Teachers... Would you like this gift?

[MiniGirl]

Before I begin, let me say that this is religious in nature. If you are one that is offend by such things, then please stop reading now.


Alright, now that all that is out of the way.... I am looking for a gift for my dds' teachers and I came across this. I would love to "receive" a gift like this, but I was wondering if others of you out there would enjoy it as well.

This is an organization called Samaritan's Purse. It is a Christian organization that helps the poor all around the world. Basically, you make a donation in someone's name and then give them a card telling them what that gift was. You can help build a house or buy a farm animal or some chicks. You can donate to all sorts of things. I, specifically, am looking at the gift that teaches a child to read and write (gift 7). I thought that would be a nice teacher gift -- along with a plate of goodies or maybe a small Blockbuster card.

I just don't know though. Would you like to receive a gift like this? I know I would, but I'm strange that way. For my wedding, I asked that guests "gift" us with a donation to the American Cancer Society or their favorite charity.

Anyway, please let me know what you think. I have also included a link for the gift catalog. I hope it works.

https://giving.samaritanspurse.org/c-7-gift-catalog.aspx

Thanks,

 

[MSSANDRA]

I can not think of anything I would rather get. i am a preschool director and do not need any more candles or mugs. EVery gift is appreciated but we do get so many things we just can not use. We have also done exactly that many times for other people including class teachers, SS teachers and others we want to thank at christmas. Ds gave a lot of baby chicks one year when he was little. Cookies are a nice addition but i see no need to add a gift card. You gift is enough.

While we are strong Christians, i see this as a great gift giving suggestion no matter what your belifs. Thanks for reminding others to consider this gift.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

I am not a teacher but would love a gift like this. It is also a wonderful gift to your children to be a part of such giving. What a delightful life lesson. Our family participates in donating gifts mainly around most holidays for a local childrens home and it was the best lesson for our children to realize how life can be for the less fortunate. I would hope the teachers would feel blessed by receiving such a gift religious or not. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

 

[Princess Roo]

One of my favorite gifts to receive as a teacher! Right now I get DS' daycare teachers Target gift cards, because I know they could really use the money, but once he's in public school that's what I'll be doing for gifts. I don't think you need to give anything in addition to that...just a card is fine.

I'm actually on the board of a relatively new nonprofit with a mission to teach young adults the joy of giving. They do a similar gift catalog where you can donate to various highlighted and carefully screened charities or any other registered nonprofit of your choice and all of the proceeds (except the credit card processing fee, if you use a CC) go directly to the charity for targeted projects. If you're interested, the website is http://www.whiteenvelopeproject.org/ The new "catalog" will be posted there within the next week.

 

[tlbwriter]

While this is a worthy cause, I think giving to a charity of your choice as someone else's gift is impolite.

 

[GoinToDisney]

I don't think it is impolite to choose the charity if you choose wisely. Giving the gift of reading in the name of the teacher can't get any better. Just make sure you research where your money is going. I would have loved it. It's so much better than candles or bath and body stuff. Teachers usually end up sticking that stuff in the faculty room for someone else to take. Of course, I would love a target gift card too, just because I tended to spend way too much there on stuff for my classroom, and I would be able to use it toward my class.

 

[tlbwriter]

I don't think it is impolite to choose the charity if you choose wisely. Giving the gift of reading in the name of the teacher can't get any better. Just make sure you research where your money is going. I would have loved it. It's so much better than candles or bath and body stuff. Teachers usually end up sticking that stuff in the faculty room for someone else to take. Of course, I would love a target gift card too, just because I tended to spend way too much there on stuff for my classroom, and I would be able to use it toward my class.

I agree that lotions and knicknacks aren't good gifts. But it's still the charity of your choice, not the teacher's choice. Perhaps the teacher prefers to support charities in your home town, for example. I like the idea a previous poster had of a catalog that lets you select a charity. Or you could give a Wal-Mart or Target gift card - it could be used for classroom supplies, or the teacher could use the GC for groceries, leaving money to select his/her own charity.

 

[PA Princess]

I have received this gift as a teacher at a private Christian school and as a Sunday School teacher and I think it is one of my favorites. Samaritan's Purse is a great organization (quite reputable even outside of Christian circles), and this is a gift I have found for me personally to be a great blessing.

 

[MiniGirl]

While this is a worthy cause, I think giving to a charity of your choice as someone else's gift is impolite.

