Family reunions represent significant gatherings that require extensive planning, particularly concerning guest amenities and commemorative items. A common element in these events is the distribution of gift bags or goodie bags to attendees. The provided source materials offer specific insights into how organizers can acquire items for these bags, ranging from free resources provided by public health organizations to affordable bulk purchases from commercial vendors. This article examines the available options for obtaining family reunion gift bag materials based on the documented information.
Public Health and Government Resources
One of the most reliable sources for free, educational materials suitable for inclusion in family reunion gift bags is the U.S. government and associated health organizations. These resources are often available at no cost and can address significant family health topics.
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP)
The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) offers a specific "Family Reunion Initiative." According to the documentation, this program provides a "Family Reunion Health Guide" designed to increase awareness about kidney disease and its connection to high blood pressure and diabetes. The guide includes sample approaches for presenting information about kidney health. Interested planners can contact the NKDEP via email or phone, or visit their website to access these materials.
American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association provides a "Family Reunion Toolkit" aimed at combating stroke. This kit is described as including health tips, reproducible posters and handouts, a family health history tree, suggested stroke awareness activities, and a stroke awareness message from clergy. It also offers reunion planning tips. The source notes that the kit can be requested by contacting the association via email or phone.
General Health Handouts
For families looking to address a broader range of hereditary conditions, the source suggests looking to "Uncle Sam" for handouts. Specifically, the website pueblo.gsa.gov is mentioned as a resource for information on conditions such as allergies, asthma, cholesterol, depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. These materials are available for free distribution.
Convention and Visitor Bureaus
Local convention and visitor’s bureaus are identified as potential sources for souvenirs and discount coupons. The documentation advises contacting the reunion city’s bureau early, as some may not be able to fulfill requests on short notice. This strategy is particularly useful for reunions held in specific destinations, as it can provide location-specific freebies that add a local flavor to the gift bags.
Hotel Partnerships
Hotels hosting the reunion or accommodating guests may have their own promotional items. The source material suggests asking the hotel if they provide any freebies for goodie bags. Hotels often have branded merchandise such as pens, notepads, or toiletries that they are willing to contribute to events they are hosting.
Commercial Bulk Purchases
While the primary focus is often on free items, the source materials extensively detail affordable commercial options for those willing to pay for bulk fillers. These vendors offer a wide variety of thematic items that can be purchased at a low per-unit cost.
Online Distributors and Party Supply Stores
The documentation mentions "Oriental Trading Company" as an online distributor of party goods and small items perfect for goodie bags. Additionally, it notes that most cities have party supply stores or discount retailers like "Dollar Trees" that offer great value for goody bag fillers and prizes.
Amazon and Retail Product Listings
The provided source data includes specific product listings from Amazon, illustrating the types of items available for purchase. These items are generally sold in bulk sets and are themed around family history and reunion concepts. Examples include:
- Keychains and Ornaments: Items such as "Family Reunion Favors Tree Keychain" and "Family Tree Bottle Opener Keychain" are available. These often come with thank-you cards and organza bags.
- Bookmarks: Metal bookmarks featuring family tree pendants and "Remembering Our Roots" cards are sold in sets.
- Notebooks and Pens: Mini notebooks with family tree designs and matching pens are available in bulk.
- Silicone Wristbands: Rubber wristbands with phrases like "A Family's Love Is Forever" or "Remembering Our Roots."
- Gift Bags: Reusable non-woven gift bags featuring family tree designs and drawstring satin favor bags are listed.
The pricing for these bulk items varies, with typical costs ranging from approximately $12 to $43 for sets containing 20 to 60 pieces. The documentation notes that shipping availability varies, with some items shipping to international locations like the Netherlands.
DIY and Sentimental Ideas
Beyond commercial and government sources, the documentation highlights do-it-yourself ideas that can be created at a low cost. These are categorized as "Keepsakes" intended to spark memories.
- Family Reunion Poem Scrolls: Writing an original poem, printing it on luxurious paper, rolling it into scrolls, and tying it with ribbon.
- Mini Photo Albums: Providing cheap, easy-to-personalize albums for photos taken during the reunion.
- Photo Frames: Including frames for the "perfect picture snapped at the reunion."
Sourcing Strategies and Tips
The source materials offer several strategic tips for gathering items:
- Year-Round Searching: One reunion planner noted looking year-round for items for goodie bags, suggesting that a proactive approach yields better results.
- Pinterest and Podcasts: The documentation references a podcast titled "How to fill a reunion goodie bag" and a Pinterest board ("reunionsmag/reunion-goodie-bags/") as resources for suggestions.
- Official "Goodie Bag" Podcast: A specific podcast link is provided: www.reunionsmag.com/podcast-fill-reunion-goodie-bag/.
Conclusion
Based on the provided source materials, obtaining items for family reunion gift bags involves a combination of utilizing free public health resources, contacting local tourism boards and hotels, and purchasing affordable bulk items from online distributors and party supply stores. Public health organizations like the NKDEP and the American Stroke Association offer valuable, free educational kits that can fill bags with meaningful content. For those seeking more traditional favor items, commercial vendors provide a wide array of personalized and thematic goods at low cost. Successful sourcing appears to rely on early planning and utilizing available digital resources for ideas.