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.

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

OP here. Exactly. And I'd be more inclined to get her, say, an American Girl doll, simply because she didn't specifically ask for one. "A doll" could mean any kind of doll; she simply wanted the comfort of a little doll and not the status of a specific kind.

Anonymous wrote:

If you are poor and need charity, it is not appropriate to ask for big ticket items.

Nailed it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:parents sell food stamps for cigarette money. YOu know what they are going to do with an Xbox or leather jacket. Instead of breaking a child's hear by having the expensive gift taken away by a parent, give them something that has no street value so they can actually retain the gift. Before I am called a cunt, etc., I do know what I am talking about.

What state still uses paper food stamps? As far as I know, everything is on a debit card now. You can't sell food stamps anymore. They don't exist. They haven't existed for at least a decade.

You are ignorant. Of course you can sell food stamps. My sis in law sells access to her ebt card for about a quarter on the dollar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can't give with an open heart, don't give. Just don't give.

This. What is wrong with you people?

Exactly. For children, Christmas is about having their wants fulfilled. Some of ya'll seem really bitter if they don't just ask for things they need instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can't give with an open heart, don't give. Just don't give.

This. What is wrong with you people?

I haven't read all these posts, but I don't think this issue is quite that simple. Growing up, my family always adopted an angel tree kid at our church. The asking for big-ticket items grew in later years and it always made my mom tsk-tsk and move on to someone else. It was more to do that my parents couldn't afford those types of gifts for their own kids to begin with. We were a blue-collar, middle-class family attending a blue-collar, middle class church. We never received gaming systems, etc. and knew not to ask for them. My mom started a Christmas fund every year that she put a little into every week. Giving back to the community was always stressed as important, so I think it frustrated her when there were less kids to chose from to help because they asked for things we couldn't afford. I think she also thought they were in some way taking advantage of the generosity of a community that was in no way rich. Now I think she mainly selects senior citizens instead.

Anyway, nothing to get too worked up about, just a bit of perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We gave a gaming system with games one year, $100 to foot locker and a Target gift card for $50 because the note said shaving supplies for a young teen.

We also gave $100 chalk set, $100 to Michaels and a $100 gift card to Old Navy for a preteen girl.

We gave 4 Capitals tickets to a boy who lost his father in an accident.

We gave a huge kitchen set, a gift card for an American Girl and some outfits for a 6 yo girl.

I don't think it is crazy for kids to want things like this. ALso, you don't know if they live in poverty, or just lost a parent or are military family who is a wounded warrior or just can't afford gifts because all the money goes to food and shelter.

Post a pic of a hundred dollar chalk set...

Not the pp you quoted, but there are high end "pastel sets' that are hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For example, check out a set by Sennelier of 80 pastels, the price tag will be around $100

Anonymous wrote:We gave a gaming system with games one year, $100 to foot locker and a Target gift card for $50 because the note said shaving supplies for a young teen.

We also gave $100 chalk set, $100 to Michaels and a $100 gift card to Old Navy for a preteen girl.

We gave 4 Capitals tickets to a boy who lost his father in an accident.

We gave a huge kitchen set, a gift card for an American Girl and some outfits for a 6 yo girl.

I don't think it is crazy for kids to want things like this. ALso, you don't know if they live in poverty, or just lost a parent or are military family who is a wounded warrior or just can't afford gifts because all the money goes to food and shelter.

Post a pic of a hundred dollar chalk set...

Anonymous wrote:Or find a different program if it offends you. The one I'm doing, the kids listed things like: a soccer ball, a scooter, action figures, books, and basic clothes.

Our church adopts families from another parish in rural Virginia.

We managed to collect a family's cards. The teen asked for a coat and sweat pants. The tween girl asked for a coat and gloves. 2nd grade twin #1 asked for a pair of boots, socks, and a warm outfit. His twin asked for tennis shoes, socks, underwear and a warm outfit. For their toy, they asked for hot wheels.

Lucky Ducks!
http://boingboing.net/2012/04/11/tom-the-dancing-bug-lucky-duc.html

Anonymous wrote:If you can't give with an open heart, don't give. Just don't give.

This. What is wrong with you people?

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.

This has always been my rule, too. I am happy to buy a child a coat, clothes, boots, outdoor toys, etc. but I skip over the electronics that a lot of the kids have on their lists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adopt an angel child every year. This year I went a little over board because the little girl only asked for a winter coat and a doll. Something about just wanting a doll hit me, I realized she really has so little if her only wish is a doll.

I do think it's out of hand for kids to ask or expect 600$ xboxes, my kids know better than to ask for gift with that kind of price tag and were well off.

Because you are teaching your kids about economics and the cost of things. IF THE PARENTS ARE PISS POOR WITH MONEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT A 3RD GRADER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS EXPENSIVE?!!!

I don't expect a 3rd grader to know better but I think the parents who are filling out the forms to receive gifts and holiday assistance should tell them you can not ask for that.

You have no clue what poverty is like. Do you think their parents have time for this. D you understand how many kids are caregivers to their parents.

I grew up with a single mother who did everything she could to keep us off welfare so please don't lecture me about poverty. She worked 3 jobs and a lot of times if wasn't enough - I was an angel tree child which one of the reasons why I now give back. She didn't let me ask for a bike because that wasn't something Santa could bring me. I think a lot of the parents hope to sell the gifts and that's why they let their kids ask for xboxes, iPads and TVs.

Might I suggest you give them one of those lovely things the lady in Australia is knitting?
If I knew you in person I would give you one, a red one.
I think it would suit you perfectly!

My mother was program coordinate for one of those gift programs, she was shocked how the parents would act. The kids would say they wanted generic dolls or sneakers and their parents would tell them to say barbie dream house or Nike because "those people are rich and can afford it." One mother called to find out the exact name brand of the items her child was getting so she didn't "waste time coming to only get cheap crap."

I will only do the programs for senior citizens or mentally/physically disabled.

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.