I agree that lotions and knicknacks aren't good gifts. But it's still the charity of your choice, not the teacher's choice. Perhaps the teacher prefers to support charities in your home town, for example. I like the idea a previous poster had of a catalog that lets you select a charity. Or you could give a Wal-Mart or Target gift card - it could be used for classroom supplies, or the teacher could use the GC for groceries, leaving money to select his/her own charity.

Hi Tracy,

I appreciate your thoughts. I wasn't wanting to do a Target or Wal-Mart GC because I actually do give those out throughout the year. Nothing big. Just $5 here and there. I also send in other supplies on a regular basis. That's why I wasn't wanting to do that again for the holiday. I also see your point about it being impolite to make a donation to a charity I like. Truth is though I don't know what charities they support in their personal lives. That's why I thought the gift of reading would be appropriate. I guess, too, since I have asked for people to give to their favorite charities as a gift for dh and I, I didn't think of it as impolite. When we asked for this for our wedding, we didn't include a specific charity. We added the American Cancer Society only after people asked if there was a particular charity we would like to support. Since my mom was battling cancer at the time, that seemed like the logical choice. I really do understand your point though, and thank you for sharing your opinion. I really would have never thought of it as impolite. See, that's why I asked.

 

[MiniGirl]

I'm actually on the board of a relatively new nonprofit with a mission to teach young adults the joy of giving. They do a similar gift catalog where you can donate to various highlighted and carefully screened charities or any other registered nonprofit of your choice and all of the proceeds (except the credit card processing fee, if you use a CC) go directly to the charity for targeted projects. If you're interested, the website is http://www.whiteenvelopeproject.org/ The new "catalog" will be posted there within the next week.

Thank you for the link. I like what I see so far, and am looking forward to the new "catalog." I really love this idea and am excited to "give" these gifts this year. I will try to find out what pet charities my dds' teachers have and see if they are included. Otherwise, I will probably just try to match up people with a charity that would touch their heart given the person's passions and interests.

To everyone else that responded..... thank you for your input. We decided years ago (with our siblings) to stop exchanging gifts with them and the kids and use that money to give toys to children that wouldn't otherwise get any. The holidays have been so much joyful since then. I have been hesitant to do that outside of our family though. This year I just may take that step.

 

[Princess Roo]

While this is a worthy cause, I think giving to a charity of your choice as someone else's gift is impolite.

Wow - I completely disagree! When we buy a gift for a person in general we are just doing the best we can to pick out something that person would like. How is it any different to pick out a charity that we think that person would like? Would a restaurant gift card to a restaurant that it turned out the person didn't like be impolite? Or if a student gives me a scented candle, not knowing that they give me migraines be impolite (I've gotten loads of those - LOL)? I can see your point if I just choose my favorite charity and make a donation that I would have made anyways and then say it's a gift to that person, but that is not what the OP is doing. She specifically chose a charity related to the career choice the teacher has made.

That said, with the White Envelope Project nonprofit I listed above, there is the option of giving a charity "gift certificate" where the recipient can choose ANY certified tax-deductible charity to designate the money toward. The intent for that was more in line with the mission of the organization to teach the younger generation to give, though (so a grandparent could give these gift certificates, for example, and get the grandchild on the website looking at charities and thinking about what they would like to support) rather than a belief that it's impolite to choose the charity for a gift.

 

[virginiamama]

Wonderful ideas - I'm comparing the names on my Christmas shopping list to see who I can honor. I'm wondering if anyone knows exactly what the cards say. If I request blank cards to be mailed to me, does it say what the particular gift was (soccer ball, hot meals, help a child learn to read and write, etc.) or is it literally blank and I would have to write in the purpose of the donation? I'd rather the card clearly state the purpose of the donation, but I prefer to give the card at a time of my choice rather than have it mailed directly. Make sense?

I don't think it is impolite to choose the charity if you choose wisely.

I agree. I think it's perfectly polite as long as you have the honoree's interests in mind. My DN loves to play soccer and I thought the soccer ball donation (#22) would be a great choice as a gift in honor of him. I'll talk to DS and make the suggestion of Gift #7 (help a child learn to read and write) for his teacher. I am excited to share the spirit of giving with him.

Thanks OP!

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! Teacher here

No, I would not like that as a gift, & I would never give that as a gift.

If you want to donate money to an organization, fine. But don't do it as a gift to someone else. TACKY, IMO. You get the good feeling that you've done a good deed, but at the teacher's expense. Give her a gift card if you don't want to give another candle or mug.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Before I begin, let me say that this is religious in nature. If you are one that is offend by such things, then please stop reading now.

