Holiday Donations

[nanamom]

What ideas do you have for holiday donations. We do 7 toys for tots gifts in honor of the 7 grandchildren Jesus is taking care of for us. We also buy gifts for our parents who are deceased and donate them to a local nursing home to go to people without family to remember them. We have our DS2 pick an Angel tree name (children whose parents are in jail) and pick out stuff. Since we live too far away to have a big family Thanksgiving we buy the stuff and donate it to a family that can't afford the "extra" stuff you need then.
What do you guys do either as a memorial or just because?

[fairy74]

My dad loved to sing in his church choir, so I give them a donation every year. I also adopt a migrant family to provide Christmas gifts for and give a donation to Angel tree.

[rduell]

A donation to a library in a loved one's name is always a good idea.

[Elgin526]

We give gently used clothing and household items that we don't want/need/use anymore to a thrift shop run by a women's and children's shelter. DH gives $3 per week all year round to the United Way via his paycheck. We usually drop off stuff once in the spring and once in Nov. or Dec.

Then we pick two or three charities and donate a portion of my year end bonus. Last year was Katrina releif, we sent money to the Red Cross, the Humane Society, and my own organization's children's charity (they had a special fund for Katrina). This year it will be a cash donation to a local food pantry and a charity involved in Africa (haven't picked one yet).

Oh, and assorted pocket change to the Salvation Army bell ringers!

[boefixepa]

I donate food for our church's thanksgiving drive and my SO and I are goind to ask our church for a family that is in need and provide christmas for them rather then get each other lots of stuff.

[sweeps]

Local library has a Toys for Tots tree. We like to buy some gifts for that.

[Snoopy2645]

I donate food to the churchs food pantry they help the hungry in our area & I donate to toys for tots & maybe able to donate to lots more kids this year I hope because of all my clearanced stuff I got this year & free stuff I got.

[tgavin71]

Our children are 7 and 10. Ever since our eldest's first christmas we have bought an extra present to go under the wishing tree. Our 10 year old picks a toy for a 10 year old and our 7 year old picks a toy for a seven year old. We don't spend a lot but always give a toy, an article of clothing and a special lolly treat.

[LuxLiving]

This year we are gathering funds to begin either a Family Foundation or a Charitable Gift Trust. I think it will take us a bit into 2007 to gather the needed funds...but we are well on our way to having enough put aside to do this.

It will be an ongoing charitable dealy-whonker. We hope to do the Family Foundation with the primary mission statement being something along the lines of Soles For Jesus.

A portion of earnings going towards giving/funding/supplying a yearly donation towards buying shoes or funds for foot related medical problems for missionaries and their families.

Get it? Soles for Jesus!! I've had four foot surgeries myself and just thinking of being able to help families in need who have changed their lives to serve others makes me tear up. Me and my poor footsies have been the extra mile!! I have dreams of having enough extra money in it someday to not only buy shoes for their families but also to fund foot massages for the men and women and treat missionary wives to fancy pedicures, etc. Money that they wouldn't ordinarily spend on themselves.

"How beautiful are the feet of them that bring Good News!"

Anyway that's the goal.

In the meantime we do Angel Tree and usually our SS class does a project and we contribute to the food bank at the church.

[MonkeyMama]

We donate household items and a little cash every year to Childrens Crisis Nurseries in the area. A friend of mine collected for them every year, and so I continue to. I also give money to a local wildlife organization I am involved in.

This year instead of gifts I told my mom I would make a donation in her name - chose the humane society because it is a big cause of hers.

IF we have the funds I usually like to donate a good chunk to Res Cross and buy 2 new toys for Toys for Tots.

When the kids are older I would love to take them to a soup kitchen, etc., and get them more involved in giving to others in need.

[PrincessPerky]

Lux living, adorable idea!

We do a shoebox for each kid, well for the two that can pick, and this year we let our neighbor girl do one.

The kids get practice finding things a 5-7 year old would like, and they feel special getting several things, I feel fortunate to be able to help when I only spent $10 per box!

We also seem to have miscelaneous toys in the house that were aquired, duplicates or bought for someone who moved away (one worry of buying early) and we will be donating them to toys for tots this year (and getting them out of my house!)

I also thruout the year donate rather than sell (dh on the other hand..at least he is trying to get rid of stuff though), makes me feel happier, and is no stress. I am not fond of stress!