughters soccer team, teach her sons CCD religious education class, directing her church’s children’s Christmas program, and she donates advice on sources of grant funds and assists with the application process
    • Needs:
      • Long-sleeve T-shirts (Size small)
      • Cuddl Duds (Size small)
      • A new laptop
      • Internet bill paid ($268)
      • Car registration paid ($363)
      • Queen flannel bed sheets
      • Winter shoes (Size 8)
      • Warm boots that aren’t snow boots similar to THESE (Size 8)
      • Heels for work (Size 8)
      • Contacts (Eye)
      • Glasses
      • Respite
    • Wants:
      • A new Kindle Paperwhite (Hers is cracked)
      • Sephora makeup
      • Sephora shampoo and hair coordinator
      • Rugs for inside the front and back door
      • Pig ears and stuffed toys for their dog
      • A bicycle to ride with the kids
      • New leash for Boomer
      • Groomer appointment for Boomer
      • Sephora gift card
      • New purse
      • Any kind of gift card to stores that you can only buy grown up clothing items. If children’s items can be bought there, she can’t spend it on herself.
      • Wii U

Waverly Family

This is a young family with eight children, two of whom are disabled. Their wishlist is as follows:

  • 3 month old son
    • Preferred Colors: Soft yellows, greens and blues
    • Needs:
      • Diapers (Size 1)
      • Long-sleeve onesies
      • All clothes (Size 3-6 month)
      • Nose Frida nasal aspirator
      • Baby bathing products
    • Wants:
      • Toys that will stimulate his fine motor skills, visual development and intellect for a three to six month old.
      • Yellow Rock-n-Play Sleeper

  • 3 1/2 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Red
    • Favorite Things: Disney, cars and toys
    • Needs:
      • Shirts (Size 4T)
      • Pants and Jeans (Size 3T)
      • Shoes (Size 8 Boys)
    • Wants:
      • Leapfrog Learning TV Gaming System
      • Fisher Price Little People playset

  • 6 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Orange
    • Needs:
      • Shirts (Size 5-6, 6-7)
      • Pants and Jeans (Size 5 regular)
      • Boys shoes (Size 10)
    • Wants:
      • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures Play sets
      • Minecraft Toys (Foam sword)
      • Plants VS Zombies Toy & play sets

  • 9 y/o daughter
    • Favorite Color: Pink and purple
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: She loves to draw
    • Needs:
      • Shirts (Size 7-8)
      • Pants and Jeans (Size 8)
      • Shoes (Girls size 2)
    • Wants:
      • My Life as a Day in the Life Clothing
      • My Little Pony (She like Cadence, Princess Twilight Sparkles and Nightmare Moon but would like more boy ponies)
      • My Little Pony Princess Twilight Sparkle’s Friendship Rainbow Kingdom Playset

  • 11 y/o daughter
    • Favorite Color: Blue
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: She also loves to draw
    • Needs:
      • Shirts (Size 12-14)
      • Pants (Size 14) (No jeans)
      • Shoes (Girls size 6)
    • Wants:
      • Lalaloopsy Baking Oven
      • Littlest Pet Shop Playset and Figures
      • V-Tech Innotab 35
      • Blue Kid’s learning tablet with WiFi

  • 13 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Crimson (Dark red)
    • Favorite Restaurant: IHOP
    • Hobbies: Art and engineering (building stuff)
    • Favorite Drinks & Snacks: Pepsi, candy and Doritos
    • Favorite Products: Body cologne
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: Playing video games
    • Favorite Things: Video games and Nerf guns
    • Needs:
      • Jeans (Size 16 Regular)
      • Short-sleeved shirts (Size medium)
      • Socks (Size 9 1/2 or large)
      • Black and white skater shoes (Size 9 1/2)
    • Wants:
      • Call of Duty Advanced Warfare video game
      • iPad Mini III
      • Nerf N-Strike Elite Rayven CS-18 (Blue)

  • 14 y/o daughter
    • Favorite Color: Blue, purple and green, in that order
    • Favorite Restaurant: Papa Bello’s, Subway or Scratch Cupcakery
    • Hobbies: Music and art
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Ice cream, candy, cookies, etc. (sweets)
    • Favorite Products: Cotton candy body spray and silver eyeliner
    • Favorite Leisure Activities: Listening to music and drawing
    • Favorite Things: “Anything I use to listen to music (like my phone)”
    • Needs (all sizes are in young women’s, teen or juniors):
      • Tops (Size small)
      • Pants (Size 1 or 2)
      • Socks (Shoe size is 8)
      • Shoes (Shoe size is 8)
      • Gloves (Preferably for a touchscreen display)
    • Wants:
      • Water speakers
      • Drawing pads
      • Acoustic guitar (Starter pack for beginners)
      • Electric keyboard
      • Gift card for iTunes
      • Gift card to clothing stores like Gordman’s or Target
      • Nail polish (No pinks)
      • Natural colored makeup like eyeshadows and eyeliners
      • Makeup case

  • 15 y/o son
    • Favorite Color: Orange
    • Favorite Restaurant: Jimmy John’s
    • Hobbies: Reading, writing, drawing and Minecraft
    • Favorite Snacks & Drinks: Dried and fresh apricots, frozen fruit, Hershey Drops, candied fruit slices, root beer and Fanta
    • Needs:
      • Jeans (Size 32/30)
      • Short sleeve men’s shirts (Size medium or 38-40)
      • Tennis shoes (Size 10)
      • Socks (Size 6-12 short)
    • Wants:
      • Nanoblocks
      • Architecture drawing book
      • Two pairs of headphones
      • Book: 1984 by George Orwell
      • Book: Blind Faith by Ben Elton
      • Book: John Dies at the End

  • 34 y/o mother
    • Favorite Color: Dark red
    • Needs:
      • Women’s shirts (Size extra large or 16-18)
      • Women’s pants (Size 12 petite or extra large short)
      • Women’s shoes (Size 7)
    • Wants:
      • Kitchen-aid Stand Mixer (one that’s larger than 4 1/2 quart because of the size of her family)
      • Fondant too and cutter set