how do you "give" during the holiday season?

[Shugardrawers]

I haven't seen anything about Angel Tree seniors in our area? Hmm, does anyone know if this is nationwide? I would like to get involved with this as well.

I found this tree at our Walmart. You might check there. I'll look and see if it's Salvation Army next time I'm there and post again.

 

[ChibiJones]

I'll admit we don't donate during the holiday season. Money is just too tight during this time of year with my Spring tuition due, flights home to see my family, and Christmas presents. Late Spring/Early Summer is when we make our donations.

 

[SleepyMom]

DH's office has a box set up to collect sweatsuits to be given at the shelters to the homeless. Each person that donated was asked to buy in their size so that there would be a variety of sizes, we donated as a family so there could be more to give.

We also give mittens and hats, along with pj's and underwear to the Children's Inn through our church.

Another thing I do each year is to buy a gift for the Angel tree in the mall for a boy who is the same age as our son would have been.

I have been feeling down about losing my Great-Aunt this year and missing her and my DH gave me a great idea over the weekend, I am going to sew lap blankets and donate them to the nursing home where she lived the last 4 1/2 years of her life. It will give me a chance to stop and visit there and to do something to remember her at the same time.

We also try to throw in change whenever we see a bell ringer.

 

[Soccer Princess]

Just bumping so everyone remembers to help others this busy holiday season!

Also, did anyone find out if the seniors giving tree was through Salvation Army? The Wal Mart I frequent had only the children's tree. Thanks!

 

[mickeyfan2]

We adopt-a-family, giving trees, ARC angel, toys for the mission and others.

 

[mickeyfan2]

What does 'adopting a family' mean? We don't have that concept here.

It is a program run by the Salvation Army charity. Needy families apply and then you "adopt" them for Christmas. You are their Santa. You buy the parents and kids clothes, toys, food, whatever you want to make their Christmas brighter. A family can only be adopted once. This year we have a single mom who lives in a 2 bedroom trailer with her 4 kids (boys 3 and 5, girls 1 and 8).

 

[Shugardrawers]

The seniors tree is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care which is all over the country. If you call their office near you they should be able to tell you where their tree is. Ours is in Walmart.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Also, did anyone find out if the seniors giving tree was through Salvation Army? The Wal Mart I frequent had only the children's tree. Thanks!

You could probably contact your local senior citizens center, or maybe the department of human services, even if they don't know where the tree is, they can probably point you to a few seniors who need something for Christmas.

 

[mickeyfan2]

The ARC does gifts for Senior's in retirement homes and mentally challenged children and adults that live in homes. The gifts asked for are never excessive. Last year we had a senior Lady (wanted a house coat) and a mentally challenged adult male (wanted a pair of sweatpants). This year we got a 12 year old girl who wanted the Bambi VHS and original Willie Wonka VHS.

 

[aprilgail2]

I volunteer year round for a childrens charity, we collect and deliver toys to kids in hospitals and needy kids at Christmas time and in August we do a back to school program where we collect and deliver school supplies and clothes for the first day of school to needy kids...

 

[Soccer Princess]

The seniors tree is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care which is all over the country. If you call their office near you they should be able to tell you where their tree is. Ours is in Walmart.

Thanks for this! I checked out their website and they were supposed to be turned in already, but I called one of the Wal Marts that is participating and they said I could still turn things in tomorrow.

I just wish that a Wal Mart on this end of town would be participating, instead I get to drive 15-20 minutes to one of the ones that is. Oh well.