What can you give this Christmas?

I just read a thread from somone who thinks others are asking for help this Christmas season when they shouldn't be asking, or perhaps not doing enough for themselves.  What do you think about the Christmas season and those in need? Is this not a Christian holiday and isn't it about giving?  How hard would it be, as a parent, to not be able to afford Christmas gifts for your child? I don't mean Xboxes and Wii's but just basic things like a new item of clothing or a small toy. Just something to bring a smile to the face of your child?  My heart aches for the small children who still believe in Santa and don't receive a gift. can you imagine what this does to a child's self esteem?

I want to encourage each of you who read this to do something for another person this Christmas season. Donate a toy or an article of clothing or a few bucks to help a needy family. When you want to buy that bag of chips or chocolate bar, maybe take that money and donate it.

I am going to talk to my family about doing the same. I waste $20.00 a week on junk. If I donate that amount instead, I will feel great physically and emotionally.    

Have a happy holiday season and I encourage you to help another person have a great holiday season, too!

Have already donated a bagful of toys to the school's toy drive, and 3 brand new ones to Toys for Tots.  I'm also giving to Heat Up St. Louis (to help pay heating bills).

Another thing to consider is honorary donations.  If you absolutely can't think of anything, if a loved one has everything they need, something to help someone out in their name is a great gift.  I'm giving a sheep to my best friend (well, actually to a family in Africa, through Oxfam).

Great thread, Misskady!

I cant give you anything but love...baby
Thats the only thing theres plenty of...baby
Dream a while...scheme a while
Youre sure to find....happiness and I guess
All those things youve pined for

Gee I love to see you lookin swell...baby
Diamond bracelets woolworths doesnt sell...baby
Till that lucky day, you know darn well...baby
I cant give you anything but love

I bought a whole Christmas of gifts for a little boy is foster care in MA.  He and all the children like him would not receive anything for the holidays if it wasn't for those people who step up and buy gifts for needy children.  I'm also helping implement a food drive at work that is collecting foods so families in need can have a holiday dinner.

Well, I donate to local charities during the year, and to children's charities at Christmas, but I think my favourite holiday tradition started three years ago.

I had extra Christmas cards, so I sat down and wrote notes on them:

"Just a quick note to compliment you on your Christmas decorations.  I drive past on a regular basis, and it always cheers me up to see your beautiful light display.  Thank you for investing the time and effort to share your holiday spirit.  Signed, an appreciative traveller."

I usually write up 15-20 of them, and as I drive home from work, I stop at houses that are nicely decorated and put the card in their mailbox.  There was even a "thank-you" note in the "Letters to the Editor" of the local paper last year!  (Gotta love small town living!)

Okay, maybe not quite what the post is about, but I like to think that my random acts of kindness make somebody's day better!  

Exactly what this post is all about.  What a cool thing to do, Split. :)

Original Post by kathygator:

Exactly what this post is all about.  What a cool thing to do, Split. :)

 

 It's how I roll. 

EDIT: And by all means, feel free to steal the idea!

Well, I'm unemployed and have been for about 6 months. I usually give money to Treats for Troops and The Humane Society throughout the year. I'm unable to give those big donations like I used to in the past...otherwise, people may have to donate for me to keep my buns off the street.

This year, I will continue to give to the Salvation Army. Usually, I pocket a bunch of change from my change jar and when I pass the bell-ringer, I throw them some coins. By the time the holiday is over, I probably donate about $50. I know, it's not much but I have reasons. First, I don't want to stop donating all together but I can't afford much. Second, I don't want the bell-ringers to get discouraged and not volunteer anymore. I'm sure being out there in the cold all day without donations is pretty hard. It must be easier if they see the charity in people....truth be told, I feel kinda guilty cause there are certainly people worse off then me.

Well last year and years before that I donated to Feed the Children and St. Jude's and also spent a good chunk of change on all members of my family.  This year there will be no gift exchanging between adults (mom, dad, brother, etc) and I havne't been able to donate to my charities either since I'm supporting my mom now.  So, all I can do is buy for my son and two little nephews.  I will donate clothes and blankets and jackets that I already have AND... this is going to sound silly.. but last year I bought a Snow White Barbie (loved SW since I was a little girl). It's still in the box.. I was thinking of giving that to the toy drive... but part of me wants to keep her! :)

Hey, the main thing for me is having the tree up, enjoying the decorations, baking some goodies, listening to music, having time off of work and spending it with my family and animals... watching my son open his gifts and playing with him all day - - oh, and Christmas morning Cinnamon buns!

I knew there were generous people on CC!  Great idea with the Christmas cards. 

I'm giving away knuckle sandwiches.

Original Post by santonacci:

Have already donated a bagful of toys to the school's toy drive, and 3 brand new ones to Toys for Tots.  I'm also giving to Heat Up St. Louis (to help pay heating bills).

Another thing to consider is honorary donations.  If you absolutely can't think of anything, if a loved one has everything they need, something to help someone out in their name is a great gift.  I'm giving a sheep to my best friend (well, actually to a family in Africa, through Oxfam).

