12 Days of Giving: Princeton woman surprising strangers with holiday joy

Last day to donate is Friday, Dec. 10

Chelsea Sanchez of Princeton is hoping to spread a little holiday cheer with 12 Days of Giving

It started with a question on Chelsea Sanchez’s Facebook page; would anyone in Princeton be interested in donating towards a pay-it-forward type holiday giveaway?

The response so far is something she never anticipated.

“So I have been inspired by my friend Kate and I know this is TOTALLY last minute ... But I wondered if anyone wanted to donate towards the 12 Days of Giving?” the initial post read.

“I said if I ever won a ton of money, I’d love to become a philanthropist and literally just hand people money while casually walking down the street and or pay big for tips or stand in line at the grocery store and hand the cashier money towards someone’s bill.

“Since it’s so last minute,” she continued, “I don’t expect much, but I thought if I could collect cash or Venmo donations between today and the 10th, on the 11th I would start with the donating.”

As of Dec. 6, Sanchez has collected more than $1,200 in cash donations, more than 30 gift cards to local businesses and a generous handful of discounted or donated professional services.

Starting Dec. 11, Sanchez will visit one location a day in Princeton to pay it forward to a random patron.

“It could be a grocery store, a gas station, an auto part store, you just never know,” Sanchez said. “I have placed the gift certificates in Christmas cards for those to be randomly handed out within that location and the cash will be handed to the cashier when our selected person(s) is checking out.

“Depending on the final amount of cash and gift certificates, it will be divided amongst those days. I have also asked those who have donated if themselves and maybe their whole family would like to join me at a location. I want others to experience this along with me.”

Sanchez is no stranger to generosity in towards the community; the last two years she’s hosted a mum fundraiser, selling thousands of plants and donating the proceeds.

“I love our community and the togetherness that we have had,” she said.

“Everyone came together for businesses when COVID shut everything down in 2020, and I thought, why not try a mum fundraiser to bring a smile to everyone and to raise money for our charities, Sanchez said. “With the mums, I also had no idea it would turn out as amazing it has the last two years. We have donated $2,400 ( $1,000 in 2020 and $1,400 in 2021 ) to 10 local charities in those two years. With every donation I am inspired that much more”

Sanchez credits a friend with her latest philanthropic project.

“My friend Kate inspired me to start the 12 Days of Giving, as she does this in Wisconsin, and with some direction and encouragement from her, here we are.”

“I am absolutely surprised. I put $5 in an envelope, and we are currently at $1,235 cash and 35 gift certificates. I thought for collecting from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10 that maybe it was just too short of notice, but the cash donations and gift certificates donated have been overwhelmingly wonderful. The stories that come in with the donations, just melt my heart and come from a deeper meaning than just giving.”

—  Chelsea Sanchez

Sanchez is hoping to continue to grow the giveaway, both this year and going forward.

“Although the donations are centered in Princeton, it could be helping anyone from any town and or state if they are in that location,” she said.

Donations are accepted via Venmo, Paypal, and Cash. Instructions can be found on the Facebook page “The 12 Days of Giving in Princeton.” The last day to donate is Friday, Dec. 10.