Angel Tree gift question -- what is going on with the gifts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift requests are getting expensive!
The problem I see sometime is that these families have better cell phone and plans than me!

How do you find out what types of plans “these families” have?

Do you ask them to be certain that they qualify for your benevolence?


The nastiness here is sad. If you don’t want to provide gifts, then don’t. But if the kids are asked what they want, then don’t criticize them because they don’t list socks.

FWIW An iPad now can be purchased for $250. It will work reliably for years. It’s useful for schoolwork, access to cultural activities and recreation, and access to applications of all kinds. I’ve paired mine with a keyboard case and it’s truly the best bang for the buck purchase that I can think of, especially for a teen.

I’m not saying that anyone should spend amounts like this for an angel tree if they don’t want to or can’t. Appreciate though, that an iPad can be a lifeline that could provide a decade or more of access to someone who could greatly benefit from having it.

What public school district is not issuing a device (chromebook whatever) to every student these days? Why do kids need ipads too as a "lifeline" when they already have chromebooks from school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people are so upset over the ask. If it’s out of your price range select another child or don’t participate. The kids asking for iPads and bicycles are usually tweens and teens and this is the same kind of thing your own children may ask for. It’s always easy for toy drives to get items for babies and young children because the toys and clothing are not expensive compared to what older kids ask for and people are more likely to sympathize with young children. If an iPad can help them in school or keep them busy and out of trouble I think it’s a reasonable ask.

Angel Tree is specifically for kids 0-12, so no, I don't think a bunch of teens are asking for iPhones. The vast majority of asks are normal toys.

Uh, no. There are many different groups running angel trees, including Salvation Army and many others. Most include teens 17 and under. Some include senior citizens.

And yes, if you don’t get there the first week or so, after which all the reasonable (yes, reasonable) requests are already taken, you’re hard pressed to find one that isn’t for something ridiculous like $200+ designer sneakers, the newest iPhone, $500 PS5 console, etc.

The adults in charge are to blame, as well as the parents who don’t guide their kids to ask for something that they want which is reasonable (yes, reasonable) to expect a stranger to buy for them.

My family is in the Salvation Army. My kids and I served at the DC and Maryland Angel Trees Distributions. It was a tremendous amount of work spanning many days to get ready for the distribution. The mothers who came in to pick up the gifts had a better phone than I did, better nails and hair recently styled that day in the salon. My kids and I hauled gifts out to their cars. Their cars were better than all of ours. One woman dressed me down because she had specified Le Crueset and got somehting else (not my station). I stopped doing it because of the expectations and the entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift requests are getting expensive!
The problem I see sometime is that these families have better cell phone and plans than me!

How do you find out what types of plans “these families” have?

Do you ask them to be certain that they qualify for your benevolence?


The nastiness here is sad. If you don’t want to provide gifts, then don’t. But if the kids are asked what they want, then don’t criticize them because they don’t list socks.

FWIW An iPad now can be purchased for $250. It will work reliably for years. It’s useful for schoolwork, access to cultural activities and recreation, and access to applications of all kinds. I’ve paired mine with a keyboard case and it’s truly the best bang for the buck purchase that I can think of, especially for a teen.

I’m not saying that anyone should spend amounts like this for an angel tree if they don’t want to or can’t. Appreciate though, that an iPad can be a lifeline that could provide a decade or more of access to someone who could greatly benefit from having it.

What public school district is not issuing a device (chromebook whatever) to every student these days? Why do kids need ipads too as a "lifeline" when they already have chromebooks from school?

DCPS