Tree's for "needy" kids

[MrsKreamer]

In high school each homeroom sponsered a family, we each donated money for a month, took that a bought clothes and toys for the kids and something for the parents. We also collected food for the family so they would have enough to make a good meal on Christmas, including a turkey.

I wish we had the means this year to do something, but it just isn't in the cards. However, in the future I would like to get back into this. I would probably just go through Church.

I agree that if it is an olderchild/teen asking for an iPod, that's a bit much...I also agree that maybe the little ones asking for things like that don't know any better...

 

[Jennasis]

I think there is nothing wrong with ASKING for big ticket items. I am 30 years old and still ask for a pony (I already own 4), a puppy and a sports car every year (and more realistically a new saddle...the one I want is almost $2k). I KNOW there is zero way I am getting any of those things, but I always put them on my list!

I was shopping at K-Mart about 10 years ago and I was waiting in a relatively short line on a super busy night. Lines were ridiculous! But there were only two shopeprs in front of me. One had like 3 things and the other had two baskets overflowing with stuff. Somebody got in line behind me because from afar, it looked deceptively short with only 3 folks in it (compared to the 10-12 on the others). When the lady behind me saw that the gal in front of me had a TON of stuff, she immediately began grumbling and getting pissy about "some people" hogging up the cashier.

I tried to ignore her as she tried to goad me into agreeing with her that the woman in front was being rude by buying all that stuff. When the cashier rang the lady with a million items up she commented that "Wow, looks like your kids are going to have one heckuva Christmas" as it was just two days before Christmas. The lady had clothes, toys, shoes, socks, underwear, coats, toys EVERYTHING! The lady smiled sweetly at the cashier and said "Oh, my kids get plenty during the year. At Christmas we adopt a needy family and buy everything for them. My kids LOVE it!"

I started crying and the huffy witch behind me shut up might quick!

 

[Hannathy]

Yes it is wrong for a child to ask for a $2,000 purse! My children are far from needy or deprived and they know it is unreasonable to ask for such extravagant gifts. That is greed, I'm sorry. I don't have a problem with a teen asking for a single largish item like an Ipod or MP3 player, CD player, etc but if the outrageous things are on there forget it.

 

[dustysky]

After reading so many of your post's one thing keeps popping into my head and I have to wonder if it would make anyone feel different.
The kids DO NOT fill out the forms, nor do most of them even know there own parents didnt buy the gifts.

 

[Hixski]

I think so many people scam the system that alot of us are leery of giving. We give to Toys for Tots. We don't know where they go. Hopefully to some child that is needy. Hopefully not to someone that has gone to every charity in town to get as much as they can. We don't see what happens. I won't do the ones that ask for things like $2000 dollar purses. Or the mother that "needed" a high performance sports car. She needed a Corvette. Sorry she did not say she wanted it, she needed it. She had 5 kids. Where was she going to stuff 5 kids in a Corvette. Probably the same mother that took the 6 coats for her daughter. I work hard for my money and I love to help others at Christmas but I don't want to help someone scam the system.

 

[mickeyfan2]

After reading so many of your post's one thing keeps popping into my head and I have to wonder if it would make anyone feel different.
The kids DO NOT fill out the forms, nor do most of them even know there own parents didnt buy the gifts.

Not really, since I already know that the parents usually fill them out. That is the case with our AAF from the SA. The ones where the kids are in drug rehab I believe the teens fill them out.

But to me the parents asking for these excessive gifts seems even worse.

 

[xyzabc33]

Even those kids at rehabs and children's homes should have someone there to guide them in filling them out. Like I said in my VERY LONG post, sometimes the volunteers who are helping out do not realize what things like an IPOD actually is, or maybe the parent themselves really DONOT know what it is either. (some ppl are truely not as aware of technology as their kids are) They just put on the list what their kids ask for. I know kinda dumb, but I had no idea what an IPOD did till someone online explained it to me. And there are those who are out to get as much as they can. Not everyone is like that, I myself am very appreciative for any help I am given to my family. HEY THE POSTER THAT ADOPTS A FAMILYand pays thier bills etc.---pick me pick me! I would kiss your feet for not having any expenses for awhile.

I am sorry I am so long winded on this subject, but I have know folks who abuse the system first hand and have known those who have fallen on hard times and truely need the help. You can not know when picking a tag from the tree which of those ppl you are going to get. You just have to hope that your gift will be appreciated by who receives it. Regardless whether or not they are greedy(and asking for a 2000 buck purse is being greedy-flame away) you still go away with that good feeling that you may be helping someone -child, adult, senior, or other- have a happy holiday season. Isnt that what the giving part is all about anyway.

