About My Pollyanna
Where this came from
My Pollyanna started in 2008 as a website for one family's Christmas gift exchange, so nobody had to ask twice what anyone wanted. It grew a little every December: wish lists first, then messages, then a menu for the party, then polls about what time to eat. Other families, friends, and at least one business started using it too.
This is the same idea, rebuilt from scratch in 2026 for phones and for people who would rather not fight with a website.
What it does
A group draws names at random, and nobody, not even the organizer, sees who has whom. Everyone keeps a wish list with links from any store. You can ask a question about a wish without revealing who is asking. Kids can be in the group without an email or a password; a parent posts their wishes. Meal planning is built in: a potluck sign-up split by course so no two people bring the same dish. There is also a group chat and polls. An organizer adding a big group does not have to type it out: hand it a photo of the list, a screenshot from another site, or a spreadsheet, and it reads the names and email addresses for you to check.
How it pays for itself
It is free to use. When you buy something through a store link on the site, the store may pay us a small commission. It costs you nothing extra, and it never changes what we suggest. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We do not sell anyone's information, and we do not show your email address to other members.
Who runs it
My Pollyanna is built and run by Our Programmer LLC, a small software company in Pennsylvania. My Pollyanna is a registered fictitious name of Our Programmer LLC.
Questions, ideas, or something not working? Get in touch.