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.

 

[papabear]

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions.We are really looking foreward to the holiday season knowing we will be helping a family that is less fortunate than us.And yes,our daughter is a very giving person.Unfortunetly,she had to learn that the hard way.Over the last few years things have been tough with me being legally blind and unable to work and having many eye surgeries. She has learned what it is like to sacrafice things.She has also learned to be a great lil nurse for Dad too lol.

Again,thank you everyone for your help.Even though I dont own a tractor and probably never will (but i do love them)this is still the best forum on the internet that I have found to date. John

 

[dmccarty]

papabear,

Try your local JayCees and see if they have a charity event for
the holidays. One of the local JayCees chapters somehow picks
a needy kid. Then one of the JayCees takes the child to the
mall and lets them spend X amount on what they want. From
what I have heard most of the children buy very little
for themselves but get stuff for siblings and parent(s)....

If the JayCees don't have such a program or won't let your
family participate, maybe a local Boys/Girls Club could help out.

You have a danged good idea....

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[Docsknotinn]

Bird, Its nioce to know church's and theese groups really do help people out. Its amazeing sometimes all of the good you can see Vs all of the bad. In your profession I bet you saw plenty of both. I am trying to think of the other group that is so active in vision help. Is it the Lions ??? I know one of those groups does a LOT for kids. Then theirs the Jerry Lewis group.
Dave

 

[tc35dforme]

We do a local carity campaign each year for those in our town having some trouble. We rely on the local police and the school principal to offer suggestions as well as sending home a notice and 'application' in the school's newletter. The police know for obvious reasons...the principal knows who needs help based on how they are sent to school ( jackets / mittens / etc. ) Those that need help generally are shy to come forward, but when approached by a police officer or school principal and understand the program they usually accept some help.

We offer a full holiday meal in a basket including turkey, veggies, dessert.

As for gifts, we allow 1 toy request, and insist on some practical request like coats, shoes, etc.

It works well. Our town ( pop. < 1000 ) has quite a range in income / wealth from those barely scraping by, to those who have nothing to worry about. We usually give to about 12 families with about 30 kids and can often generate plenty of $ in donations. It does make a difference.

The best part, its our folks helping our folks, and we see the benefits of our charity.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We rely on the local police and the school principal to offer suggestions )</font>

Quite a few years ago, the Dallas Police Department started a Santa Cops program. There is a form available to all police officers that they can fill out and turn it, when they encounter a family they believe needs and deserves help at Christmas. Police officers, and others as well, donate (mostly cash, but also some new toys and such - only new items) to the program. Then a "committee" of volunteer officers do the shopping for gifts for each member of each family, and each family also gets all the grocery makin's for a Christmas dinner. All the stuff is delivered by police officers wearing Santa hats just before Christmas. It's a major undertaking with lots of officers volunteering their time and money every year. I don't know how many other cities do the same.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Thats a great idea. I'm getting the holiday sprit already. Maybee we should have a TF fund to the needy . I'll be the first to pony up for a program like that . Dave

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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. )</font>

It's amazing how the world has changed since the polio vaccine. I had polio when I was 3 yr old. It was such a terrible illness that I still remember many of the things that happened to me as if they were happening yesterday. John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth was responsible for my recovery. I'll always be grateful to them for my care.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I had polio when I was 3 yr old. )</font>

Quite a coincidence, Jim. I actually had polio when I was 22 months old, but the doctors didn't know what it was until I was 5 years old, so I went through the twice daily exercises for a couple of years, then wearing a built up shoe and brace to my knee for a couple of years, and then two surgeries on my left foot and ankle. The Crippled Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, the Shriners, and the March of Dimes were responsible for my being able to live a normal life. And as I recall from the other boys in the hospital, I was one of the luckiest ones.

It took me 5 months of arguing with doctors to get accepted by the police department. One old city health department doctor was convinced that if they hired me, I'd want a disability pension before I put in my 20 years on the department. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I put in nearly 25 years and retired on long term pension; guess I'm not too bright, should have tried for disability and I wouldn't be paying these income taxes on the pension. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jinman]

Here is something you might consider at Christmas time or anytime during the year. There are many folks who have to care for relatives who are shut-ins, alzheimers victims, or hospice patients. Most of these people have no free time of their own, and every night and weekend they spend caring for the sick parent or family member. If you contact a hospice or a local home healthcare firm, you can probably find out who these folks are. You can just call them, or visit and offer to sit with their sick relative to give them some free time to themselves. Sometimes the thing that costs the least can help the most. Your time and care will mean a lot.