conj Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Do you participate in charitable endeavors over the holidays? (Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, Thanksgiving, New Years, whatever you celebrate) In our house we consider community as one of the three pillars of importance (Family, school/work, community). Doing for others - in person or online, organized or not, time or cash - is big. The holidays just makes it more pronounced. This year in addition to organizing the office efforts to support seniors and adopt kids from the angel tree, and in addition to volunteering time, we've found a new cause - we are adding to the media collection at the local Pediatric wing of the hospital. They have a list of movies, Wii, and 360 games available to the young in-patients. But it isn't due to the holidays. Last December DD spent 4 days as a resident. We were so grateful for the wonderful staff... and we were very aware that at 16 she was better able to cope with the restrictions that most of the floor's residents. Movies help pass the time... so I am taking advantage of the sales to purchase some titles. Some for little-little ones, and some for teens.... (nothing else would have persuaded me to buy twilight!) They gave me a list of what they have. This is one more cause. (We also support our schools and local library with book donations - yay scholastic; and support the Ronald McDonald House - nearby and when we travel). This year DD told me she wants to adopt a child or 2 off the tree..... she has a job, and some disposable income, and has come to the realization that she has everything she needs. (Makes me so proud) So she wants to make sure that Christmas is a happy time for some kids in the community. What do you support? Do you participate as a family, or each individually? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kranky Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Our church collects gifts for single moms at a local homeless shelter, then we deliver them with cookies and have a short Christmas program with music and singing. It's tough because we have a lot of people who would cheerfully buy really nice (=big) toys - but due to their living circumstances the gifts need to be physically small. We also bump up our giving at Christmas. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misstaken Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 This year, dd16 is going to a new high school. It's a small school with 174 students. It's a public school serving any student within the city of Milwaukee. The teachers and administrators started this school as a safe place for LGBT and any other student who may not fit into a traditional school environment for whatever reason. The staff makes amazing things happen everyday for kids that might not have any support anywhere else. The school is a public school, but gets little funding from the city. All school supplies are donated and purchased by teachers, the school nurse is paid for through donations, etc. The LGBT community has been very generous in their support of our little school and we are very lucky. This year, we're starting a Christmas fund for students that don't get gifts at home. We just provided a community potluck Thanksgiving for students and their friends/family. So many of these kids have been hurt by other kids and even their own families in the past. We want to help the school continue to provide the family atmosphere that they have. I <3 this school, it's amazing and it's the best thing that has happened for dd in a long time! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Our church collects gifts for single moms at a local homeless shelter, then we deliver them with cookies and have a short Christmas program with music and singing. It's tough because we have a lot of people who would cheerfully buy really nice (=big) toys - but due to their living circumstances the gifts need to be physically small. We also bump up our giving at Christmas. I read a book that talked about how expensive it was to be homeless.... things like not being able to buy in bulk (think a gallon of milk as opposed to a pint) because no fridge. Chalk this up to one more disadvantage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redraccoon Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 We make blankets to give to homeless kids - sometimes its the only thing they have that they can call their own. I help with other volunteer efforts and we usually adopt a kid from a giving tree. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeinKS Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Our church distributes food boxes to families in the community who would benefit from the fixings for a Christmas meal. We will provide for two boxes this year.We have done Angel Tree gifts and other things in the past; not sure about this year. Will see what needs and opportunities make themselves known to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess7915 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 My local SPCA has a wish list on Amazon. This year I shopped off of that list. It makes it sooo easy to help out 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanShotFirst Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 My place of employment sponsors a Senior Tree for the elderly in the counties Home Instead offers services. I always take 2-3 of these. These break my heart quicker than a child off the Angel Tree because they only want basic things that I don't give a second thought to. Sweat pants/shirts, slippers, blanket, robes, nightgowns, jeans, blankets, etc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmck Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 We buy gifts for Toys for Tots and also donate items for one of our local nursing homes, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msyves Posted December 11, 2014 Share Posted December 11, 2014 We go to the local post office and dig through the letters to Santa and we fulfill some of those wishes. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogiporkchop Posted December 11, 2014 Share Posted December 11, 2014 What a great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bopeep Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 We go to the local post office and dig through the letters to Santa and we fulfill some of those wishes.I didn't even know you could do that. That is awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msyves Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) msyves, on 11 Dec 2014 - 07:32 AM, said:We go to the local post office and dig through the letters to Santa and we fulfill some of those wishes. Yes, typically the letters go to the main post office in your city. I've been doing this since 1998 and when I got married and had kids I exposed it to them. I love to read the letters. Especially from those who want you to buy something for a relative instead of for themselves. You have those who ask for big ticket items, but the majority really want the simple things in life. As my mom always said, "as you are blessed be a blessing to others." Edited December 13, 2014 by msyves 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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