 

[barkley]

I have to disagree with you on the fact that you are not discouraging anyone from donating....that is EXACTLY what you are doing by telling ppl the kids listed on the tree are made up. Each organization does things differently, yes, but in all the times I have had to ask for help in different areas, I have never seen ONE organization make them up just to get gifts for the kids. That makes it sound like the organization is just out to get money and gifts. NOT TRUE....any legitimate and smart agency will not make up names. True I have heard of them taking back higher end items to have enuf funds to cover those children who were not picked, so they will at least get some sort of gift, but never have I heard them making up false names.

Also true that they are not allowed (at least in PA) to actually list the last names on the tickets on the tree. They usually have written on the tag -gender and age, sizes and wants. I have seen just the childs first name on tags also if the giver wishes to get something personalized. This does differ in some places and with different organizations, so it not a cut and dried answer.

Yes they do sometimes create gift packages for the children but this also differs according to how many volunteers and funding the agency has, but they do not just "create" tags based on what they think they have that year. The applications, you spoke about are usually done on an income basis and the person signing up knows immediately whether they will be eligible or not, so they agency can have an actual count at the end of the day and not just make a guess ---"lets see I think we will have 6 girls age 8 1/2 this year" It just doesnt work like that. What happens if they get 6 boys age 4 that year instead. This is exactly why the agency has a sign up so they know how many they will have in that year.

AGAIN, each agency differs in what they ask for on the apps. The smarter ones will put the gift request on so they are not wasting their funding, but they do tell the parents WHO DO THE SIGNING UP_NOT THE CHILD (or have a guardian there to help them-a 10 year old does not just walk in off the street and say " hey I want my name on a tree") that there is no guarantee that is exactly what they will get. It is a request and nothing more. Those tickets that have $2000 purses and fancy electronics are those that the volunteers either do not understand what those items are(locally they are seniors) and do not tell the parents that it is highly unlikely that the child will get that item or the parents are just greedy and want something unobtainable for their kid, or the kid has asked the parent for that item and the parent is not even aware that it cost that much(yes some ppl are just dense in that aspect) Please do not assume that everyone is greedy
We were eligible to sign up this year and chose not to because we felt our DD would have enuf and that there were kids who needed it more. Nor would I ever ask a stranger to buy something that high end and frivolous for my family.

NOW BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL THREAD..........
I do have say that I was going to pick a name off the tree in our local Walmart but couldnt afford what those kids wanted. Instead I will donate some nice stuffed animals and books that they can suppliment the gifts with.(all new looking of course) I am going to try to go help at the SA to help bag if my DD will let me have a day to myself

not to argue, but the nationwide group i'm familiar with by working with it, operates the largest number of nationwide 'giving trees' in the u.s. (and most local non church group operate under a connection with them) does make up fictitious names and fictitious requests based on their belief/past experience of what their client base may need. there is no counting at the end of each day nor applicants 'knowing' if they are eligible just because they meet income criteria. when you have 2000 plus families in a community apply, all 'income eligible', but resources to serve only a small percentage it often comes down to 'luck of the draw'-as in you are selected if the organization has by christmas eve the items suited to your family so they can put together a gift basket (if they only have gifts for 3-8 year old boys and 7 signed up, sadly 4 will not receive anything-reputable groups never guarantee anything to those who sign up unless they know they will be able to provide) . we had clients that did not know if they would or would not receive something until as late as christmas eve (if we did'nt have enough to gift all the kids in a family we moved on to another smaller household we could serve-each in identical circumstances). given that these groups rely totaly on donations they always are in a guessing game as to how many families they can serve-if private or corporate donations are down there is no government funding for these programs that they can pull from to meet a shortfall.