What a great idea! I do have to admit, I am not religious and I would not want to receive a 'religious' gift, but I could not stop myself from reading....I did think that I would not post if I didn't like the idea since you stated up front that you were not looking for that type of feedback -- but I think it is such a great idea that I had to post and say that I think even people who might not be very religious may still very much appreciate this type of gift! Even if a person may or may not choose that specific charity, I think that anyone would appreciate the idea of something going to charity, especially one that helps children (regardless of whether or not it's a religious based organization).

I've taught high school and middle school, and I'm now a preschool director -- and while gifts are nice to receive, teachers do lots of 'stuff' that is hard to use...

PS I've done the shoe box gift giving project sponsored by Samaritan's Purse. It's a nice idea, too.

 

[blizzard]

I like the White Envelope idea, where the recipient can direct the money to a charity of their choosing, but I'm not sure the Samaritan's Purse gift is the best idea.

Whether you think of it that way or not, Samaritan's Purse is a religious organization. Unless you know that the person receiving the gift supports this charity, it may not be a great idea. This group is not free of controversy - if you search you can find websites that allege that they are very selective about who receives their gifts (ie. only those who accept their religious teachings).

I don't want to get into a discussion of whether or not this is true, but be aware that there is controversy out there. Personally I would be a bit uncomfortable if I received this gift, because I'm not sure that I would like to support this group. If you are sure that the teacher supports this group, then go ahead.

 

[rebecca314]

We received a family gift last year but I cannot remember the organization. They bought a goat in our name. I researched it and it was a reputable organization and I was fine with the gift.

As far as my teaching goes, my favorite gifts have been letters from students addressed to me personally. It feels so good after a bad day to reflect on my students who believe I have made an impact in their lives. That's why I teach, KWIM?

I think the idea of the original poster is fine. I am taking a law class this semester in my Master's program and the state of Illinois bans accepting gifts under its Ethics Policy; teachers fall under this. As I researched it, I found out the public district I teach in has a gift ban in place - teachers, administrators, and board members cannot accept gifts. Strange how the world is changing, huh?

At any rate, I don't mind the original idea and would be thankful someone made an effort to make the world a better place in my name. That's just how I am and too have more candles and mugs than I can handle. Although I wouldn't turn down a donation to my classroom, either?

Have you ever considered donating time? I would love to have a helper one day to assist with getting things straightened around, maybe pass back some papers, and assemble a bulletin board while I roam the room and help the kids. GOSH! That would give me so much time for myself that evening. Just an idea!

 

[mommytobug]

My dd attends a small private school that is Christian based. I gave this as gifts one year. Everyone of her teachers loved it. Her teacher had tears in her eyes and said in all her years of teaching she had never recieved such a special gift that touched her so much. I chose the one that helped children be able to have books. I usually know dds teachers well enough to know they would appreciate what I give. HTH

 

[momxx5]

I have often honored deceased with gifts to the family being.....a tree planted in a national forrest. A certicate, type of tree and other info is included to be sent.
While this is special, I sure that some teachers would love this too. A lot of our teachers are really into recycling and living green so a tree would be right up their alley.

Also the gift of reading is what is very close to a teacher's heart, so I say that cannot offend anyone. It is a good choice for a giver to take into consideration the recipient. (Its not like giving another mug to someone who recently stopped drinking coffee)

 

[kelliebelly]

I have to admit that I am going to borrow your idea. I have been trying to think of something nice to do for my sons teacher and I think this is perfect. It is a wonderful idea and I know his teacher will love it. I also think it is a great lesson for my children. Thanks for sharing!

 

[disneymath]

As a teacher, I would appreciate a student and his or her family making a donation in my name - AS LONG AS it was to a charity whose work and guiding principles I believe in. Unfortunately, for me personally, Samaritan's Purse would not be such a charity.

I have to paraphrase Blizzard's comments a few posts back ... Samaritan's Purse is a Christian group with its own world views - not all Christians necessarily share all of these views, not do the recipients of SP's gifts.

Case in point, my Catholic school used to support the SP's Shoe Box campaign - it seemed like a very worthwhile casue - until reputable sources informed us that the shoe boxes we donated (without any religious articles included) were "topped off" with flyers and such promoting Samaritan's Purse's religious views. Our school stopped supporting the shoe box campaign - we did not feel that it was right to provide aid to people in need on the condition that they be required to accept religious teachings too. (In many areas of the world where aid is needed, Christianity is not the predominant belief system.) We now research the organizations we intend to support much more carefully before committing ourselves.

Although it would create some extra detective work, please try to find out if your child's teacher supports the charity to which you plan on making a donation in his or her name.