Have you given food or gifts, money? Volunteered? I'm interested in what you do for strangers, especially.
As for me, I always choose a child or two from the local needy kids Christmas tree and buy them all the presents on their Santa list. I also contribute to food drives and present drives when I can. Thanks! This should reveal some interesting responses!
2006-12-08 11:15:45 · 15 answers · asked by tiff_scifi 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
my favorite thing to do does not really involve a named charity and really seems to be helpful. I like to go into any food joint that is open and put down at least 100$ and gets bags of food and deliver them to homeless and hungry people that are visible. In the Minneapolis area there is quite a bit so it is really satisfying to help someone that really won't go to a company or maybe does not know about the help.
2006-12-08 11:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by kArMaRiFiC 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, my 4 yr old daughter picks two children, a boy and a girl, apprx. the same age as her to get a few gifts for from the Salvation Army each Christmas. We like to do this because it shows her first hand how good giving can make you feel as opposed to just getting. It took her a while to realize that there are children out there who don't have trees, or don't get presents, or even have enough food. But once she did, she can't stop looking for more people to help:)
We also have my friends 15 yr old daughter coming to spend Christmas with us and we almost feel like it's more a gift to us to spend time with her. She has had a very hard childhood and we kind of took her under our wing from the moment we met her:)
And we try to teach our daughter that being caring and generous is not limited to Christmas, that we should do it all year long:)
And I could brag about my daughter's big heart all day long...lol
2006-12-08 14:11:44 · answer #2 · answered by patti_jim_reynolds 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always donate my old clothing, but I stopped giving at Christmas time like I used to. Too many people in my area take advantage of the situation and I dont think its right that I give the little bit I have to a family in a better situation then I'm in. I know this isnt the case for all people, but it really does turn a lot of people I know off of giving. I also had a nice situation with a lady collecting donations for childrens hospital. she was outside the liqour store one night and my friend and I came walking out. we had no cash on us at all as we used debit to pay because there was problems with bank machines all day. she asked if we wanted to make a donation and I told her "I'm really sorry but I have no change on me" she was like "yeah...I'm so sure you have no change, but you bought something in the store" I'm sorry, but you dont do that when you are trying to get people to give. if they cant you respect that. hopefully the situation is better where you live and the donations you make actually go to helping truely needy people. I used to donate toys for the angel tree, but I havent seen it in the mall like I used to. hopefully I'll come across one before christmas. I would like to buy a small toy for a young child and maybe a sweater or something too. merry christmas
2006-12-08 17:32:19 · answer #3 · answered by Jenn ♥Cadence Jade's mum♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question!! Every year, we choose a name from a local charity and buy gifts for a senior citizen. This year, we also donated to a local charity called "Santa's Clearing House" which provides local families with a holiday they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. I just realized yesterday that I'm far more generous with total strangers than I am with my friends - but none of my friends "need" anything.
If you donate battery-operated goods, PLEASE include a pack of batteries!!
Merry Christmas!
2006-12-08 11:54:52 · answer #4 · answered by Jadis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work with Operation Christmas Child. With Operation Christmas child you pack shoeboxes with school supplie, hygiene items, toys, clothes, and shoes. Then they are wrapped and shipped to kids all over the world who would not have an oppurtunity to get such items. I love doing it, my family packed 15 boxes alone. Our church collects boxes from a ton of other churches. We received 300 boxes from a church of 85 people!
2006-12-08 18:04:13 · answer #5 · answered by Chocolat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My children and I help out by donating things for the kids and women at the local Abused Woman's shelter. We were there long ago and know how it can be...alone and with kids at Christmas. It makes us all feel better and it helps show my kids just how lucky we are. Blessings!
2006-12-08 11:18:35 · answer #6 · answered by LuLu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At Christmastime I normally donate tons of food. This year I probably won't do anything bc we have so much going on; plus right now we are really strapped financially.
I agree with Debra that it is completely inappropriate to brag.
2006-12-08 12:41:01 · answer #7 · answered by chelleedub 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've definately done stuff but I don't think as a Christian one should pat themselves on the back. One mans gift is just as good as any other and I don't find it appropriate to brag. I think Jesus taught a good lesson about this.
2006-12-08 11:19:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I adopted two female angels on our local angel tree and got an outfit for each of them.
2006-12-08 12:22:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pass out the Rum a Tum Tum.
2006-12-08 11:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by robert m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