If you have a little extra money and the time:

Sammysu · December 2011

Please go to your nearby school and speak to the principal to see if there is any families that are in true need of a meal or clothes or toys for their kids this Christmas.

DH and I always see people standing in lines for free toys that clearly don't need it and so we went to each of our DD's schools this morning and talked to the principal (because teachers and principals know what kids/families are truly in need) and each of the principals told us that no one has come to them offering to help and asking if anyone needs help. This shocked us. The city that we live in is for the most part a HCOL area and I know there is plenty of families who could really help other families. DH and I saw it like this: If we could afford to spend $30-$40 eating out one night, we could afford to buy a few meals or clothes or toys with that money. Each of the principals also told us that they personally have a few families in mind that they have recently bought clothes and shoes for out of their pocket because the children were wearing shoes with huge holes and the same clothes over and over each day. That also broke my heart.

Sometimes this thought easily slips by us and we wouldn't realize what a great need and blessing this would be to other children in our community. I was a child who recieved gifts from Angel tree ministry each year growing up and DH grew up in the projects and knows what it is like to stand in line for toys handed out each year.

Sammysu · December 2011

I just re-read what I wrote and realized that I should have pointed out that though you can't judge people by what they look like, the few people that I am referring to that DH and I have seen in the lines ( we volunteer at some of the toy drives) are the people that we personally know and who have made comments about doing this to not have to spend the money but who are well off.

I didn't want to come off as "that person" lol

Liz342 · December 2011

That is so thoughtful of you!

Yes, it is really sad. My DH is an elementary school teacher in sort of a low income area. He tells me sad stories all the time about kids who wear old ratty clothes to school and a lot of the kids don't come from the greatest families.

Last year there was a little girl who only had a pair of open toed shoes and for gym class he told he she needed sneakers and she said that her mother was an alcoholic and they coulnd't afford new shoes for her. We felt awful and went out and bought her a pair of sneakers. (she ended up getting taken away from her mother and sent away to live with family in another state, I believe).

His school has an angel tree that we do every year. We are on a tight budget but our kids have everything they need and more, and when I think of the kids who have nothing it makes me so sad.

Liz342 · December 2011

Sammysu:

I just re-read what I wrote and realized that I should have pointed out that though you can't judge people by what they look like, the few people that I am referring to that DH and I have seen in the lines ( we volunteer at some of the toy drives) are the people that we personally know and who have made comments about doing this to not have to spend the money but who are well off.

I didn't want to come off as "that person" lol

That sort of thing makes me sick. I used to be a caseworker at a non profit agency and things like that get abused ALL of the time. I had one family who actually called a radio station on Easter and got 4 Easter baskets (they only had 2 kids, said they had 4) for free because they lied and said they couldn't afford them. They even chuckled a little when they told me they did it. However, these people could "afford" cigarettes, soda and junk food on a regular basis too.

One year for Christmas my agency gave the same family a grocery gift card to purchase a Christmas meal with and they told me the first thing they bought was soda because they "had to have their soda, ya know."

Stacyc625 · December 2011

I too grew up as an 'Angel tree' kid.

And I was always very grateful to the families that took the time and were generous. So I ALWAYS do the same now- that I am able to.

Sharon21 · December 2011

That is a great idea, I never thought about going to the principal. We also live in an affluent area and I feel like there are some people that live in my town who are struggling but can't get the same help as people that live in the less affluent areas. There was a little girl in my daughters class that said they couldn't afford to have Thanksgiving so I mailed them a gift card anonymously (thanks again ladies for that idea). The problem is no one expects that in our neighborhood and all the help goes to the other neighborhoods that have a lot of poor people so then the people in the affluent area get over looked even though they might have less.

spiritenergy · December 2011

Churches generally have a list of people who need help. Our homeschooling group makes a huge dinner for a homeless family during Thanksgiving and we provide things for families in need in exchange for letting us use their facility during winter time.

LynsiBHM · December 2011

I opened this post while rolling my eyes (like "WHO has too much time and money right now?") and now I feel like an A-hole.

I used to work in public schools and personally know some families like this. TRULY in need, but not asking for handouts. And I know teachers/administration that have helped out of their own pockets too. (and let's face it- teachers don't have much extra cash!!)

Great post. I'm inspired and will definitely do this. It makes for a nice tradition, actually. Tis the season!