Tree's for "needy" kids

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As much as you may not want to admit it... you proved our point

I think we can all agree that anything donated to the less fortunate is a blessing... whether it be a home, an IPOD or a winter coat.

How did it prove any point?

Since when is an IPOD a basic need?

 

[mickeyfan2]

My small church group adopted a family one Christmas. They got a shopping "spree" at a local mall and a van. But if you saw the entire list you would understand. I had forwarded the list to my lector ministry at church---totally escaped my memory that one was the manager of a mall. Turns out the mall usually likes to adopt a local family at Christmas. He teamed with another parishioner who owns a car dealership.


There are needs to wish for (perhaps that family was living in a shelter).

I don't know how that can equate to a luxury item that is NOT needed--no matter how much anyone tries to say that it is and to say the point was proven.

They just want to prove to themselve they are so much better than the ones who don't think like they do. They don't get the point and never will.

Living in a shelter and wanting a house when there is no person who will be buying them anything is just that a wish. It is not the same as making a list up of extremely expensive items only for a complete stranger to buy for you. Last I looked shelter was a basic need and an IPOD never has been and never will be.

 

[kdibattista]

How did it prove any point?

Since when is an IPOD a basic need?

The point is that children (needy and non-needy) dream and make wishes... especially at Christmas. Sometimes they are simple... sometimes they are outrageous ... most times they are somewhere in between. I would NEVER presume a child with limited means to be greedy or selfish because they WISHED or DREAMED for anything.

Are you saying that needy children don't have the right do dream or wish for an IPOD? Are you saying that needy children don't have the right to wish for a house? Do you get your children only basic necessities at Christmas? I would LOVE for someone to post a list of what's appropriate and what's not for the less fortunate to wish for.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Hmmm... they asked for a home but not for somebody to buy them a home? How is that possible?

They want to get out of the shelter and not be homeless like they were before they moved into the shelter.

Are they WISHING for a house... DREAMING for a house?

No because I am not homeless leaving in a shelter. Is that so hard to understand?

And the child would be living in the house, right, so it would surely benefit them.

The always listed the reason, per the show, so their family could all be together. That is NOT selfish.

I don't know where you come from but around here the "starter" home (which I live in by the way - 1300 sq. ft ranch) go for $300k... that's pretty expensive.

These kids lived in Orlando. So it was a photo of a two bedroom type house that are not $300K. What does what homes cost where you live have any bearing on this?

As much as you may not want to admit it... you proved our point

You are so far off the mark it is not even funny.

I think we can all agree that anything donated to the less fortunate is a blessing... whether it be a home, an IPOD or a winter coat.

Some blessing are more important than others to the less fortunate than others.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The point is that children (needy and non-needy) dream and make wishes... especially at Christmas. Sometimes they are simple... sometimes they are outrageous ... most times they are somewhere in between. I would NEVER presume a child with limited means to be greedy or selfish because they WISHED or DREAMED for anything.

Are you saying that needy children don't have the right do dream or wish for an IPOD? Are you saying that needy children don't have the right to wish for a house? Do you get your children only basic necessities at Christmas? I would LOVE for someone to post a list of what's appropriate and what's not for the less fortunate to wish for.

When a tree is covered in XBox requests--the charity needs to rethink their program as an example.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it to be explained how a HOME equates to asking for a gaming system which will do nothing to improve the circumstance.


Until then you don't get it and noone else in defense of expensive fancy schmancy gadgets will understand.

You jumped on someone with poor taste sarcasm on the request for a place to live. It never proved your point on the request for luxury items. I find those "wishes" much more important than $600 gaming equipment.

All that proves is that many think $$$$ talks and materialism makes people happy.

 

[kdibattista]

When a tree is covered in XBox requests--the charity needs to rethink their program as an example.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it to be explained how a HOME equates to asking for a gaming system which will do nothing to improve the circumstance.


Until then you don't get it and noone else in defense of expensive fancy schmancy gadgets will understand.

You jumped on someone with poor taste sarcasm on the request for a place to live. It never proved your point on the request for luxury items. I find those "wishes" much more important than $600 gaming equipment.

I, also, find those wishes much more important then the gaming systems or IPODs but my point has and always will be that it doesn't make the children who requested those higher priced items greedy or selfish (they are kids for heaven's sake). And I will ask again, are you saying that needy children can't wish or dream for "expesive" or "cool" or "in" things right now (IPOD, XBox, whatever) and do you only get your children only basic necessities at Christmas? Just curious

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I, also, find those wishes much more important then the gaming systems or IPODs but my point has and always will be that it doesn't make the children who requested those higher priced items greedy or selfish. And I will ask again, are you saying that needy children can't wish or dream for "expesive" or "cool" or "in" things right now (IPOD, XBox, whatever) and do you only get your children basic necessities at Christmas? Just curious

My kids can wish for whatever they want. Doesn't mean that I will fulfill it. We don't promote "Keeping up with the Joneses" in our home. So just b/c someone has something cool....doesn't mean they will get it.


A home and a gaming system are two different things and if you don't realize that, there is nothing I can help you with.

