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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/16/2008 1:22:55 PM
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MissGizmo
Posts: 7878
Joined: 8/12/2006
From: Roanoke, Virginia
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I have done the angel tree in the past. The one thing I found was you have to remove all tags so the parents can not return the things to the store & get money or something they want. If you don't most of the children around here will not get the gifts. I have talked to the people at both K-Mart & Walmart & they tell me it is a big problem.
Also, you might want to help some of the older adults that have no family to give them a present. They are so happy to receive a gift.
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Ruth
DECEMBER 2008 SUPERFAN
Let us all be in prayer for our nation.
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/16/2008 1:27:58 PM
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Miss Giggles
Posts: 4370
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
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I've done it before. I am not doing it this year.
I've picked the slightly older children.. the churches usually give a list of appropriate suggestions.. most of them need clothes and something educational. (they do ask for the right size)
I've seen some people give bikes and other big items though.. but there is no pressure to do so.
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/16/2008 4:58:05 PM
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isaacsmom
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Our family has done similar things. We enjoy sharing with others. We like to send shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child.
Each Christmas hubby and I round up our teen Sunday school class and we all make gift baskets for several widows, elderly couples and shut-ins and we go deliver them as a group. The older people are tickled pink to be thought of, to have a visit from the young people and have a nice basket with fruit and goodies.
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<<< My littlest punkin'
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Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/16/2008 5:16:46 PM
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danas_mom
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Our church does a benevolence ministry Christmas party each year, we try to give a few gifts for it.
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I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. ~ 2 Samuel 24:24
Spirit of Ashes Creations
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/16/2008 5:23:15 PM
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42servehymn
Posts: 383
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: Littleton, Colorado
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We did two shoe boxes this year, one for a boy and one for a girl. We'll see whatever else comes up.
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/17/2008 1:31:18 AM
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creationtalk
Posts: 702
Joined: 6/9/2005
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I have a friend who is a coordinator for angel tree in a nearby county. Most years I either give her money or take children that have not been "placed" as Christmas nears and buy gifts for them. Last year she asked me to handle contacting the guardians of the children in my county and finding sponsors for them--since I got the information the 4 days before Christmas, I barely had time to call the families, so bought the gifts myself and delivered them. It was a real blessing. Don't know what will happen this year since we now work in different parts of a huge building and rarely see each other (mostly a function of my job, which is very demanding). Last year I also donated to the fund to buy gifts for the women and children at a local women's shelter, most likely will do so again this year. Most years I donate to Salvation Army and other local helps organizations.
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/17/2008 9:40:51 AM
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cherish405
Posts: 32586
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
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Ok, now you're talking something close to my own heart.
I agree that the older children and adults would appreciate gifts too. You often see the emphasis on young kids, but everybody would appreciate a little something.
I've done Samaritan's Purse. I've done care packages for girls/women in a half way house/rehab centre.
With the women, and you could also do it for some of the female elderly folk, you could make little care packages with things like soaps, handtowels or washers, lightly fragranced hand lotions etc. Buying in bulk helps. Then you can take one or two of each thing and make several care packages from the goods you've bought.
I like the idea of fun and educational when it comes to kids. Maybe because I loved them so much as a kid, I like the idea of books. Your imagination can take you to so many different interesting places.
I've got some construction kits for boys so that they can put together planes and trains, (they're not hard), and can then paint them and play with them afterwards. Helps their motor skills etc.
I don't buy things with batteries, because they can be expensive to replace, and you want the child to be able to play with it without the aid of batteries anyway.
What about journals for older kids? If they're feeling a bit awkward about their situation, they can always journal to get their feelings out if they don't have anybody to talk to.
Clothes are always helpful. If you've got the time and the resources, you could easily knit or crochet scarves etc.
_____________________________
*** If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then only give him two of them.
- Phil Pastoret ***
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 9:20:48 AM
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cherish405
Posts: 32586
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: The Land Down Under
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Here in Australia, we've got a couple of companies that you pay small installments to either weekly or fortnightly, and in November, they deliver all the groceries that you've ordered. We always order extra and donate the food. We love that time of year in our household.
_____________________________
*** If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then only give him two of them.
- Phil Pastoret ***
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 12:41:53 PM
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3tulips
Posts: 318
Joined: 2/1/2007
From: sandy shore
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I take my kids and we buy for a local woman's shelter. We buy for them and deliver the presents to them BEFORE we start buying for ourselves. It is one way we teach our kids to think of others before ourselves (Philippians 2).
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I opened up the mouth of love and found the wisdom tooth. Larry Norman 1947 - 2008
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 1:14:35 PM
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Roberta_
Posts: 7417
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: East Bay Area
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I have done this in the past and probably will do it again in the future. But not this year. This year I'm having a hard enough time buying for me and mine. I don't have the finances to buy for them and theirs too.
quote:
ORIGINAL: MissGizmo
I have done the angel tree in the past. The one thing I found was you have to remove all tags so the parents can not return the things to the store & get money or something they want. If you don't most of the children around here will not get the gifts. I have talked to the people at both K-Mart & Walmart & they tell me it is a big problem.
Also, you might want to help some of the older adults that have no family to give them a present. They are so happy to receive a gift.
Yes, remove the tags. Also, remove the labels inside. They have a number on them that the courtesy desk personnel can type in and give the money back.
_____________________________
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 1:41:46 PM
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raspberry331
Posts: 6645
Joined: 5/7/2005
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My church goes to feed the homeless and we bring gifts donated by the congregation. For years we did shoeboxes filled with toiletries,gift cards to fast food places,candy/gum,bibles,etc. Last year I said let's do gift bags instead of shoeboxes,that way they can carry it more easily. This year they are hoping to get backpacks. Does anyone know where they sell backpacks for a good deal. I checked Burlington Coat Factory and their cheapest was $10.00.
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 9:36:56 PM
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Cloak
Posts: 4761
Joined: 1/4/2008
From: Canada
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This year, my church was participating in Operation Christmas Child in which I gladly participated and filled a shoebox of cool stuff for a sweet girl whom I promised to keep her in my prayers as well.
This is the 1st time I participate in such as thing which Really filled my heart with so much Joy!
I don't know to which country my gift is going, is it Africa or some other country???
_____________________________
Blessings!
And My God shall meet ALL Your Needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 19)
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RE: Buying Christmas gifts for the less fortunate. - 11/18/2008 11:10:02 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2206
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
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quote:
Does anyone know where they sell backpacks for a good deal. I checked Burlington Coat Factory and their cheapest was $10.00.
Finding backpacks right now might be a challenge. Last Fall Menard's had simple backpacks for $5.98. I bought two and managed to get $10 back in rebates on them! Don't think you could do the rebate thing on more then 2 per address tho.
We've done things in the past. Our favorites are to donate books, new and gently used, to hospitals and such, stuffed animals to local emergency personal and fire departments, and to donate dog and cat food to local animal shelters.
We've given toys to Toys for Tots, board games to a toy and game drive through our church, and each year I purchase a couple of $5 bag of groceries at a local store that they then donate to a local shelter.
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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