Sometimes I really love my job. When Chevy asked me if I wanted to partner with them this season, I couldn’t say no. #ChevyShopsforGood is a campaign that is truly helping kids in the Chicago area with toy donations.
For our adventures with Chevy, they lent us a Chevy Trax which we got to take the Toy and Game Fair here in Chicago. It was the only weekend it was actually cold enough to snow here! (Not that I am complaining that it’s been in the 60’s here.) The coolest thing that Chevy has is an app that lets you remote start your car. I can’t tell you how much we absolutely loved that feature!!!!
We loved spending the day playing at the Toy & Game Fair. It’s someplace you have to check out if you are ever in Chicago when it’s here.
Our stop after the Toy and Game Fair was the Hotel Palomar Chicago. This is an amazing hotel. I am hoping we can go back someday just for the bathroom! My kids were even impressed!
From there we headed to Lucky Strikes and enjoyed some amazing food and bowling.
Now, for actually the best part of my partnership with Chevy. They gave me a gift card to go shopping with and donate the toys to a charity of my choice. For me, it was super easy. Bill works for Kelso-Burnett (who is an electrical engineer), and they collect toys every year for Taproots. It is a partnership that was created several years ago. It started that everyone just donated toys. That first year they collected, they were in search of a charity to donate too. Taproots had a mishap with Toys For Tots (basically, they forgot to drop off toys for Taproots clients), and were in dire need. Pablo, who works with Bill, jumped in and donated all the toys the companies employees donated, and they have worked together ever since. Pablo has even been allowed to when they deliver everything, and that is when they realized that some of these families needed food too. Now, when the donating letter goes out, they ask for food, toys, and money. They use the money to purchase both food and to purchase toys. They make sure that each child has at least 2 toys. If they don’t, Pablo goes and purchases extra things.
I am a savvy shopper, so I was one of the crazy people who went out Thanksgiving night so I could get the best deals. I can honestly tell you that I struggled with what to get! Do I get a lot of cheap toys (which looks great because it looks like a lot) or do I get a little pricier toys that these kids probably aren’t ever going to get? I had anxiety over this! I ended up deciding to get a mix of both! Those two carts were full of our purchases!
I also felt like I didn’t buy enough! However, as you can see, we filled the Chevy Trax! When I dropped off all the toys, Pablo was beyond thankful! He knew I was coming, but had no idea how much I was coming with! An added bonus was that this was a considerable stack of toys that all the employees will walk by every day, so we are hoping it helps everybody remember to donate!
I cannot thank Chevy enough for allowing my family to partner with them. We had an amazing time with this campaign. My kids and I have continued to donate this holiday season to different drives their school has had (right now, they are collecting gloves, scarves, and hats for PADS). This has really jumpstarted my kids need and want to donate to those families who aren’t as lucky as us.
How will you be helping others in need this holiday season?
I test drove a Trax earlier this year. It was a little small for me, but it was a great ride.
It was bigger than my hubby’s Prius, but not quite as big as my van. 🙂
A app that can remote start the car! Now, that is a cool feature. I wish I had that this morning. 🙂
How cool that it can be started from a remote app. I want this car!
We will need a new car soon (our lease is almost up), this car looks awesome! I love that they gave you card to buy toys for kids! I LOVE that.
You donated so much stuff! Good for you! I think it’s so important to give back what we can when we can.
The Toy and Game Fair sounds like a wonderful idea. I wish more cities would do that. It is nice to be able to donate stuff this time of year for everyone to have a lovely holiday.
Wait….I am actually looking for a new family car. Did I read this right? This car starts with an….app???? OMG! I am going to head over to the dealership and check this out. Really glad I came across your blog. 🙂
What a great event! I love how big company get involved this time of year!! Why to go CHEVY!!
I would love that remote start for my car too! The Toy & Game Fair seems wonderful and the photos are super. My schools collect toys and coats and books for others in need. We always try to donate.
It’s awesome that you were able to pick out so many gifts to donate! I’m glad you guys had such a fun time donating and trying out the Chevy Trax!
What an awesome car! I love that you can start it with an app- so needed in these cold New England days!
How cool that it can be started from a remote app? It’s one of my fav features – especially in the winter!
We have been helping out at our local food bank. It is a great way to give back. Bowling is always a fun activity to do with the kids.
Such a great campaign! Looks like you had a wonderful time, my husband drives a CHEVY Car 🙂
Remote start my car with an app? How cool is that? I love this innovation of Chevrolet. But most importantly, I applaud their efforts to ensure that every child will get a toy this Christmas!
Chevy is just awesome!! I drove a Chevy for a few years and loved it. Now I love the com nay even more for donating the gift card to give toys to kids!!
I love companies that give back. This will really make a difference!
I love companies that give back like this. I also love to give back, especially during the holidays. My family and I actually went to Walmart today and some girls came up to us and gave both of my daughters a gift card for McDonalds. I thought that was so sweet of them! We’re planning on paying it back, but we haven’t decided what we want to do just yet. We will most likely donate some toys for Toys for Tots.
Wait a minute, an app that starts the car. I’m in love already, that sounds simply amazing. That is HUGE!
There is no greater feeling than giving to those in need! By the way, I also love the vehicle. The color is pretty!
Wow, that is so great of you to donate all those great toys for kiddos. That vehicle looks pretty awesome too.
I just looked at a few Chevys when I was at Disney and they have a set up inside their Test Track ride. They are very cool cars!
What an awesome campaign. Thank you Chevy for helping needy children. I’ve been in their shoes before and it is a huge blessing. I was super thankful for everything that I got the two years I asked for help when I was a single mom.
My husband had remote start, still can if we add blue link back. It was a great feature for both winter and summer.
I donated some food to the food pantry a few days ago. One day I will do a larger donation to give back for what others did for me years ago. I have helped others in previous years too. I always do what I can to help because it’s important.
I have never driven a Chevy before but I would love that remote start feature as well. My husbands Dodge Avenger has it and it’s the only feature that I truly love about his car lol
That looks like a nice vehicle. I love the toy donation that you did, that filled up a lot!
We donate as much as we can throughout the year. We actually donated to Goodwill over the weekend. I made sure to clean up our closets before the holidays get more busier.
I do Toy Fair here in New York City, I guess from covering that I got a ton of emails from Toy Fair Chicago this year! LOL
What a great way to partner with Chevy and you made the right choice about an even mix of toys, I think it’s so important that you also mentioned the food part also, it’s so important to be able to do both as many families are in need of food too at this time of year!
Omg what a neat car!!!! So cool how an app can start it? Swear technology amazes me daily!
Goodness what a fun experience for your kids! We help identify those in our church who need help and then quietly help them. They aren’t the obvious families who you would think need the help. Love the Chevy Trax info! I want to drive one.