A child is more than welcome to wish for whatever they please. But those wish lists come under scrutiny as they have here. It also places the child at risk for not getting anything at all if the charity doesn't have them request additonal items. I want no part in disappointing a child. So I wouldn't pull gift tags with expensive requests that I cannot fulfill or just plain ol' have issue with it.

To buy children of need or your own--only the latest and greatest and spending money like it is water to make their Christmas happy....I don't think is a good thing to do in general.

A child wishing for their dire circumstance to change--should not be "joked" about as you have done. Poverty is not funny.

As far as IPODs (I use this as a general term like Kleenex)---they can be obtained cheaply.

The problem with such donations is maintance---being able to keep up with the costs of having it.

And if a child is asking for pc peripherals or accessories--it just makes me wonder what else they have at home when they are needy. Just my $.02.

Without a computer--you can't load an IPOD. You need a more current pc for this....the dinosaurs just won't do. Just one of those "that make you go hmmmmm" moments that I think is what caught the OP.


Anyone equating it to that those who think these requests may not be the best thing to ask for for Christmas--are basically saying that we don't want them to have nice things or they should be keeping their lists to shoes, coats, and toothbrushes. That is not the case at all. I'm more than happy to help make a childs Christmas Merry...I'm not willing though to fulfill every materialistic wish they might have.

In the case of the child asking for a home--you'd have to be a sick and twisted individual to think that had anything to do with materialism and it places you in the "shelters are quite adequate" category.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I am definitely in the minority here. I have no problem with kids asking for bigger ticket items on the "angel tree". It's the Christmas season and I think that kids take a chance on making a wish or two! Many of the kids may need undershirts and socks, but come on! It's Christmas.

This year we bought for a 17 year old boy. He listed an Ipod and his clothing sizes as requested by the organization that represented the kids. We got him the refurbished Ipod shuffle, the Ipod accessory kit, a jacket, a long sleeve thermal shirt, a long sleeve tshirt, a dressier shirt, a new toothbrush, some cool whitening toothpaste, some shower gels and soaps and some candy. Believe it or not, thanks to the DIS Budget board, we spent just over $100.

I am always in awe that complete strangers will help you when you tell them you are buying gifts for someone off the angel tree. During the madness of Black Friday, two teenage boys working at Old Navy helped me pick out clothing that would hopefully enjoyed by our "angel". They were so funny, they respectfully helped me put back everything I had picked out and replaced it for more hip, age-appropriate clothes. One young man was so bummed that he couldn't find me a pair of "on sale" jeans in the correct size to complete the outfit!

It is in the spirit of giving that I do this...I don't mind trying to make someone's Christmas a happier one. Some of these teenagers may be asking for big things, but most of the teenagers I know are doing the same thing...

And, I do agree with the poster that said, ..."I think the children are probably told to ask for the stuff they want the most, not what they think they deserve, being poor and dependent on others."

Tomorrow, we go to an Advent celebration and are bringing gifts for "Operation Santa Claus"--I made sure they are gifts my own kids would like and not "knock-offs." I may like to take part in some charity but never want kids to feel like charity cases.

Just my very humble opinion.

I feel much the same way. My only problem is okay, someone buys this child/teen the big ticket item and now they can't afford the accessories & games that go with it, so what was the point in getting it? I know that they are probably listing items that only a miracle would provide but when looked at practicly (sp?) most high ticket items like the game boys, etc. come with higher maintenance/keep up fees of games, batteries, controllers, etc. An expensive pair of shoes or name brand pants, etc. Those items may be the ONLY clothing item they are proud to wear instead of children I have seen who are made fun of because there jeans come from Walmart/Target and "everyone" else (in their minds) are wearing Nike's and Levi's. And the ones who are working the system, well I truly believe that what goes around comes around and sooner or later it will come back to bite them....

 

[kdibattista]

My kids can wish for whatever they want. Doesn't mean that I will fulfill it. We don't promote "Keeping up with the Joneses" in our home. So just b/c someone has something cool....doesn't mean they will get it.

Exactly... doesn't make them greedy or selfish either which has been my ONLY point here.

A home and a gaming system are two different things and if you don't realize that, there is nothing I can help you with.

I most certainly do understand the difference

A child is more than welcome to wish for whatever they please. But those wish lists come under scrutiny as they have here. It also places the child at risk for not getting anything at all if the charity doesn't have them request additonal items. I want no part in disappointing a child. So I wouldn't pull gift tags with expensive requests that I cannot fulfill or just plain ol' have issue with it.

Good point

As far as IPODs (I use this as a general term like Kleenex)---they can be obtained cheaply.

The problem with such donations is maintance---being able to keep up with the costs of having it.

And if a child is asking for pc peripherals or accessories--it just makes me wonder what else they have at home when they are needy. Just my $.02.

Without a computer--you can't load an IPOD. You need a more current pc for this....the dinosaurs just won't do. Just one of those "that make you go hmmmmm" moments that I think is what caught the OP.

True

Anyone equating it to that those who think these requests may not be the best thing to ask for for Christmas--are basically saying that we don't want them to have nice things or they should be keeping their lists to shoes, coats, and toothbrushes. That is not the case at all. I'm more than happy to help make a childs Christmas Merry...I'm not willing though to fulfill every materialistic wish they might have.