YES- charitable agencies and groups are in the business of MAKING MONEY AND GETTING GIFTS-thats their goal, thats what the trees are out there for. in many ways 'giving trees' have become the best mechanism to solict donations of toys and gifts-people have become disillusioned with donating money to groups for fear it will all go to 'overhead', having the opportunity to donate a tangible object that the giver knows will not have a portion removed for administrative expenses is much more appealing.

the groups that do these trees are staffed with tremendous volunteers who often empty their own pockets to ensure families are served-and their hearts break that they cant help more. they are also realistic with regards to fraud and thats why many smaller groups band together with nationwide groups so they can do 'clearing houses' of applicants to ensure resources are used apprppriatly.

i would just suggest that anyone considering donating to one of these trees make sure its a legitimate organization sponsoring it, and be wary of those that would permit designer handbags and high end electronics from being listed-common sense would tell you that almost noone buys these items, and encouraging or even allowing a kid to put this on the one wish ornament they get could result in that kid being passed over for any type of consideration from well meaning donors.

 

[mickeyfan2]

not to argue, but the nationwide group i'm familiar with by working with it, operates the largest number of nationwide 'giving trees' in the u.s. (and most local non church group operate under a connection with them) does make up fictitious names and fictitious requests based on their belief/past experience of what their client base may need. there is no counting at the end of each day nor applicants 'knowing' if they are eligible just because they meet income criteria. when you have 2000 plus families in a community apply, all 'income eligible', but resources to serve only a small percentage it often comes down to 'luck of the draw'-as in you are selected if the organization has by christmas eve the items suited to your family so they can put together a gift basket (if they only have gifts for 3-8 year old boys and 7 signed up, sadly 4 will not receive anything-reputable groups never guarantee anything to those who sign up unless they know they will be able to provide) . we had clients that did not know if they would or would not receive something until as late as christmas eve (if we did'nt have enough to gift all the kids in a family we moved on to another smaller household we could serve-each in identical circumstances). given that these groups rely totaly on donations they always are in a guessing game as to how many families they can serve-if private or corporate donations are down there is no government funding for these programs that they can pull from to meet a shortfall.

YES- charitable agencies and groups are in the business of MAKING MONEY AND GETTING GIFTS-thats their goal, thats what the trees are out there for. in many ways 'giving trees' have become the best mechanism to solict donations of toys and gifts-people have become disillusioned with donating money to groups for fear it will all go to 'overhead', having the opportunity to donate a tangible object that the giver knows will not have a portion removed for administrative expenses is much more appealing.

the groups that do these trees are staffed with tremendous volunteers who often empty their own pockets to ensure families are served-and their hearts break that they cant help more. they are also realistic with regards to fraud and thats why many smaller groups band together with nationwide groups so they can do 'clearing houses' of applicants to ensure resources are used apprppriatly.

i would just suggest that anyone considering donating to one of these trees make sure its a legitimate organization sponsoring it, and be wary of those that would permit designer handbags and high end electronics from being listed-common sense would tell you that almost noone buys these items, and encouraging or even allowing a kid to put this on the one wish ornament they get could result in that kid being passed over for any type of consideration from well meaning donors.

Great post.

 

[kdibattista]

DH's firehouse always sponsors 4 families. The names are given to us by the school and the familes have no clue. We are given the age and sex of all family members but there are no gift requests because the family doesn't know. I have had the priviledge of going on the Santa run for the past 3 years (we do it at our member's party). We drop off the gifts at the door, ring the bell and RUN... there is nothing like seeing the faces of those familes... NOTHING.

 

[Linzybrooke]

While I agree that some items are a little overpriced I think the spirit of giving is the important part. This thread has become an argument over who is worthy of a gift and who isn't...

Give if you want to and don't if you don't. Remember the reason you are giving, whatever your religion or reason for celebrating this season. No need to be mean to one another.

Just my opinion...

 

[xyzabc33]

I would like for you to PM me or let us all know the name of this organization that works exactly the same for every chapter they have nationally. What you said about a lottery may be true in your area but it is not around where I have lived. In fact the SA near me probably serves a good 700 ppl for the holidays (nowhere near the 2000 you mentioned but I live in a smaller town and trust me that is a nice size percentage of the population here) but the SA just 20 minutes from here serves quite a bit more as the population and no one is turned away as long as they fit the income guidelines. They just wont get as many gifts or food baskets per family. Same goes for Toys for Tots. Who beside Salvation Army is the only nationwide organization that I have ever heard of that solicits toys for children. And since I had been in need myself over the years, trust me that I have never heard of another one.
At neither of the SA's do the trees with tags go up until after all the signups are done with. I have seen (or someone I know has) my daughters(pl) names on a tree. HMMM...maybe they dont really exist since they just make up names. My DDs both have very unusual names so the chances of duplicates are slim. Now an SA in Georgia perhaps (as an example) may do things a bit differently. The majority of these organizations no matter which one they are and no matter what their national guidelines saY do not do things exactly the same from one town to the next. All of it depends on the funding and volunteers that they get. HEnce the term guidelines.
I feel sorry for the ppl whom your organization serves, they have to wait possibly weeks to know whether they will be getting a gift for their child or not instead of being able to go to another agency for possible help if they are not allowed to sign up for help at more then one place. Maybe your group needs to cut back on other expenses or maybe only give one gift per person (meaing kids only-not adults)to be able to help more folks. If they family truely needs that something they would be grateful for that one item-better then none at all.

