Giving trees for the needy ... Tags for big-ticket items

[Anonymous]

There are so many who deal with hunger in this country on daily basis, there are children who don't have underwear or basic toiletries. Or heated homes in the winter.

I don't understand why people are throwing money away on programs like Toys for Tots and such.

My choice of charity is donating food items. You can't sell peanut butter on the street and children might have something to eat that night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many who deal with hunger in this country on daily basis, there are children who don't have underwear or basic toiletries. Or heated homes in the winter.

I don't understand why people are throwing money away on programs like Toys for Tots and such.

My choice of charity is donating food items. You can't sell peanut butter on the street and children might have something to eat that night.

Wow, so poor kids should only get food and make dolls out of leftover corn husks? Cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many who deal with hunger in this country on daily basis, there are children who don't have underwear or basic toiletries. Or heated homes in the winter.

I don't understand why people are throwing money away on programs like Toys for Tots and such.

My choice of charity is donating food items. You can't sell peanut butter on the street and children might have something to eat that night.

Yes. God forbid someone give a child a bit of joy at Christmas time.

[Anonymous]

My Angel Tree kid asked for Legos, a soccer ball, and a bike. Doesn't sound too crazy to me.

They also provided his clothing sizes. What do 10YO boys like? Under Armour or Nike hoodies?

[Anonymous]

Each of my angel tree kids asked for a winter coat. The younger one also asked for Bratz dolls and the older one also asked for an IPod. I happily bought them those things, plus I a giving an ITunes gift card to the older one and a tea set to the younger one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The meaning of Christmas is lost. Do this, write them a note and say you will pick them up and take them to church to understand the meaning of this day. I guarentee tha tyou wil be waiting outside all day for them to come outside.

Say you will meet them outside to bring xyz and they will be out there waiting in their northface.

sorry but it is what it is. Look at the names on the tree, look at hwo is gettiing the gifts. You don't see Juan Espinoza or Adela Hernandez on the tree. It comes down to a work ethic, even though they might be illegal at tiems they work their asses off and don't ask for handouts.

Congratulations on packing so many stereotypes into such a short post!
- Poor people don't know the meaning of Christmas.
- Poor people don't care about the meaning of Christmas.
- Poor people don't normally attend church.
- Poor people care more about materialism than spiritualism.
- Poor people wear expensive, status brand clothes.
- Poor people are greedy.
- American poor people are the worst.
- Latino poor people, especially immigrants are all hard working.
- Latino poor people don't accept charity.

Whew. Did I miss any? I suppose I could generate several more subtle, implied stereotypes from your post. . . but here's one for for you PP: Financially secure Americans are clueless and cynical about people who live in different circumstances. (Luckily I don't buy into that one, either. See the evidence for kindness and generosity among some of the posters on this thread.)
- Poor people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done an angel tree in a while because I'm dead broke but when I did, I always went by the rule of thumb of picking families who were asking for things I would give my own family. If you don't like what they are asking for, move on to another family.


+1.

This is what I do as well. I don't buy my own child over the top gifts, but I don't get him socks and underwear either! So I pick a family who is asking for some regular toys.

[Anonymous]

Stereotypes are fact based

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wow, so poor kids should only get food and make dolls out of leftover corn husks? Cold.

Proper nutrition is essential for cognitive development.


What's the point of them being with toys but no underwear? Following their mamas and papas model - living on welfare but a big TV.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand gifts that required more gifts in order to work. ie if you ask for an iPod, you have to have a computer. And then you have to have money to buy itunes. Or if you ask for an xbox, eventually you need money to buy a new game or get a subscription to a game service.

I don't object to an expensive gift outright, I just don't understand gifts that require more after the gift giver is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand gifts that required more gifts in order to work. ie if you ask for an iPod, you have to have a computer. And then you have to have money to buy itunes. Or if you ask for an xbox, eventually you need money to buy a new game or get a subscription to a game service.

I don't object to an expensive gift outright, I just don't understand gifts that require more after the gift giver is gone.

ITA. Where is that going to come from.