Great thread, Misskady!

 the sheep thing sounds awesome.. is that terribly expensive?

Original Post by dnrothx:

I'm giving away knuckle sandwiches.

 thats something my boyfriend would say...( in a funny way)

Whenever I annoy him he always says "Do you want a knuckle sandwich?...their free today!!"

Original Post by soglialoro:

 the sheep thing sounds awesome.. is that terribly expensive?

 Depends on what you consider expensive ($45).

Although Oxfam has quite a few items on their "Oxfam unwrapped" program - things very affordable like mosquito netting to higher end things like a cow or planting 500 trees.  I highly recommend it.

Santo, where can I get more info on this.. i think I would love to do this for someone this year. Is there a website?

I usually in the past have donated to the Smile Foundation but i think this year I will do both.

Thanks for the great Idea!!!!!

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by soglialoro:

 the sheep thing sounds awesome.. is that terribly expensive?

 Depends on what you consider expensive ($45).

Although Oxfam has quite a few items on their "Oxfam unwrapped" program - things very affordable like mosquito netting to higher end things like a cow or planting 500 trees.  I highly recommend it.

chickens are cheaper than sheep (oxfam)

talk about a warm fuzzy - an oxfam gift is where it's at  :)

Though I support all of your wonderful, generous actions, I take exception to the very first post when it states about "effecting a child's self esteem". I am Christian. I donate to many causes. But to ME, Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. I never bought a huge amount of gifts for my kids (didn't have to as grandparents spoiled them--to my dismay). We used to bake cookies together and maybe do a family activity. They don't expect huge gifts. Something small that lets them know I was thinking of them! (I just bought a cookie press for my 24 year old SON who is stationed in Germany. He LOVES making spritz cookies--particularly green trees! I think he is going to love it! $19.99 less 20% discount) I bought my 25 year old daughter the New Rules of Lifting ($17 on amazon). I could afford much more, but buying STUFF goes against my beliefs of re-think, re-use, reduce, recycle. I regularly ask people to stop buying me STUFF. I don't need more stuff! Just more to wash, dust, clean, and protect from theft. I would rather they invite me over to a homemade bowl of soup or a glass of wine (some habits are harder to break than others). I don't care how poor you are, you CAN spend time with family and friends. There are inexpensive things you CAN do to make the holidays special that don't include spending money--especially if you are already tapped out.

Original Post by splitrail:

Well, I donate to local charities during the year, and to children's charities at Christmas, but I think my favourite holiday tradition started three years ago.

I had extra Christmas cards, so I sat down and wrote notes on them:

"Just a quick note to compliment you on your Christmas decorations.  I drive past on a regular basis, and it always cheers me up to see your beautiful light display.  Thank you for investing the time and effort to share your holiday spirit.  Signed, an appreciative traveller."

I usually write up 15-20 of them, and as I drive home from work, I stop at houses that are nicely decorated and put the card in their mailbox.  There was even a "thank-you" note in the "Letters to the Editor" of the local paper last year!  (Gotta love small town living!)

Okay, maybe not quite what the post is about, but I like to think that my random acts of kindness make somebody's day better!  

warm fuzzies :D

Heifer International has water buffalos and bees and llamas and other cool animals. Same idea as Oxfam, I think.

http://www.heifer.org

Splitrail - I LOVE that idea! It could be a year round smile. I often drive by houses with beautiful gardens and want to tell the gardner how much I enjoy their flowers.

When my kids were small we used to send toys to orphanages in Korea (2 of my children are Korean). Each kid decided what age they wanted to buy for and we did a couple of shopping trips for that. When they were older we did Angel Tree gifts through my ex's work. They picked out those gifts too.

My mother used to adopt a zoo animal in each grandchild's name. They got a stuffed animal from the zoo, a certificate, and an invitation to Zoo Parents' Night at the Zoo when the zoo was only open to people who had adopted animals. 

This year my family donated 3 shoeboxes full of toys to Operation Christmas Child. We try to do what we can but it is tough...I always put money into the salvation army kettles and I buy food for homeless people when I see them.

Annually the hospital encourages employees to donate to United Way, at the end of October.  When deciding how much to donate and trying to fill out the form my boss made the comment, "I trust you to do what you feel is right."  It stuck with me, and I knew I could donate ten dollars like the rest of the hospital employees, just to say I did my part, but after discussing it with my husband we came to the conclusion that we have expendable money.  We're not going to miss a little bit more, so we donated one hundred instead.

At the hospital we also donate non-perishable foods and toiletries to a specific church.  I mean hell, a lot of the patients who come through the doors barely have a home, so I figured why not donate to the kinds of people I work with.  I've donated about fifty dollars worth of toiletries (I'm big on dental care, so I loaded that box with tooth brushes, tooth pastes, dental floss, etc.) and am gathering the last of the food items to donate. 

All we do with our extra money is save it or spend it, usually on extra food or presents for others.  This year instead of spending so much on presents for others we opted to donate as much as we can.