Yes agencies do need to raise money and receive gifts to help their clients, but to phrase it the way you did sounds like they exist only to get money and gifts and not do what they where originally created for ---help people plain and simple!


I wouldnt be WARY persay of an organization that has a 2000$ purse request on a tree but I would probably give the agency a call and let them know that a possible mistake has been made and ask what could you get that child instead or how could you help in other ways.

I am sorry Barkley but you are coming across in writing as if to say not to donate to the trees unless you do a background check on the agency and that the whole tree thing is just a way to make money and gifts for the agency since Quote/Unquote-"that's their goal" Please remember that wording online can be construed in many different ways and some folks are not as informed about different groups that help ppl as you and I are. Telling ppl to be wary may deter them from helping legitimate(local or national) agencies by thinking that agency only has the above mentioned "goal" Not what they are truely there for....and I am going to repeat this ....to help ppl in need--plain and simple.

Everyone else......please have a happy holiday and Thank you from all those you have helped in the past and will again in the future.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would like for you to PM me or let us all know the name of this organization that works exactly the same for every chapter they have nationally. What you said about a lottery may be true in your area but it is not around where I have lived. In fact the SA near me probably serves a good 700 ppl for the holidays (nowhere near the 2000 you mentioned but I live in a smaller town and trust me that is a nice size percentage of the population here) but the SA just 20 minutes from here serves quite a bit more as the population and no one is turned away as long as they fit the income guidelines. They just wont get as many gifts or food baskets per family. Same goes for Toys for Tots. Who beside Salvation Army is the only nationwide organization that I have ever heard of that solicits toys for children. And since I had been in need myself over the years, trust me that I have never heard of another one.
At neither of the SA's do the trees with tags go up until after all the signups are done with. I have seen (or someone I know has) my daughters(pl) names on a tree. HMMM...maybe they dont really exist since they just make up names. My DDs both have very unusual names so the chances of duplicates are slim. Now an SA in Georgia perhaps (as an example) may do things a bit differently. The majority of these organizations no matter which one they are and no matter what their national guidelines saY do not do things exactly the same from one town to the next. All of it depends on the funding and volunteers that they get. HEnce the term guidelines.
I feel sorry for the ppl whom your organization serves, they have to wait possibly weeks to know whether they will be getting a gift for their child or not instead of being able to go to another agency for possible help if they are not allowed to sign up for help at more then one place. Maybe your group needs to cut back on other expenses or maybe only give one gift per person (meaing kids only-not adults)to be able to help more folks. If they family truely needs that something they would be grateful for that one item-better then none at all.

Yes agencies do need to raise money and receive gifts to help their clients, but to phrase it the way you did sounds like they exist only to get money and gifts and not do what they where originally created for ---help people plain and simple!


I wouldnt be WARY persay of an organization that has a 2000$ purse request on a tree but I would probably give the agency a call and let them know that a possible mistake has been made and ask what could you get that child instead or how could you help in other ways.

I am sorry Barkley but you are coming across in writing as if to say not to donate to the trees unless you do a background check on the agency and that the whole tree thing is just a way to make money and gifts for the agency since Quote/Unquote-"that's their goal" Please remember that wording online can be construed in many different ways and some folks are not as informed about different groups that help ppl as you and I are. Telling ppl to be wary may deter them from helping legitimate(local or national) agencies by thinking that agency only has the above mentioned "goal" Not what they are truely there for....and I am going to repeat this ....to help ppl in need--plain and simple.

Everyone else......please have a happy holiday and Thank you from all those you have helped in the past and will again in the future.

