What do you think of this teachers gift?

[goodeats]

Sure I give to charities, but I don't do that instead of buying a gift for somebody to show I appreciate them.

I'm sure this organization is great and does great work, but I don't think you are getting the teacher a gift by doing that. It's their choice to decide what charities to give to.

As far as what kind of gift card, just some suggestions: a gift card to a restaurant, department store, starbucks, beverages & more, gourmet grocery store, gas station, spa, etc...

 

[Disneyrsh]

If you put thought and time into what the TEACHER would like...if you know she supports this cause...it is a great gift.

But if you bought it because YOU think it is a great cause, then it is really a gift for yourself. You should go buy HER something you know she wants or could use.

I agree! There's nothing worse than the charity evangelicals.

We give to charities, but we don't force other people to do it by giving them a flock of geese when they really could have used a visa gift card to help pay for the transmission that just blew in their car.

 

[SDFgirl]

As a teacher, I would have found this to be a very thoughtful and meaningful gift. I have enough stuff - why not give to those less fortunate? I even have about 5 or 6 gift cards in my purse that I haven't gotten time to use yet. So, as much as I like gift cards, a donation in my name to a charity is more meaningful to me.

Don't let people get you down. I can't believe how rude some people have been on this thread!

 

[lisajl]

Sure I give to charities, but I don't do that instead of buying a gift for somebody to show I appreciate them.

I'm sure this organization is great and does great work, but I don't think you are getting the teacher a gift by doing that. It's their choice to decide what charities to give to.

As far as what kind of gift card, just some suggestions: a gift card to a restaurant, department store, starbucks, beverages & more, gourmet grocery store, gas station, spa, etc...

Oh! yea..I did not think of that...I wanted to show them I appreciated them, but they have told all of us parents not to get THEM anything...
That means gift cards too. That is why I thought of this.
I guess I should have given to the Cancer Society in their name..a teacher on this team is currently fighting breast cancer. Would that have been a better gift?

 

[goodeats]

I personally think the Cancer Society would be more appropriate.

 

[lisajl]

Thanks for your opinion Good eats..I always give to the Cancer Society.
Lost my father and sister in law to that horrible disease.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Oh! yea..I did not think of that...I wanted to show them I appreciated them, but they have told all of us parents not to get THEM anything...
That means gift cards too. That is why I thought of this.
I guess I should have given to the Cancer Society in their name..a teacher on this team is currently fighting breast cancer. Would that have been a better gift?

Yes, I think that would have been a very appropriate expression of support.

And why do people always confuse rudeness with honesty? Sheesh. Not everyone thinks that charities are worth donating to. How would you like it if your boss told you that the bonus check you were really looking forward to was instead sent to buy a cow for a dude in Haiti? I'm sure the guy needs the cow and he'll be happy with it, but that's not the point, is it?

The OP wanted a variety of opinions. Now it's all, oh, dissenting opinion, well, that's just rude.

 

[Disneyrsh]

As a teacher, I would have found this to be a very thoughtful and meaningful gift. I have enough stuff - why not give to those less fortunate? I even have about 5 or 6 gift cards in my purse that I haven't gotten time to use yet. So, as much as I like gift cards, a donation in my name to a charity is more meaningful to me.

Don't let people get you down. I can't believe how rude some people have been on this thread!

Why don't you donate your "5 or 6 gift cards in your purse" to charity?

 

[Cool-Beans]

#1. Gift card to where?
#2. These teachers have been in the school system forever...they have stuff they need for school
#3. They are always telling parents they don't want anything.
#4. I just thought it would be a thoughtful gift, plus you are helping people that need it.

Geesh! Do you give to any charities?

Lisa

You can give a gift card for almost anything. Anyone with a car can use gas. Those without cars can benefit from a pre-paid card.

You phrased it as what people thought of it as a gift, not what people thought of you giving to charity. As a charitable thing, it is fine. Everyone should support the causes they choose.

With gifts, the purpose is to give something to the other person that they need or can use. "It's the thought that counts." If you put no thought into the person you're giving it to, it doesn't count as a gift.

I give to charities. But I don't give to a charity and then tell someone that my donation to the charity was a gift for them.

...a donation in my name to a charity is more meaningful to me.

