Anonymous wrote:Angel Tree! http://salvationarmynca.org/angeltree/dc/

Yes, Angel Tree - you can sponsor as many children as you like and you get a wish list. Most people buy a few clothing items and 1 or 2 two items from the wishlist. We sponsor two children each year and spend about $300 total.

Anonymous wrote:It can be very expensive - thousands of dollars. I found this out when my friend did it last year and only discovered after getting the lists and requirements from the agency. one of the requirements of the agency was that clothing items on wish lists were expected to be "quality items" and then there were a list of brands and stores and no, Walmart and Target were not on the list. Another one was electronics on wish lists had to come with certain additional accessories even if those accessories did not appear on the wish list.

If budget is a concern to you, make sure to ask questions beforehand on the expectations.

That sounds like a story Trump voters tell each other. Name the "agency".

Anonymous wrote:It can be very expensive - thousands of dollars. I found this out when my friend did it last year and only discovered after getting the lists and requirements from the agency. one of the requirements of the agency was that clothing items on wish lists were expected to be "quality items" and then there were a list of brands and stores and no, Walmart and Target were not on the list. Another one was electronics on wish lists had to come with certain additional accessories even if those accessories did not appear on the wish list.

If budget is a concern to you, make sure to ask questions beforehand on the expectations.

This is ridiculous! For years we have bought jackets when they go on sale in summer in different sizes from Kohl's, Walmart, and Target, as well as shoes and boots, etc. I sure as hell am not going to pay thousands of dollars for charities when I don't spend thousands of dollars for my own family!

South Lakes High School has a food pantry that your child could help you shop for.

Angel Tree! http://salvationarmynca.org/angeltree/dc/

Anonymous wrote:I tried googling for this, but it was more difficult than I imagined. Anyone do an "adopt a family" type thing for the holidays? Could you tell me the name of the charity please? I'm trying to get my 4 year old to see outside herself a little. Thanks.

My church adopts two families but it is for an entire year. There Re many families who need help. Contact your local homeless shelter and they can give you information.

Anonymous wrote:It can be very expensive - thousands of dollars. I found this out when my friend did it last year and only discovered after getting the lists and requirements from the agency. one of the requirements of the agency was that clothing items on wish lists were expected to be "quality items" and then there were a list of brands and stores and no, Walmart and Target were not on the list. Another one was electronics on wish lists had to come with certain additional accessories even if those accessories did not appear on the wish list.

If budget is a concern to you, make sure to ask questions beforehand on the expectations.

You buy what you re comfortable with. They can ask for Ugg boots but Costco brand is fine.

Anonymous wrote:I tried googling for this, but it was more difficult than I imagined. Anyone do an "adopt a family" type thing for the holidays? Could you tell me the name of the charity please? I'm trying to get my 4 year old to see outside herself a little. Thanks.

DS’s ES does a Toys for Tots type drive. I take him to Target and he picks out a bunch of $10 toys for other kids. We don’t buy anything for DS that day. He brings them to school to put in the box. It works for us.

You can also have your child pick out food items to donate. There should be food drives soon. I know Cub Scouts food drive is in 3 weeks. I am sure there will be donation boxes at stores.

Our library does this every holiday. Please also reach out to the local HHS and food pantry. Our food pantry also does gifts.

To be honest, in addition to gifts and food, consider finding a way to assist with their basic bills-heat, health, whatever. That goes a long way toward helping out and reducing stress. For us, inside each gift is something like a food gift card or a gas card. We also like to gift Thrive Market subscriptions with a gift card inside the food box.

We also went to our vet and put a certain amount to be utilized at the vet's discretion to assist someone who needed help getting care for their companion. This could be to comp a visit or to get their pet the diagnostics so they could determine the actual cause of the issue.

It can be very expensive - thousands of dollars. I found this out when my friend did it last year and only discovered after getting the lists and requirements from the agency. one of the requirements of the agency was that clothing items on wish lists were expected to be "quality items" and then there were a list of brands and stores and no, Walmart and Target were not on the list. Another one was electronics on wish lists had to come with certain additional accessories even if those accessories did not appear on the wish list.

If budget is a concern to you, make sure to ask questions beforehand on the expectations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most churches will do this or at least do a giving tree.

Keep in mind, this isnt like a hallmark movie where you stand on the family's doorstep on Thanksgiving (or on Christmas) holding a gigantic basket of household food and essentials patting yourself on the back for doing a good deed.

Your 4 yr old isnt going to have that visual you think she'll have just bc you're collecting a few canned goods.

This seems like a total misread of both the OP and the way these adopt-a-family programs work.

Most people donate to make themselves feel good. Most of the folks who need, need all year round and need the least at the holidays as others only do then. Kids need back to school clothing and new in the spring, etc. They need food, furniture and other things all year.

My church works with a program that gives gifts to the children of people who are incarcerated.

My children’s school also organizes a wish list for children of high need families.

I take my small children to volunteer at the DC Diaper Bank. Not Christmas, but it is still a need regardless of what day it is.

OP, if you're in Northern Virginia, ECHO is a nonprofit that does a lot of good with extremely low overhead. They have a holiday giving program that might work for you, which puts you directly in touch with families who need assistance:
https://www.echo-inc.org/holiday-programs

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