Angel tree gifts for needy kids.

[Kimberle]

Brittany & I were at the mall. I was going to take a tag off the angel tree to buy a gift for a child. (This tree has tags for specific children w/ their needs/wants.)

Every tag I looked at wanted game cubes, playstations, gameboys, games for cubes, etc.

Those are some pretty pricey items. Yikes! I don't even buy that for my own child. If I would spend that much, it would be for a winter coat or such.

I felt bad leaving. I was more than willing to buy teddy bears, stuffed animals, dolls, games, or even clothes......

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Yikes! That's too bad. Those were probably left because of the expensive items.

I love doing the angel tree. An ex-boyfriend's Mom got me started. It's a great charity.

 

[RUDisney]

We do our own tree at work. We bought gifts for 20 families this year. I forget how many people this equated to.

The saddest things are when the kids ask for warm pajamas for their gift. Now, you're only supposed to buy what is on the tag, but the person who pulled that one bought warm pajamas, a robe and slippers for the little boy.

It's too bad that the kids who put their wishes on that tree weren't told to be more realistic with their wants. I hate the though of disappointed children at Christmas.

 

[Rajah]

They do something similar at work, but it's something about "Bearing gifts". Every year I pass that up for the same reason. Thankfully, they also have a Toys for Tots bin and I'll put things in there instead -- I can get 3 or 4 toys (stuffed animals, My Little Pony, etc) for the cost of one kid on the Bear thing.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Boy, do I agree, too.
I remember a news story a few years ago where they were reading kid's letters to Santa from New York City, it seems. There was one who jsut wanted a new blanket for his bed because he could see his brother through his.
That is the kind of help that I would like to get involved in.

 

[hipporina]

I am so touched by the giving people who do these every year. Last year, we got our 2 DS at this time of year (Dec 16 to be exact) from another foster home. All the foster children under the protection of CPS were put on the angel tree, including our boys. Our children received some incredible gifts from it including an entire outfit with coat from Gap Kids, 2 remote control cars, and more. The fact that people who didn't know them cared enough to buy them such nice gifts really touched my heart. Our boys are now adopted and we will be spending our first Christmas together as a "real, forever" family. I was telling them just yesterday, when they were both going through a pretty selfish spell, about these wonderful people who did that for them last year. We unfortunately were unable to do it for someone else this year, so we talked about how we can give to others through the things we do even when we don't have money to give. Anyway, if you participate in these programs, just know you truly are appreciated.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by hipporina
I am so touched by the giving people who do these every year. Last year, we got our 2 DS at this time of year (Dec 16 to be exact) from another foster home. All the foster children under the protection of CPS were put on the angel tree, including our boys. Our children received some incredible gifts from it including an entire outfit with coat from Gap Kids, 2 remote control cars, and more. The fact that people who didn't know them cared enough to buy them such nice gifts really touched my heart. Our boys are now adopted and we will be spending our first Christmas together as a "real, forever" family. I was telling them just yesterday, when they were both going through a pretty selfish spell, about these wonderful people who did that for them last year. We unfortunately were unable to do it for someone else this year, so we talked about how we can give to others through the things we do even when we don't have money to give. Anyway, if you participate in these programs, just know you truly are appreciated.

That's so nice to hear!

I've always boughten gifts, for years. I just wish the organizers of this tree had encouraged the kids to add some realistic requests as well.

Bless your little family! I so admire people who are able to foster!!

 

[Pam]

All the foster children under the protection of CPS were put on the angel tree

We took the tag of a CPS (they call it CYS up here) this year and I just finished wrapping and delivering the presents. Our child was a 14 yr. old girl. She asked for bedding for a twin bed, clothes, lava lamp, watercolors, paper, and brushes, Uno, Twister, Family Feud game, a mirror and earrings.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

That's not unrealistic. I might very well have bought every item on that list.

 

[padams]

Kimberle, I agree completely. Our church had an angel tree this year. I didn't take a tag because the children all wanted Play Stations, X-Boxes, Game Boy games, stereos, dvd players, basketball goals, and other expensive gifts. My own children don't have wish lists that cost as much as these lists did. We can afford such gifts but I have difficulty understanding how children who have Play Stations and want more games for it are needy.

DSs' school participates in a different program called Pride for Parents, which is a store in Atlanta where lower income families can shop for new clothes and toys at a drastically reduced cost. If the families still can't afford the presents, they can work at the store to earn credits to buy the items. The store allows the families to retain some dignity, and not just receive a hand out. The classes at DSs' school are assigned either toys or clothes each year, and parents are asked to take their children shopping to select the items for someone their age. We donated 2 bags full of new toys as well as 2 new winter coats this year because I believe this program is a much better model for families who need some help.

 

[doxdogy]

I usually do the Angel Tree every year. But, the gifts that were on there this year, I just couldn't afford. I was amazed at the expensive items that were listed. This is the first year that I had seen the "suggested" items on the lists. I felt guilty not taking a name.