At our local SA they take names for the AAF program (both givers and receivers) in October. Then a group looks over the applications of those in need and pair them to the ones who signed up to adopt. The family is then told they are adopted and the adopting family is told who they got. All of this is completed before Thanksgiving. We did all of our shopping before Thanksgiving and our vacation. We always ask for a larger family, since they are more likely to not get picked. The one problem that I have is that the spending limit is set per family and not per person. I would prefer per person, but that is their rules. This year we got a family of 8 with 6 kids (10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 1). We always go over the limit and get a small lecture for doing it, but they also agree that the larger family is a little harder to stay under the limit for. We did not get everything that we would have liked to, but doing everything by 6 adds up quickly. I just hope the kid who wanted the live rabbit is not too disappointed when there is not one under the tree. I did try to get them stuff in their favorite color and for 4 of them they got the toy they wanted. The 10 year old was into scrapbooking, so we got that stuff for her too.

 

[Saffron]

This thread is the perfect example of what's gone wrong with the modern day commercialization of Christmas. I'd blame THAT before I blamed any child of any age for dreaming and dreaming big the one time of year where dreaming is allowed, heck, even expected.

My brother and I couldn't wait until the Sears catalog came every October. We would make it a goal to circle one thing on every page in the toy section. We never thought for one second that we would get any of the toys, but we could dream, as children, that was a part of our Christmas, the magic of dreams ... Santa Claus, Rudolph, white Christmas, stockings hung on the cardboard fireplace to be filled. My parents probably never even looked at the catalog.

Kids (and adults) dream, especially at Christmas time. There's nothing wrong with that. Even as an old person I still look for the magic and true spirit of the season.

I only *wish* I could buy every person who wants something, something, no matter how expensive or inexpensive the request would be. That would be a wonderful Christmas dream to have come true!

This thread has been both GRINCHED and SCROOGED.

One can only hope for it to have a happy ending.

 

[MELSMICE]

I started buying for angels in HS........ I do it in the spirit of the season. If someone takes my gifts and returns them or is taking advantage of others generosity it is on them.

I haven't read this entire thread, but this is how I feel.

We adopt a family each year. We do it through our local Youth Bureau & it is a family in our community. All these families are thorougly checked & are definitely in need. We receive a personal thank-you note from them after the holidays. We've been doing it for at least 10 years now & I've always asked for a family with 3 children, around the same age as my kids.

I get list & I try to purchase everything the children ask for. Additionally, I always get the parents a gift card to the local grocery store & something small for each one of them. (this year mom gets some scented candles & dad is getting some warm socks) I feel that if I am fortunate enough to provide a pentiful Christmas for my children & family I would like to make some other children, along with their parents happy & have just as nice of a Christmas. I don't even stop to think that they may be "scamming" anyone.

Also, just because someone asks for a gift, does not mean they will/should receive it. You are not obligated to purchase anything you don't want to. If you don't want the tag on the tree asking for the IPod then don't choose it - plain & simple.

 

[barkley]

I would like for you to PM me or let us all know the name of this organization that works exactly the same for every chapter they have nationally. What you said about a lottery may be true in your area but it is not around where I have lived. In fact the SA near me probably serves a good 700 ppl for the holidays (nowhere near the 2000 you mentioned but I live in a smaller town and trust me that is a nice size percentage of the population here) but the SA just 20 minutes from here serves quite a bit more as the population and no one is turned away as long as they fit the income guidelines. They just wont get as many gifts or food baskets per family. Same goes for Toys for Tots. Who beside Salvation Army is the only nationwide organization that I have ever heard of that solicits toys for children. And since I had been in need myself over the years, trust me that I have never heard of another one.
At neither of the SA's do the trees with tags go up until after all the signups are done with. I have seen (or someone I know has) my daughters(pl) names on a tree. HMMM...maybe they dont really exist since they just make up names. My DDs both have very unusual names so the chances of duplicates are slim. Now an SA in Georgia perhaps (as an example) may do things a bit differently. The majority of these organizations no matter which one they are and no matter what their national guidelines saY do not do things exactly the same from one town to the next. All of it depends on the funding and volunteers that they get. HEnce the term guidelines.
I feel sorry for the ppl whom your organization serves, they have to wait possibly weeks to know whether they will be getting a gift for their child or not instead of being able to go to another agency for possible help if they are not allowed to sign up for help at more then one place. Maybe your group needs to cut back on other expenses or maybe only give one gift per person (meaing kids only-not adults)to be able to help more folks. If they family truely needs that something they would be grateful for that one item-better then none at all.

Yes agencies do need to raise money and receive gifts to help their clients, but to phrase it the way you did sounds like they exist only to get money and gifts and not do what they where originally created for ---help people plain and simple!


