What is on your gift list for others?

[indysteel]

I'm sponsoring a family through the Children's Bureau to provide them with some Christmas gifts and other needed items. My office is also donating some $$ to them. I'm also buying some gifts for the Y's Breakfast with Santa event for kids who are currently living in shelters.

[bikerz]

Heifer! Heifer! Heifer!

This will be my 5th year giving to Heifer International on behalf of all adults in my family/friend circle (the kids I know get books ). Everyone is really into it now, especially me. Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit like picking out a big batch of goats, llamas, bees, water buffaloes, chicks and ducks. It's a tight year this year, and those critters will make a bigger difference than ever.

[Aggie_Ama]

I will buy a toy for brown santa. My parents used to make me do this every year, pick a toy I wanted and give it to the police man collecting. I remember distinctly being 6 or 7 and picking out the coolest She-ra ever then handing it to the sheriff to wrap for someone else. I was so excited when my Christmas tree had one for me too but even at that age I knew someone else was excited about it too. It was a cool red headed friend of She-Ra.

My father lived at Salvation Army before he went into foster care, I always give as much as I can to the red pots. They fed my dad and gave him a blanket when he was only 5 years old, I hope they are still that wonderful because I know my Dad is.

[bmccasland]

One thought on donations to a charity in the name of someone else....

I had a "gee, thanks" response when my Dad's wife made a donation to a charity I'd never heard of in my name as my Christmas present. I should hasten to add, I was replying to a card in the mail, and not in person. I didn't mind the principle of the thing, but would have preferred it to a charity I'd actually heard of OR a charity I supported. I'm not questioning that said pet charity of C was worthy, but I didn't support their political cause when I read their info flier.

So if you're going to donate to charity in someone's name - is there a way to find out if said honored recipient might prefer a different charity or have charities they support (morally or financially)?

I got absolutely nothing out of the gift, money was donated in my name to a cause I'd never heard of and didn't completely support, and they got the tax deduction.

[SadieKate]

I can't imagine giving to a charity in someone else's name without their agreement.

And I'm not looking for a tax deduction with holiday gifts . . . .

[vinbek]

Since I have kids in school, I participate in a partnership program where they match a more prosperous school with one in a poverty area. Our sister school is in Richmond, California. These kids don't have coats, shoes, basic school supplies and usually don't have snacks or lunch to bring to school. I bought lunch tickets and we are trying to get gift cards for shoes and coats. These kids live right in our area and are desperate for help. You can contact the schools in your area and they can probably give you a long list of kids that need something. WE also give food to the local food banks. My son's class is doing one of those gift exchanges - something under $10 -which I think is unnecessary. Only kids who bring a gift, get to participate in the exchange. so I went and bought several boy gifts and girl gifts so no one would be left out. I don't think the teacher should do this - why sponsor anything that potentially leaves anyone out? For family, my father celebrated his 80th birthday last year and I framed a great family picture for everyone. We don't get together all at one time very often. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[SadieKate]

My son's class is doing one of those gift exchanges - something under $10 -which I think is unnecessary. Only kids who bring a gift, get to participate in the exchange. so I went and bought several boy gifts and girl gifts so no one would be left out. I don't think the teacher should do this - why sponsor anything that potentially leaves anyone out?

This is ridiculous. And what about the non-Christian children? And why not a handmade item/ornament/card/whatever so they can learn about each other?

That was kind of you to get extra gifts.

[snapdragen]

I can't imagine giving to a charity in someone else's name without their agreement.

And I'm not looking for a tax deduction with holiday gifts . . . .

The last thing I'd do is donate to a political cause in someone else's name. My politics are my own, I don't push them on anyone else. That's why I choose things like the food bank, or our local county hospital foundation, and yes bikerz -- Heifer. It was fun hearing my sister say "I got a llama for Christmas"

My yearly donations are not enough for me to get the tax deduction, heck I still file on the short form.....

[KeepingUp]

Im buying my mom some uggs and my boyfriend a nice leather wallet.

[jobob]

I remember distinctly being 6 or 7 and picking out the coolest She-ra ever then handing it to the sheriff to wrap for someone else. I was so excited when my Christmas tree had one for me too but even at that age I knew someone else was excited about it too. It was a cool red headed friend of She-Ra.

So sweet.

[jobob]

Now you guys have got me wanting a llama for Christmas ! No, make that a water buffalo. Way more impressive.

[snapdragen]

Moooooooom! How come he got a water buffalo and all I got was a box of chicks!!!!

[SadieKate]

It took a bazillion years but a few years back my family finally convinced a business contact of ours to stop sending crappy baked goods to three separate households and to give to Heifer in our name instead. Whew.

I think of Heifer throughout the year a lot more fondly than I do the yucky plastic wrapped and ugly tinned "food."

[bmccasland]

As you may or may not have noticed, I'm a member of a Renaissance / Medieval recreation group (SCA), and our local group is hosting a widely attended event, Christmas Reval. Anyway, in order to enter the tournaments or arts competitions, the "entry fee" is a new unwrapped toy which we collectively donate to the Toys for Tots program. Last year we had enough toys that the local Marines had to go back for a bigger truck. As this year will be our last to rent the particular camp where we're holding the event, we plan to make it extra special for the toy drive.

Here's a photo an earlier year....