That makes it a great gift for YOU. Not for everyone.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I agree! There's nothing worse than the charity evangelicals.

We give to charities, but we don't force other people to do it by giving them a flock of geese when they really could have used a visa gift card to help pay for the transmission that just blew in their car.

Disneyrsh, I gave $50 to the VFW last week. Happy Birthday!

 

[horseshowmom]

What you did was fine. The Cancer Society would have been fine too. The teachers asked that you not give them a gift personally, and you found a way to recognize them while still respecting their wishes. I wouldn't be surprised if your gift didn't wind up being worked into a lesson somewhere (social studies jumps to mind immediately).

Have a great summer!

 

[Blondy876]

I'm a teacher and I would love this gift.

My oldest dd's class did the "Read to feed" and her class bought a cow, some goats, a sheep, 1 flock of ducks, honeybees and some tree samplings. I think it's a great gift that will do so many so much good.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Disneyrsh, I gave $50 to the VFW last week. Happy Birthday!

I don't understand your post. It's not a competition; that certainly makes the whole concept of charitable giving rather ugly.

I can show you my tax return if you'd like to pm me, but I'm not going to get into a spitting contest over it.

I think the most important point to the whole thread is to know the person well enough beforehand to know if they'd like a flock of geese and are into charitable donations.

Saying "oh, I don't need any gifts" is just a unctuous societal put on. I find it disingenuous and rather ungracious in a setting where it's expected that one would get a gift. If you don't want it, politely say "thank you" and then donate it.

It disses people who *need* to say thank you when you tell them you don't need it.

I have friends that would totally love it, and other friends that would be like, WTH? and ask for a receipt.

UPDATE: Coolbeans explained it to me, and I totally missed that it was a joke! I'm so Dopey sometimes. hee hee!

 

[daisyduck123]

Sure I give to charities, but I don't do that instead of buying a gift for somebody to show I appreciate them.

I'm sure this organization is great and does great work, but I don't think you are getting the teacher a gift by doing that. It's their choice to decide what charities to give to.

As far as what kind of gift card, just some suggestions: a gift card to a restaurant, department store, starbucks, beverages & more, gourmet grocery store, gas station, spa, etc...

ITA. Well said. I read once (can't remember where) that when you give someone a gift like this, you are really doing it to make yourself feel good. Yes, you made a donation. Great! But it should not be in place of a gift you wanted to give someone. If you want to donate, fine, but do it in your own name. Not as a gift to someone else.

 

[Brutie]

Not really on topic, but I just wanted to get a thank you gift for my neighbor to thank her for watching the house and kitty for us while we were gone.

They dont need anything material like, so I got her gift cards to the grocery store and a gas gift card. As high as gas is here in CA and everywhere I imagine, it was very much appreciated. We've all got to eat and get places. I to have been guilty sometimes of not using gift cards right away but grocery and gas ones tend to get used a lot faster.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have a client who donates in my honor every Christmas through Heifer. I am thrilled that she does that. I think it is a great gift that keeps giving to people who truly need it. I hope your teachers loved it as much as I do.

 

[Sherri]

I really like your idea. I think it was well thoughtout and I think it is an excellent idea. Personally, I would be touched if anyone ever did that for me for any occasion. I really love the orginality of it.

 

[tnkbl]

I am a teacher and I love gifts like this. Afterall there are only so many mugs or bottles of lotion you can have.
This gift shows that you are caring and compassionate about your fellow man. You also also teaching your child to be caring and compassionate.
Today I was given some of the most wonderful gifts... hand written notes by my second graders that said that they really had fun this year, they liked my class, and they love me! Those are the best!

 

[goodeats]

Also, something I just thought of, who gets to take the tax deduction in a situation like this? That just opens another whole can of worms.

 

[georgina]

Also, something I just thought of, who gets to take the tax deduction in a situation like this? That just opens another whole can of worms.

The person who gives the money, of course! We give to several charities at Christmas in lieu of giving gifts. I like Heifer a lot - helping people become self-sufficient - and they do help people in this country too. One of my sisters is a vegetarian, so we do trees in her honor. Most of the people in overseas countries they help are so much worse off than anyone here can imagine. I don't understand those who think it wrong to help people around the world.

Most middle and high school teachers around here don't get gifts from their students, so i bet most will appreciate the gesture.