Reply to When you grab a angel off the Angel Tree?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I feel bad because when I looked at the tree at our local mall, all the kids were asking for stuff that cost more than what I bought for my own kid.  I have a hard time rationalizing spending more on a stranger than my own kid, especially in a lean year for us financially.  So I haven't grabbed an Angel yet this year.

[b]Honestly, though, if a kid participating in this program is expecting a $400 game system or a $150 pair of designer headphones, he is setting himself up for a world of disappointment.[/b]  I get that they're kids, but if your parents are poor enough to be participating in this program, they may have to set their expectations lower than top-of-the-line stuff.  [b](Plus what happens if the parent sells the stuff to pay rent?) [/b] [/quote]

That's exactly why a lot of charities that have giving trees, discourage donors from giving high priced items (though it's not always "to pay rent.")[/quote]

[b]I also think kids living in poverty also acquire a good case of the gimmes if they are given status items they don't earn or are used to being around. I think a cheap pair of head phones tells these kids if they want the $150 ones, they have to work for them themselves - or their parents do.[/b]

It seems like the staff of giving trees needs to work with families on appropriate requests.  Afterall they are given these items out of the kindness of strangers' hearts  and should be grateful for what they get.  I know many families are grateful but there are also many bad apples making all participants look bad.[/quote]

You're the awful woman from yesterday's McDonald's thread, aren't you? You suck.[/quote]

I am not the person who wrote that but I get her point. I used to live in fairfax county where the poverty rate is lower. Move to S. Arl and the poverty rate is high and there are tons of low income families. Once you actually see it day in and day out, you get a different perspective.

Kids whose parents are on welfare but every Christmas get high end brand gifts turn into teens parents who repeat the cycle who turn into very young grandparents who repeat the cycle.  Personally I think the angel tree programs need to be scaled back or stopped.  [/quote]

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