Thoughts....

[papabear]

First of all,I would like to take a second and commend EVERYBODY who is a member of this fine site.This one is the best I have ever found by far.It is very well set up,moniterd,and contributed to by many fine people.

On that note I hope you fine people can help me.Christmas is fast approaching and my wife,daughter and myself are looking for ideas to help a needy family this year and hopefully make it a family tradition.Our daughter is seven years old and has a piggy bank full of change that she would like to use to help a family less fortunate.I told her whatever she has in her bank plus saves untill Christmas Mom and I would match.Question is,how do we go about finding a family that is in need annonomously(sp)?We would not/do not want any recognition but would really like to make sure it goes to a family that will appreciate itToys for Tots and other such organizations are great but I personaly would like to help someone here close to home.Also,I would like my daughter(and us)to see the happiness on someones face during a joyous time of year and let them forget the hard times even though it be for a short time.Any thoughts,comments...all are appreciated. John

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

First, welcome to TBN. Second, but not in importance, that's a wonderful daughter you have there. I might suggest you contact your church as they often know of someone who could really use the help. Often groups such as Salvation Army, etc., will have people you can help as well.

 

[DAVELR]

Our church goes thru the local Social Services office. They don't tell us the names but give us a list of things needed, sizes, etc. We deliver to the Social Service office and they deliver the items collected.

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Welcome to TBN,

Church's and social services are great ideas. I'll add one more.

If you have friends or relatives who are (or know people who are) nurses who do home visits, you may have a good source.

My wife became friends with a woman who was a nurse and she traveled to homes in our rural area. She mentioned a family she visisted every other day. It seems the mom had cancer and was in a bad way. They had a very meager existence and the medical bills tapped whatever extra money they had.

Turns out some people did some shopping and gave the family a Christmas they didn't expect. It was probably the last Christmas they had as a whole family, but I heard it meant a lot (to the kids especially).

Anyway--I offer this as another route as I think there are a lot of people who are too proud to ask for anything and so they aren't even known to local parishes.

Good luck

Bob

 

[frank_f15]

Welcome to the forum: i posted awhile back what we as a a family did one christmas, but i can't find the thread so i will repaeat it here . one christmas time many years ago(probably 25) i realized how well we had it, and my children at the time were about 12 ,10 and 7. we had always had nice christmas 's but i wanted the kids to understand the true meaning of giving. so we contacted our church for a list of famileys that needed help, no name just just circumstanses and family members ages, we pickedone family that was similar to ours in ages, and we let the kids shop for thier counter parts, clothes . toys, and bought all the food for thier christmas dinner. the kids had a ball , thinking, buying and wrapping, THEY were not thinking about themselves. we then delivered it to the chuch and that familys christmas was taken care of. all we got from the church was a card form the parents thanking us for our help. my kids still remember that to this day. to this day our children always do for others. that is what we were trying to teach them. sorry for the long post, and was seriously thinking of private messaging this to u, but thouth i would put it up on the forum so mabey some others might like to do something similar. sounds like u have a wonderful family.

 

[frank_f15]

forgot to mention that we insisted that all the gifts and food be given to the parents out of sight of the children, each gift was marked for which child. so the parents could put the gift tags on. we also included some things for mom and dad.also along with the note we got a few pics, that was included by the mom and dad. u should have seen the look on the little boys face with that remote controlled car /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif course we all had a ball making sure it worked right /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

Welcome /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I try to donate through the church but I favor the missions. At Christmas we often donate to the Salvation Army. They have the highest % of giveing back to the community of all such organizations that I am aware of. Once in another life way back when I hit a poor patch. I mean I had to sell plasma every 3 days to get a bite to eat. when I was lucky I got a room at the salvation army. I never have and never will forget their kindness when I needed help with cloths shelter and food. Remember all to be nice to those bell ringers. Its Christams cheer and good will they are ringing in. My sincerest hopes that no one here will ever need such assistance but I can tell you personally from first hand experience I owe a geat debt of gratitude to them and others. Dave

 

[Bird]

Dave, besides church, I, too, prefer giving to the Salvation Army and the March of Dimes. While I've never needed any assistance from the Salvation Army myself, I've seen some of the things they've done and like to support them. But the March of Dimes sure did help me and my parents when I was a kid. I had polio and don't know what the hospital bills would have been for my parents if it hadn't been for the March of Dimes. Of course, now their focus has changed from polio, but I think their current projects are just as important.

 

[sugarmaker]

Hi John,

It sounds like you've got a very thoughtful, considerate little girl there, with charity ahead of her years.

My 10-year old daughter has done something at Christmas for several years now. We contacted a local center which deals with disadvantaged youth. They identified (but not by name) a young girl the same age as Bridget, and gave some idea of her needs. Usually the need was for school and winter clothing, so when we'd shop with Bridget through autumn we'd pick up 2 of some things she needed. Bridget then would box and wrap things before Christmas, and we'd take it to the youth center for them to deliver.

Even though she doesn't know this little girl, Bridget is reminded of her connection to her each time she pulls on snow boots or her party dress. I like the more-personal connection and the ongoing reminder that has comes from this form of her charity.

 

[Inspector507]

We have a local charity here called Charity Newsies. 100% of donations goes to clothe needy children at the start of the school year and periodically in the winter when needed. It's such a good feeling to see the kids go "shopping" from their shelves. They buy name brand, but sensible, clothes so the kids don't look out of place in school. They have one BIG fundraiser each year but accept donations all year long.