I wouldnt be WARY persay of an organization that has a 2000$ purse request on a tree but I would probably give the agency a call and let them know that a possible mistake has been made and ask what could you get that child instead or how could you help in other ways.

I am sorry Barkley but you are coming across in writing as if to say not to donate to the trees unless you do a background check on the agency and that the whole tree thing is just a way to make money and gifts for the agency since Quote/Unquote-"that's their goal" Please remember that wording online can be construed in many different ways and some folks are not as informed about different groups that help ppl as you and I are. Telling ppl to be wary may deter them from helping legitimate(local or national) agencies by thinking that agency only has the above mentioned "goal" Not what they are truely there for....and I am going to repeat this ....to help ppl in need--plain and simple.

Everyone else......please have a happy holiday and Thank you from all those you have helped in the past and will again in the future.

no need to be secretive via pm'ing-it's 'volunteers of america'. the county (only one of many in california) in which i worked with them had over one million 29 thousand residents-even if only 10% were 'income eligible' and applied for these programs-we would have had 129,000 applicants-a far cry from 700.

as far as national organizations other than salvation army that do holiday toy drives try-volunteers of america, toys for tots, u.s. marine and other military force organizations.goodwill industries, federal and local law and fire enforcement/protection groups, catholic social services, lutheran social services. seventh day adventist missionary outreach...the list goes on and on.

i wont apologize for legitimate organizations that refuse to make false promises to applicants to provide holiday baskets that they can't guarantee. i do however feel sorry for those individuals who are promised by organizations holiday baskets and dont recieve them-and the other recipients/the public who read the press releases about the 'numbers served' (pre-holiday) never learning (post holiday) of those families whose 'wishes' were promised but never even remotely met.

and to be perfectly clear-i was never employed or a volunteer of v.o.a.-i served foster care, adoptees, public assistance, veterans, senior citizens and the public at large within the social services agency that handled all applications submitted to all agencies covering the 1 million 29 thousand residents of the county i worked for-anyone who wished to apply for these programs were benefited by volunteer efforts on our part to act as a clearing house for applications for any and all holiday services available for local, state and national programs-we did our best to serve every 'in need' individual or family, but the reality is-the needs/wants far outreach the donations.

 

[lesroi]

DH's firehouse always sponsors 4 families. The names are given to us by the school and the familes have no clue. We are given the age and sex of all family members but there are no gift requests because the family doesn't know. I have had the priviledge of going on the Santa run for the past 3 years (we do it at our member's party). We drop off the gifts at the door, ring the bell and RUN... there is nothing like seeing the faces of those familes... NOTHING.

Now THAT is the spirit of Christmas!!!
I can't imagine how awesome that makes you feel!!!

Tracy

 

[RAZ24]

Younger DD's class collects money for a needy Christmas family. There were 3 children in this family. I was given the girl to buy for. A Dora comforter and sheets and Dora toys is what the little girl asked for. I felt those gifts were great ideas.

Then I read what her 2 older brothers wanted Xbox games, Cube games. So, unfortunately I started thinking (not good) why does this needy family have not 1 but 2 video systems. Are these the most needy families my dd's parochial school can find? Surely there's families out there that need clothing, and blankets and toys and books. I want to find THOSE families.

Our church has an Angel tree. Those gifts go to homes for unwed Moms, the elderly, prisoners. We bought diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap etc. I know those are needed items.

Christine

 

[mickeyfan2]

Younger DD's class collects money for a needy Christmas family. There were 3 children in this family. I was given the girl to buy for. A Dora comforter and sheets and Dora toys is what the little girl asked for. I felt those gifts were great ideas.

Then I read what her 2 older brothers wanted Xbox games, Cube games. So, unfortunately I started thinking (not good) why does this needy family have not 1 but 2 video systems. Are these the most needy families my dd's parochial school can find? Surely there's families out there that need clothing, and blankets and toys and books. I want to find THOSE families.

Our church has an Angel tree. Those gifts go to homes for unwed Moms, the elderly, prisoners. We bought diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap etc. I know those are needed items.

Christine

BTW I agree with you but many on here seem to think that makes us judgemental, no I would say realistic and practical.

 

[chobie]

BTW I agree with you but many on here seem to think that makes us judgemental, no I would say realistic and practical.

Actaully some of us think calling poor children greedy for wanting more than survival items is judgmental.