In the case of the child asking for a home--you'd have to be a sick and twisted individual to think that had anything to do with materialism and it places you in the "shelters are quite adequate" category.

Honestly? Really hurtful. I most certainly understand the difference and am not "sick and twisted" as you seem to think I am but thanks for making this personal.

And, BTW... I, in NO WAY, equate money to happiness. Never have, never will. Now, if you will excuse me, I have go wrap the gifts I got last night for the families the firehouse has adopted and I'm sure everyone will be pleased to know that there are no IPODs, video games or computers.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Honestly? Really hurtful. I most certainly understand the difference and am not "sick and twisted" as you seem to think I am but thanks for making this personal.

And, BTW... I, in NO WAY, equate money to happiness. Never have, never will. Now, if you will excuse me, I have go wrap the gifts I got last night for the families the firehouse has adopted and I'm sure everyone will be pleased to know that there are no IPODs, video games or computers.

I didn't mean to upset you--but found your post of sarcasm on the page preceding this one to be pretty terrible. (I did say "you would have to be...." I didn't say "Kdbattista--you are sick and twisted")

The money to happiness was in reference to the overall theme of the thread that if we don't think a child deserves a $600 game system, then we must be scrooge.

 

[AuntieM03]

I think the kids have the right to wish for whatever they like. When I was little my mom would give us a christmas catalog and tell us to circle what we wished for, and pretty much everything in there would be circles. I never had the expectation of getting it all.

I am distressed by what I have read of the adults encouraging them to write down big ticket items. It seems it would be more responsible to let them know that realistically even though people care and want to help they may not be able to afford the expensive items. It makes me sad that because they only ask for more expensive things they may instead end up with nothing at all.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think the kids have the right to wish for whatever they like. When I was little my mom would give us a christmas catalog and tell us to circle what we wished for, and pretty much everything in there would be circles. I never had the expectation of getting it all.

I am distressed by what I have read of the adults encouraging them to write down big ticket items. It seems it would be more responsible to let them know that realistically even though people care and want to help they may not be able to afford the expensive items. It makes me sad that because they only ask for more expensive things they may instead end up with nothing at all.

When we were in Orlando 2 years ago there was a giving tree in the McDonalds. We know there is great need in Orlando so we took two names off and bought them stuff they wanted a few others. The requests were not high end electronics. So this year we went a little earlier in the year and the only tree we found was a publix. We took a female age 17s name and after much work (due to how they were wrapped) we found the wish list. Boy were we surprised to see only designer clothes (even telling us the name and style wanted), designer clother and high end electronics. Since we could not easily fill these wants we put her back on the tree. I hope somebody else picked her, but who knows. We would have loved to give her a nice Christmas if we could have had some less costly things to buy. Sadly we were not able to find another tree until we went to the McDonalds (same as last year) on the way home. Too late for us.

 

[AuntieM03]

It's hard enough it seems to get people to buy for the teens without making it impossible to afford. We did the book tree at Barnes and Noble to benefit a local foster child organization. When I went to take a tag almost all of them were for older children. I took several including older kids and when I went to pay the cashier said how thankful she was somebody took a teen because most of those tags were left behind.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's hard enough it seems to get people to buy for the teens without making it impossible to afford. We did the book tree at Barnes and Noble to benefit a local foster child organization. When I went to take a tag almost all of them were for older children. I took several including older kids and when I went to pay the cashier said how thankful she was somebody took a teen because most of those tags were left behind.

I have a hard time with older kids and with boys. It might be easier when my girls are older. If the tag is in a regular store--I'm clueless if there is no indication of what they would be interested in. But as long as it has something on it, we try not to discriminate based on the age of the child. Right now for the girls--we get tags for kids their age. Makes it easier for them to help shop.

 

[AuntieM03]

It does take more work for me to buy for a teen boy. I spent forever debating what books they might like to read.

 

[noodleknitter]

The local Motorcycle group took on the task of buying for teen-age boys this year, and did an incredible job! For some reason, they had a pretty good idea of what would be enjoyed! When I was case-working, we almost always had to do the buying for young men. Everyone want to buy for kids, and for girls.

 

[mickeyfan2]

When I was case-working, we almost always had to do the buying for young men. Everyone want to buy for kids, and for girls.

I'll try to keep this in mine.

 

[noodleknitter]

I'll try to keep this in mine.

Awww. That warms my heart. Have a lovely evening, Mickeyfan2! I have a soft spot for that population.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Awww. That warms my heart. Have a lovely evening, Mickeyfan2! I have a soft spot for that population.

Funny thing is I know what teen boys want. Our family hardly every makes baby girl. I had mostly male cousins, so I know about sports and played them when girls did not do those things. Almost all of the next generation are boys too. I have taken nephews (once I have 4 by myself - long story) on vacation. So teen boys I know. I guess I just was drawn to girls since I never got to buy those things very often.

 

[noodleknitter]

I know, with 5 boys and 2 girls, and 4 brothers & 1 sister, I find boys pretty easy also!

We have 4 girls total in the next generation. Out of 24 kids.