 

[powellrj]

Originally posted by Kimberle
Brittany & I were at the mall. I was going to take a tag off the angel tree to buy a gift for a child. (This tree has tags for specific children w/ their needs/wants.)

Every tag I looked at wanted game cubes, playstations, gameboys, games for cubes, etc.

Those are some pretty pricey items. Yikes! I don't even buy that for my own child. If I would spend that much, it would be for a winter coat or such.

I felt bad leaving. I was more than willing to buy teddy bears, stuffed animals, dolls, games, or even clothes......

Even if you were to buy these items for the kids, the games would be a huge expense for the parents. When I get battery operated toys for kids, I always include extra, just because I know what a huge expense they can be.

 

[tmli]

Last year after opening all our presents, I asked my family (siblings, spouses, parents) if we could do something different for this year. I proposed we sponsor another family for xmas that wasn't as lucky as ours. We decided to pick names for all the adults in our family so we'd each have 1 gift. We then each put into a "kitty" what we could afford for our sponsored family.

What a success!!! We collected enough to sponsor two families...this included special holiday food and treats, grocery store gift cards, and gifts for every member of the family including the adults. We had the fun of xmas shopping and got to help out others. I grew up very poor and know all to well the stress parents feel this time of year when the ends don't meet....I feel great giving back.

This year my dh, ds and I have been a little tight while our business goes thru a regrowth period....I explained to my ds that we have to cut back on excessive spending. So when I explained to him that we were buying gifts for a less fortunate family...he innocently asked "Shouldn't somebody be buying these things for us then?" Out of the mouths of babes!

 

[wuv tigger]

Originally posted by hipporina
Our boys are now adopted and we will be spending our first Christmas together as a "real, forever" family. I was telling them just yesterday, when they were both going through a pretty selfish spell, about these wonderful people who did that for them last year. We unfortunately were unable to do it for someone else this year, so we talked about how we can give to others through the things we do even when we don't have money to give. Anyway, if you participate in these programs, just know you truly are appreciated.

What a blessing! We too are adoptive parents to 2 dd's, the 2nd one whose adoption was finalized earlier this year.

We are teaching them about Toys for Tots & the Salvation Army. We will be going to a live Nativity Scene this weekend & the girls will be bringing presents to put in the box.

Blessings on being a forever family!

Judy, David, Rach & Becca

 

[MeanLaureen]

I totally understand what you are talking about with the Angel Tree.

I used to do it every year too. A couple of years back I stopped because every child had either a computer, playstation, 10 speed bike - stuff I couldn't afford. I usually spent about $40 on my "angel".

I asked one of the Salvation Army volunteers about all of the wishes being such expensive items. They replied to me that they ENCOURAGE the child to but expensive items even if the child would have been happy with a doll or hot wheels cars!

I was astounded that it was their doing that the children were asking for such expensive gifts. If they are so underprivledged, how will they afford the $50 games that go with the XBox or how will they be able to afford to constantly buy batteries for the Game Boy??

In our store we were a pick up and drop off location for the Salvation Army for stockings. People would pick up a mess stocking at our store, fill it with toys and candy and other goodies for an underprivledged child. We would staple the header to the top and store the stocking in our stockroom. It took a lot of room to store 100's of these stocking in a Hallmark store at Christmas but we wanted to do it because it was a good cause. We stopped doing it for them the year they billed us $350. When asked why we were being billed they said it was because "they mentioned the name of our store in the advertisement as to where people could drop off the stockings"

I could go on and on about run ins we have had with the Salvation Army. Our mall has banned their bell ringers because on more than one occasion they have actually harassed customers and blocked doors so they couldn't get in without giving money.

I just give things to Toys For Tots now

 

[atlnewf]

I do angel trees as well, and noticed the big ticket items even on our church tree. Though 'big ticket' for the most part was a bike. Didn't specify type or size. I let my DS5 pick out a name from the tree. He wanted to do the 15yo boy who wanted shoes. We bought the shoes (that DS picked out) and a watch too.

The YMCA's tree, though, was more real. It was mostly seniors and they asked for gift certificates to Publix, Kroger, or Wal-Mart, blankets, and such. I sponsored an older gentleman that just wanted a box of chocolates.. (gave him 6lbs worth..)

Ashley

 

[nealymouse]

Our school sponcers two families. I was able to get a little girl who wanted a polly pocket anything. We went out a got a really cute purple bag with Miss Polly and friends.

Also wanted to say that my 3 daughters are adopted from the Foster Care system. We also have an older Foster daughter who does not want to be adopted and I had to ask the State this year to please take her name off the giving tree list. What was happening was we did not know what she would get for gifts (kids were never asked what they wanted) and last year she got so many extra gifts that it was sort of unfair to my other children. I felt bad but we do the same for our Foster Daughter as we do for our adopted girls. I asked the State to please give it to children who really need it.