VENT on xmas angels (donating toys to kids)

Sweet&Spicy

Hopefully I don't come off as a major B but I really wanted to do one of those xmas angels where you get a gift for a child in need.  I went to pick one up and OMG the things the kids were asking for! ex ripsticks ($75) nintendo ds ($130) bikes and stuff like that... I was like holy crap the most I spent on a gift for my own child was $50 this year. I guess I was just kinda sad that I couldn't afford to help out.

 

Wan-naBe

i blame tv commercials.  although they've gotta market to sell their shit, so i can't hate on 'em for it.

perhaps you could recruit others to go in on a gift together? 

ak071401

I am so glad you posted this, because I felt the same way the other day. There is a tree like this at my son's preschool and we wanted to participate, but there wasn't anything left on the tree to give that cost less than $100.  I didn't even spend $100 on my own child or my dh -- we are on a tight budget this year so dh and I were debating even getting each other gifts this year.  We just don't have an extra $100 so that we could participate.  I felt bad, but at the same time I did think it was odd that the gifts on the angel tree were so pricey.

A-baybride

I hear ya.  It's hard not to question how needy a family really is when a kid is asking for presents like that.

Don't even get me started on my adopting a family experience!

kevschickee2

A-baybride:

I hear ya.  It's hard not to question how needy a family really is when a kid is asking for presents like that.

Don't even get me started on my adopting a family experience!

 

the kids can be needy and still want what their friends have.  It doesn't mean they are being liars

HasteTheDay

Don't give up completely! There are lots of other charities you can give to that don't require you to spend so much money. Or if you have no money to spend, you can volunteer somewhere too... ?

mabelanna

Would it be appropriate to give practical gifts to the kid or do you think that would just be thrown on the floor in a fit of rage that they didnt get the Nintendo (or whatever)?  I mean, dont they have to qualify somehow to get on the tree?  That is what I would do- I would think anything would help.

Also, like a pp said, maybe the kids just see the commercial and dont realize the concept of $ and how much things cost?

 GL

Mickschick

Please call your local VFW. My Grandma was the President of the Auxiliary here until she died suddenly last month and every Christmas the Auxiliary here (and I'm pretty sure other states do it to) adopt like 3 or 4 families where one of the children's parents are overseas. There is no set limit that you have to spend- they just get an age group and sizes and things that the kids like, (Dolls, baby stuff, play makeup, trucks etc). This year I'm just donating a big teddy bear for a 1.5 year old whose father was just deployed to Afghanistan.

Eddy1

A-baybride:

I hear ya.  It's hard not to question how needy a family really is when a kid is asking for presents like that.

Don't even get me started on my adopting a family experience!

Or perhaps kids have no concept of how much things cost? Just becuase they are asking for expensive things doesn't mean they aren't needy.

But in general I think those sorts of trees should feature less expensive gifts so more people would participate.

SaraSmile

We are doing one of these in my office.  My company also wanted to make a dollar donation to the organization.  They are going to use the money to buy gifts that have not yet been bought.  Can you just give money? 

pincushion

If the parents wrote that stuff in...shame on them...

elm1032004

A-baybride:

I hear ya.  It's hard not to question how needy a family really is when a kid is asking for presents like that.  Don't even get me started on my adopting a family experience!

I think kids just want what their friends have or what they see on TV and don't think about the dollar amount; however, it is a turn off to a lot of people when it feels like you have to spend so much money to give to a charity gift thing and you aren't spending that on your own kids.......

prism207

You don't have to buy what is requested, it is a wish, not a demand.  And there are people who spend that type of money on angel tree gifts.  If it doesn't meet your needs, find a different way to give.  There is nothing shameful in either the child or the parent writing something on a wish list.  Where is it written that a needy kid should only have cheap toys donated to them?  Or only want cheap toys?  For reals.