S/O: Angel Trees- Long, winded VENT

[4inky]

DS11 and I picked an angel off of the tree last night and went shopping. We spent along time trying to figure out which child he wanted to shop for. He finally decided on a little boy and all his request where for toys. I asked DS why he chose the boy that only wanted toys over the one that wanted clothes? His answer; NO kid wants clothes for Christmas. I will say there are charities that help with clothing in this area.

We were able to fill all of the little boy's toy requests, and DS was very proud of himself that he was able to stay within budget. When we had dropped off the toys he told me it felt good to be able to help some other kid have a good Christmas. That is what the Angel Tree is all about. Kids having a good Christmas, a day that they can enjoy. We are happy that we may be able to bring a little joy to a childs life. We gave in good faith and that is all one can do.

 

[Chicago526]

I didn't read this whole thread, so someone may have stated this already.

Just because a kid asks for an MP3 player or a digital camera, doesn't mean it has to be a big ticket item. MP3's don't have to be a tricked out ipod, and basic digital cameras can also be quite reasonable. I've seen some pretty expensive toy fire trucks and train sets, but no one gets bent out of shape if they see those on a wish list. Wii systems, sure, that's a bit much. But electronics that run $50 or less don't seem that far out of line, especially coming from kids who don't always know how expensive things are.

The angel tree at my church (back when I still went...but that's another thread) had the kids ask for whatever they wanted, but their sizes (tops, bottoms, shoes/boot) were also listed. No one ever said so, but I think the idea was to get them a few wants and a few needs. My biggest beef was that if you didn't go to the earliest mass on the first day they had the trees out, you couldn't get a name. People would take four, five, six tags and then there weren't any left for people at later masses! I understand wanting to help, but save some helping for other people, don't hog it all for yourself!

 

[lntsmom]

Haven't read the many pages of posts, but totally agree!

I just posted on another thread about how I am seriously peeved that this year the parish I'm in is offering the Confirmation kids service credit hours in return for donating money for toys for children in Iraq, for bringing materials to donate to a homeless shelter, and for taking part in the Angel Tree.

These are things we've always done to show our thankfulness for having the resources to do so. Mind you, I'm a single mom living on one income, so the money we spend on those things isn't "extra"...it means not eating out once or twice, waiting for movies to go to the dollar show instead of seeing them first run...etc.

This year my younger son chose a boy who wanted bug books. My older son chose a kid who wanted Star Wars toys. I spent about $25 for each gift.

Would I purchase a Wii...heck no! My own kids don't even have a Wii. My kids know they don't get everything they want....

Adding two personal anecdotes:

About three years ago it was during Christmas vacation and I ran into one of my students at the park. She came to me and was showing off the new shoes she got from the Angel tree at school. Every year the teachers adopted families from our school and bought them gifts. I asked why they had opened the gifts early, since Christmas was a few days away. She said it was no problem because they had the gifts from the Salvation Army and from a local Boys and Girls club to open on Christmas. Hearing that soured my attitude. Her family was going to every organization in town for gifts. It wasn't need...it was greed!

Then there was the time that 6 internet friends and I adopted a single mom and her two kids. Most of the things they wanted WERE needs...coats, sleepers for the baby, a high chair, winter clothing. When the charity came to pick the things up I helped carry them out to the car, and said I hoped we hadn't done too much...some of the ladies in our group addded treats (Avon products for the mom, for instance.) The lady from the charity said, no, what we'd done was fine. Often, though, they had businesses who would fill the back of a pick-up with items for one family. She said that in those cases the charity would sort through it and take out what they viewed as being "too much". The extras were kept in a warehouse for families who came in throughout the year.

I guess you'd say, I give cautiously. I had one Christmas where, due a medical emergency, there would have been no gifts for my older son had not several friends and coworkers come to me and said, "Here, God told me that you needed this." Amoung the things were a Sit-and-Spin, a board game, etc. I know what a blessing it was for me to have things under the tree. I don't want any parent to have to explain away the holiday due to lack of funds...but I want to make sure my money is going to help those who are truly without!

 

[lntsmom]

I have not read all of the many pages of the posts here but have read quite a few pages. I understand the view that these children or family on the angel tree could use and need other things.

Has anyone thought that the wish list comes from a child usually asking "Santa" for these gifts. Maybe the parent has tried to find out some inexpensive items that the child wants for Christmas and was met with only those wants that the OP deems uneccessary. Even when my child had expensive items on his letter to Santa, I never told him to put something else on his list. If I could not afford it, he did not get it.


Stephanie

I don't know how all charities work the Angel Tree thing, but the one I had direct contact with had three tags for each child. One item had to be clothing. The other two could be whatever the child asked for. However, there was no guarantee that the child would get those items...the gifts requested on the tags that went unclaimed were replaced by "extras" the charity had on hand.

 

[Blue Skies]

At our church there were two different requests for bedroom sets (furniture). I thought that was very odd. Luckily there were tags that were general (i.e. 5 yr old girl). We picked one of those.

 

[prncess674]

At our church there were two different requests for bedroom sets (furniture). I thought that was very odd. Luckily there were tags that were general (i.e. 5 yr old girl). We picked one of those.

Maybe the family asking for bedroom furniture is a single mother who just left an abusive relationship and just finally got an apartment for her and the kiddos and literally left her husband with absolutely NOTHING! You never know the situation behind a request.

I am from New Orleans and after Katrina even families who usually could hold it together in normal times were looking for help. They could provide the basic necessities but the kids didn't really understand that a big bad hurricane took everything and believed that Santa could help replace items. Many parents who normally bought "nice" gifts for their kids were all of sudden strapped for cash and were trying really hard to repair the family home with limited funds (yes even those with insurance still had a nice chunk of money coming out of their own pockets.)